I. CALL TO ORDER

Dr. Cole called to order at 8:30 a.m., the joint session of the President's Council and the Academic Affairs Council.

Members Present: Duane C. Anderson, Pamla Armstrong, Bill S. Cole, Bob Feighner, Tim Green, Kurt Jackson, Harrel Kennedy, Rebecca Kennedy, Carlotta Lockmiller, Linda Mitchusson, Kenneth Moore, Jack Paschall, Charles Perry, Shirley Talley, Nancy Thomason, Alvin Turner, Tom Volturo, Bill Walden, Bruce Weems, Gerald Williamson
Others Present: Marilyn Cole, Martha Skinner
Recorder: Sue Milner

NCA Steering Committee
Dr. Cole announced that Dr. Carlotta Lockmiller is working on a time-line for the NCA Self-Study. Dr. Lockmiller gave an overview of her expectations in the planning of the North Central Accreditation's visit in October 2001. This fall, the Steering Committee will be formed. The Steering Committee will have a time line and criteria to assist them in understanding what they need to do in the preparation of the NCA Team Visit.

Dr. Lockmiller also discussed the approach that will be used for organizing the self-study report. For each criterion, a team and subcommittees will be formed. Many people will be used in the preparation of the NCA visit. The time line is the following: Fall 1999 - Organization of team leaders and criteria teams. Spring 2000 - orientation for the criteria teams, select the subcommittees, begin to gather and analyze the data. Fall 2000 - teams will receive the collected evidence and then write draft chapters. Spring 2001 - add interim data from fall 2000 to be within a year of accreditation, write chapters in final form and all other parts of the report. Summer 1001 - self-study will be sent for printing no later than July 1, then to site team leaders, and then to the site resource room. Fall 2001 - NCA team makes a site visit.

The Steering Committee is composed of the following: Bill Walden, Harrel Kennedy, Jerry Snow, Mike Howarth, Becky Isaacs, Becky Compton, Nick Cheper, Larry Choate, Charlie Jones, Shirley Mixon, Bill Osborne, Susan Payne, Steve Turner and four others to be selected.

Dr. Anderson distributed the NCA Site Visit Recommendations from 1991-92. He pointed out that most of the concerns have been addressed since the last visit. Also, the strengths cited are still intact.

III. AGENDA OF THE VICE PRESIDENT FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS

Annual Academic Affairs Report
Recruitment and retention of students need more work.

An Academic Procedures and  Policy Handbook is in progress.

East Central has retained and attracted a high percentage of faculty with doctorates. Dr. Anderson would like to stay above the 70 percent mark.

AAC Goals and Objectives for 1999-2000
Included in the goals and objectives is the revision of budget forms and Academic Committee forms. Dr. Anderson would like to streamline budget discussions. Requests must be tied back to assessment or strategic planning if asking for new faculty members and costly equipment.

Update Strategic Plans
(1) Time Line:
A handout shows the time line starting in 1993 to 2001-02. Currently, December 3, 1999 is the deadline for working drafts of the revised department and academic unit plans due to school deans for all units. January 31, a draft of School and Academic Unit Strategic Plans is due in the Academic Affairs Office. March 31, a final version is submitted to the Academic Affairs Office.

(2) Format:
The format used in 1997-98 will be followed for the 1999-2000 revision. One addition, however, involves departments putting in summary form brief comments from the Assessment Plan. Departments' profile should be analyzed rather than described. The analysis should reflect current and projected enrollment data, and should be realistic. Any significant changes since the last Strategic Plan should be noted.

Academic Plan
Dr. Anderson discussed the Academic Plan for 1999-2004. He referred to the steady decline in student enrollment. Both headhunt and FTE students dropped in Fall 1994 to a low in 1998. Also, reviewed were student credit hours produced in each of the Schools. Copies of the Academic Plan will be sent to deans for distribution to department chairs.

NCA Self Study Preparation
Dr. Lockmiller distributed NCA Self-Study information that contained criteria, time line, general guidelines and working committees. She briefly discussed the criteria and asked that all review the information. She may be reached at extension 421.

Approval of Minutes
The minutes of the Academic Affairs Council, July 13, 1999, were approved as distributed.

Calendar Dates
Aug. 16 New Faculty Seminar I
Aug. 17 General Faculty and Professional Staff Meeting School and Department Meetings in afternoon
Aug. 18 Fall regular enrollment, 8:00-6:30 Freshman Rally, 6:30
Aug. 19 Classwork begins, 8:00

Fall Enrollment Issues
Every new beginning freshman has an advising form (BFA). The BFA form has information as to whether or not the student should be enrolled in zero level classes. Beginning freshmen should not be enrolled without the BFA in hand. If the student passes the CPT, he or she does not have to take a remedial course. Faculty teaching the Fundamentals of English course should administer the test out exam immediately, and forward the results to the Academic Advising Center so the students passing the exam can be dropped from the zero level class and enroll in a for credit course.

General Faculty Meeting
Dr. Anderson will introduce faculty earning doctorates since the last meeting. Those are Paige Cummins, Mickle Duggan, and Robert Ferdinand.

General Education Syllabi
Deans will meet in the fall with the General Education Committee looking at general education to see that outcomes are being met.

