[Approved January 4, 2007]

Minutes of the Executive Committee of the Academic Senate

December 4, 2006

St. Mary’s 113 B; 10:00 AM

Present: J. Biddle, D. Biers (presiding), D. Courte, P. Johnson, W. Luckett, M. Morton, J.O’Gorman, R. Penno, R. Wells

J. Farrelly (Faculty Board)

Roll Call:

Nine of the twelve members of the Committee were present.

Prayer:

D. Biers opened the meeting with a prayer.

Approval of Minutes:

November 27, 2006 approved with a minor correction.

Announcements:

• ECAS meetings in the second semester will be on Thursday from 12:00-1:15. Meetings will take place in the O’Reilly conference room.
• The Provost Council is also interested in discussing intellectual property rights. External consultants will probably be brought in on this issue.
• E. Gustafson is on sabbatical in the Winter term. She has requested that there be a one term replacement for her on the Academic Senate.
• Members of the Executive Committee are reminded of the Provost Council meeting on December 12. They are invited to join the meeting at 11:00 for reports on and discussion of budgetary issues.
• The December 11 ECAS meeting was cancelled in lieu of attendance at the Provost Council meeting. Unless unanticipated circumstances arise, ECAS will not meet again until Thursday Jan 4.

Old Business:

The following reports were received:

• J. Biddle reported for the Academic Policies Committee of the Academic Senate. There has not been a meeting since the one reported at the Academic Senate on December 1. D. Darrow has been elected to serve as chairperson. Since he is not on the Executive Committee, J. O’Gorman agreed to report for the standing committee.

· D. Biers reported on the Calendar Committee. T. Westendorf has developed a description of duties and membership for the University committee. This will come forward to the Executive Committee.

· The Faculty Affairs Committee has not met this week.

· The Student Academic Policies Committee has not met this week.

· R. Penno continues to work on putting together information on the various committees and will have an update next week. He will also get the issues lists functioning.

· D. Biers reported on the Provost Council meeting. Calendar issues were discussed. The Provost decided that the academic calendar for Fall 2007 will begin with Monday only classes after 4:30. All other classes will begin on Tuesday.

New Business:

· The Committee reviewed issues that are in progress and determined that the Jan 5 meeting of the Academic Senate should be cancelled. D. Biers will see that members of the Academic Senate and the University community are informed about the cancellation of the meeting. D. Biers will also see if an additional meeting can be scheduled on March 23 or March 30. If this is scheduled, he will communicate the information to the members of the Academic Senate.

Agenda Items:

The Executive Committee generated the following items for future agendas:

· Evaluation of Summer and on-line courses

· Master Planning Steering Committee progress

· Evaluation of teaching. The report has not been received.

· Intellectual property rights and academic freedom issues related to on-line courses

· Computer requirement

· Process and Procedures Document for the functioning of the Executive Committee.

Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at 11:30 AM.

Respectfully Submitted,

Patricia A. Johnson, Secretary