ETCS/OLS Academic Leadership Committee - Chairs

Meeting at 9:00 am - 10:30 in ET 206

December 18, 2006 

Present:   Jihad Albayyari, Hal Broberg, Mary Jane Casiano, Dan Gebhart, Kim McDonald, Ken Modesitt, Carlos Pomalaza-Raez, Gerard Voland 

ETCS Space Planning: Carlos said the civil engineering program requires larger labs than we have or are available.  Carlos and Jihad have discussed the possibility of sharing labs between ENGR and CAET.  Jihad, Sulieman, and Carlos along with Dave Danielson will tour other possible spaces on campus.  There is also a need to look at classrooms as ECET and ENGR do not have designated classrooms.  OLS also has a need for a room to hold team-concept courses. 

Websites - status report: Hal indicated that Dianne is working to update the ETCS information.  Carlos received the template to use for the Engineering Department.  Gerard will speak with Michael Kanning about getting the files for ETCS on our server in order to go live and then each department can go live.  Each department should appoint one (or more) designated person(s) to maintain their website.  Dianne maintains the ETCS website. 

Remote access to specialized ETCS software: With the limit of lab space for our students to use software such as AutoCad and MatLab, it was proposed by Carlos and Hal that the departments (if they have a need for it) share in a three-month trial license from Citryx to set up a test pilot.  This would allow students access to certain software through the internet on a trial basis next semester.  Suleiman Ashur and Scott Moor would teach these courses.   This would possibly open labs to become teaching labs since the students would not need to be in the labs to use the software.  Carlos will provide the information to Jihad and Ken M. to review to see if they would like to participate.  Gerard would like to include information such as this in a proposed “Intro Booklet for New ETCS Students.” 

Faculty Workloads and justifications: The chairs agreed that they would share faculty workload reports within their departments.  Gerard reminded all that release times need to be justified. 

Travel Funds - Policies for international travel, 2007 ASEE Annual Conference in Hawaii, and in general:  Gerard said he would like to define a college-wide international travel policy to set limits and deadlines.  Each department should have a travel policy to follow within their departments.   Some chairs said that priority is given to untenured faculty and senior faculty are encouraged to seek funding elsewhere (research grants or other mechanisms) and deadlines are set.  Discussion will continue at the next chairs’ meeting 

Graduation Celebration for ETCS/OLS students - plans: OLS, ECET, and ENGR already host events for their graduating students.  Gerard asked about doing something for the college - chairs said the students identify with their individual home departments.  The conclusion then was reached that all departments should try to have some type of celebratory event for their graduating students. 

Workshops for Chair and Deans: Dr. Hannah will offer two workshops for chairs and deans on providing psychological assistance to others.  These will be offered on Jan. 19 or Jan 24, 2007. 

AFRs and Annual Reports - Submission deadlines: Annual report deadline for Gerard (to Dr. Hannah) is March 21.  The annual reports are due to Gerard from the department chairs on March 2, 2007.  The AFRs are due to Gerard on Monday, February 12, 2007.  Gerard will send the annual report template to the chairs in Word for them to use as soon as he receives them from the OAA. 

Respectfully submitted,

Mary Jane Casiano, secretary