Final Summer Enrollment Report
At the end of this summer, 10,565 SCH's were produced. At the end of last summer 10,373 SCH's were produced. This is up about 2.2 percent. Dr. Anderson believes that the May Intersession was instrumental in the increase of SCH's. This points out the importance of developing intersession classes.

Three-Year Evaluation of Department Chairs
A formal evaluation of department chairs will be implemented this year. As a beginning, one-third of the department chairs will be evaluated. General outlines will be developed for the evaluation and become a routine part of evaluation for rank promotions, tenure and, possibly, merit.

Computer Labs and After Hour Students
Police Chief Nemecek sent a memo recently outlining concerns about finding students in computer labs at 2:00 a.m. or 3:00 a.m. In some instances, students were authorized by department chairs, in others no authorization was given. Some agreement will be reached on using computer labs after hours.

Other
(1) Fall 1999 enrollment must stay static. Many upper classmen and transfer students enrolled at the last minute, which brought enrollment closer to the current level.

(2) Dr. Anderson commended Ms. Thomason and her staff for continually bringing in enrollments. Their Continuing Education program is ranked third state wide.

Libraries--Dr. Charles Perry
There is still one faculty opening in the library.

School of Education and Psychology--Dr. Kenneth Moore
A position in counseling is still open. Ms. Lisa Lawter will be teaching one-half time for this academic year and Dr. Curtis Fuchs has been employed to fill the remaining one-half time position.

An agreement has been signed with Murray State College to meet federal guidelines for producing head start teachers with an AA or BS degree. Courses for this program will be offered this fall.

Many changes are occurring in Teacher Education. Tests are still an issue. Test scores for six students received are above state average. All six passed the general education tests.

Continuing Education and Community Services--Ms. Nancy Thomason
John Medeck has been employed for nine months to fill the position of Holly Sewell who will be on leave. She will be here until the last of August.

Public Service is having their 25th Anniversary. A celebration is on Saturday, September 18. Those enrolling in a public service class will receive a discount. In the evening, a dance will be held in the Student Union Ballroom.

School of Graduate Studies--Dr. Jack Paschall
The OneNet room (204A) is in the remodeling stage and is near completion for the fall semester. ECU has received the team stations. Faculty may want to arrange demonstrations with Stan Nnochirionye to see how they function.

Registry--Ms. Pamla Armstrong
Student grades and transcripts are being processed. All grades are turned in for the summer session. Four or five students completed courses and were not enrolled. Ms. Armstrong stressed that it is essential that faculty check their class rosters to see that those attending classes are on the roster.

The Registry office is in the process of canceling for nonpayment of tuition fees. Since there is continuous enrollment, results of early enrollment are not available at this time.

Computer Services--Mr. Bob Feighner
Computer Services has tested for Y2K and are now compliant. Wiring and upgrading in various buildings continue.

Assessment and Research Information Center--Dr. Kurt Jackson
The Assessment Report is almost completed. Dr. Jackson has found that 34 percent of incoming freshmen have some academic deficiency.

Faculty Senate--Mr. Bill Walden
There is nothing to report at this time.

School of Business--Dr. Linda Mitchusson
A review team will be on campus September 13 for the School of Business. A state wide review of all business programs is in progress. There are no scheduled meetings with anyone outside of the School of Business.

Dr. Andrew Parkes received the Boswell Professorship. The first lecture is set for October 12.

November 12, a business conference is set in conjunction with the state wide development day.

Mickey Cowan received a three-year appointment as Director of the Oscar Parker Ethics Center beginning this academic year.

The Resume' book will be done again. The School has had several requests for them.

School of Humanities and Social Sciences--Dr. Alvin Turner
The School canceled the faculty search for English. Theodore Peshehonoff is employed for the theatre program in the Communication Department. Two new lectureships have just been funded that have real potential in the development of the political science program.

School of Mathematics and Sciences--Dr. Bruce Weems
Nothing to report.

New Faculty Seminar
Seminar I is orientation for new faculty. Seminar II is a meeting of new faculty with Dr. Anderson and Ms. Armstrong. Seminar I is August 16.

Freshman Rally
The Rally is August 18 at 6:30. Council members and others have received assignments to help that evening.

Transfer Matrix
The next meeting concerning the Transfer Matrix is October 13. Dr. Talley contacted all who need to participate in this meeting. Copies of the revised matrix will be distributed and will be on line the first of the year.

Professional Development Activities
A definite date is needed as soon as possible for any activity to be included in the Professional Development Brochure.

Scholarship Report
Dr. Talley will continue to produce a Scholarship Report. The format may be revised. Faculty members are encouraged to notify Dr. Talley of anything they do in research or scholarship that could be included in the report.
 

Research Day
Research Day at UCO is October 8, 1999. Dr. Anderson would like a good representation from East Central. Areas who plan to participate thus far are McNair, computer science, psychology, and biology. Abstracts will be published.

AAC Meeting Dates
Dr. Anderson distributed proposed dates for meeting of the Academic Affairs Council.

Status of New Program Proposals
The CIS concentration will be reactivated.  A Sports Administration program at the master's level has been proposed. Dr. Paschall, Dr. Moore, and Dr. Payne will meet in September and discuss how to proceed with the program.

A Bachelor of General Studies program must be brought to fruition quickly. ECU must continue to find new markets to serve students.

Duane C. Anderson Vice President for Academic Affairs