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19 November, 2002 Dean’s Advisory Council Meeting Minutes

Members present: Dr. Vivian Correa, Dr. Harry Daniels, Ms. Mary Driscoll, Dr. Kathy Gratto (for Dr. James Doud), Ms. Cheryl Howell (for Dr. Michael Bowie), Ms. Kay Hughes, Dr. John Kranzler, Dr. James McLeskey, Dr. David Miller, Dr. Mickie Miller, Dr. Linda Jones (for Dr. Dorene Ross), Dr. Theresa Vernetson, Dr. Nancy Waldron, Dr. Rodman Webb, and Dr. Sandra Witt

Information Items

Committee members reviewed the November 5, 2002 meeting minutes. Dr. Waldron made a motion to accept the minutes, Dr. Vernetson seconded the motion, and the committee members agreed unanimously on their acceptance.

Dean Emihovich distributed copies of a document—2002-2003 University of Florida Committees, Boards and Councils–that was compiled by the Office of the Provost and lists University-wide committees, committee responsibilities, members, and contact information.

Guest Speaker

Lynn Frazier, UF International Center

Dr. Lynn Frazier, the Executive Associate Director of the UF International Center (UFIC), presented information about two issues:

  • Changes at the University regarding international students.

Major executive and regulatory changes affecting the international population in the U.S. became law on September 11, 2002. Many of these laws directly impact UF international students, including the following:

  • Full-time Enrollment. The role of the UFIC has changed with regard to international students. In the past, its main task was to assist students with their visa status. The U.S. Department of Justice has assigned reporting requirements to the IFIC, including the monitoring of students who are not enrolled for 12 or more credits (or full-time enrollment). She recommended that colleges contact the Graduate School if they have programs/disciplines for which nine credits should be considered full-time semester enrollment for graduate students.
  • Health Insurance. The State and UF require that all international students document health insurance coverage. Insurance co-payment requirements have changed for international students. Dr. Frazier noted that the policy for international students is less expensive than a comparable policy for domestic students.
  • Service Fee. The UFIC has enacted a service charge of $50 Fall and Spring semester for all international students.
  • Procedures for UF faculty to set up a “study abroad” program

The UFIC invites faculty to contribute to the expansion of UF’s international programs and develop new opportunities for students to study abroad. Dr. Frazier distributed a Faculty Primer for Study Abroad that describes the steps involved in developing a study-abroad program. The steps include:

  1. Faculty member develops the academic content for the program and seeks approval to offer it as a short-term study program or summer study-abroad program.
  2. Obtain department approval.
  3. Obtain college approval.

 

  • The UFIC works with the faculty member to develop a program budget. Faculty salary and reimbursement are provided through program fees and student tuition.

Faculty members can find additional information at the following IFIC Web site: http://www.ufic.ufl.edu/ipd/index.html. A new IFIC initiative has begun that promotes interaction between domestic and international students at UF.

Discussion Items

  • Space Issues

Associate Dean Webb indicated that some pending space decisions must be made in the College. He requested input from DAC members about current or anticipated space needs and concerns. Space needs related to several grant-funded projects and College initiatives—including a graduate research office for the Collaborative Assessment, Research, and Evaluation (CARE)[1] staff—were discussed.

In order for the available space to be re-allocated appropriately, Dean Emihovich requested that department chairpersons poll their faculty about space needs and provide this information to Associate Dean Webb as soon as possible.

  • Dean’s Advisory Committee Retreat

Dean Emihovich proposed the possibility of holding a retreat on December 19 at Kanapaha Botanical Gardens. Although no specific topics have been determined, a diversity workshop is tentatively planned for the morning. Issues related to strategic planning initiatives, College “vision,” and/or other issues may be addressed in the afternoon.

Additional information will be provided at the next DAC meeting. Dr. Miller indicated that it would be helpful for retreat attendees to have advance copies of the retreat agenda.

  • College Strategic Plan Draft

Dean Emihovich will meet with Provost David Colburn on December 2 to discuss a report that she will prepare that addresses the College of Education’s Strategic Planning initiatives. She will revise the document that was prepared last year by the College of Education to outline the College’s strategic directions in response to the UF Presidential Task Force. She has requested that the FPC and DAC review her draft report—which is intended to represent the beginning of a discussion with the UF administration—and provide guidance to her about what to include before she submits it to the Provost on November 26.

She indicated that the framing piece of the College report would address issues related to (a) children and families and (b) the preparation of high quality teachers, instructional leaders, and other professional educators. The impact of recent election results should also be noted. She presented preliminary information about topics that might be included in the report.

She requested input from the DAC members about specific ways in which the College can achieve excellence under the UF Strategic Plan with regard to Provost Colburn’s questions in his October 4 memorandum to her, Discussion of the Strategic Plan in Your College.

  • What are the core strengths in the College that align with the strategic plan that the university must fund? How far is each core strength from the “top 20” nationally, and what level of resources, period of time, and intensity of efforts would realistically be required to raise it into the top 20?

The College of Education has identified four programs that align most closely with the UF Strategic Plan and contribute significantly to the University’s emphasis on children and families. The four programs that contribute most significantly to the College of Education’s reputation, productivity, and rankings are Counselor Education, Special Education, School Psychology, and Unified Teacher Education. In last year’s report to the Presidential Task Force, the College documented the strengths of these programs.

  • What are the core strengths in the College that do not seem to align with the strategic plan, but which you, nevertheless, believe should continue to be funded (and why)? How far is each of these core strengths from the “top 20” nationally, and what level of resources, period of time, and intensity of effort would be required to raise it into the top 20?

In answering these questions, she will indicate that the faculty are aware of the academic needs of the College to improve programs and academic ranking. They are also aware of the State’s critical need for teachers and administrators, and the expectation that the College will respond to those needs responsibly and quickly. In this section she will review programs that contribute significantly to the College mission and to the University’s strategic priorities (including children and families), improving program and college rankings, and the importance of strengthening graduate education.

  • Where can the College interface successfully with the University’s interdisciplinary priorities and strengthen them and the College simultaneously?

The interdisciplinary priorities outlined by the UF Strategic Plan include children and families, brain research, internationalization, aging, ecology/environment, biotechnology, and cancer and genetics.

Dean Emihovich plans to note that teacher education is broader than College program issues alone, as evidenced by the College’s ongoing and proposed collaborative initiatives with other units, including the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the Department of Pediatrics, the Brain Institute, Engineering, and the Institute of Child Health Policy.

She presented several collaborative models that cross the boundaries of traditional disciplines, programs, and paradigms, including models that address the following broad concepts: (a) the social ecology of education, (b) language, literacy, and culture, (c) curriculum and instruction/arts in learning, and (d) integrated services in communities and schools.

After an extended discussion, DAC members recommended that the response to the Provost’s memorandum clearly reflect the priorities listed in the report that the College submitted to the UF Presidential Task Force last year. She indicated that she would focus on the priorities that the College identified in the earlier report, and that the faculty would be asked to provide additional input about how all programs might advance UF’s interdisciplinary priorities.

Dean Emihovich indicated that she would revise the report based on (a) the input that she received at the DAC meeting today and (b) additional comments and suggestions that she receives from the faculty before she submits the report to Provost Colburn.

The meeting was adjourned at 11:51 a.m.

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18 November, 2002 FPC Meeting Minutes

November 18, 2002

Room 158 Norman Hall

Members Present: Jim Archer, Phil Clark, Vivian Correa, Maureen Conroy, Silvia Echevarria-Doan, Bridget Franks, Paul Sindelar, Jane Townsend, Nancy Waldron, Elizabeth Yeager

Members Absent:  Lamont Flowers

Others Present:  Dean Catherine Emihovich, Associate Dean John Kranzler, Associate Dean Rodman Webb

The meeting was called to order by Correa at 2:06 p.m.

Agenda and Minutes

1. Approval of the agenda for November 18, 2002.

Clark made a motion to approve the agenda. Sindelar seconded the motion. Archer asked that an item be added to the agenda to discuss the College of Journalism’s response to not being designated a “core” college by last year’s report of the Presidential Task Force, and implications for the College of Education. The FPC unanimously approved the agenda.

2. Approval of the Minutes of the November 4, 2002 Meeting.

Yeager requested two revisions on page 2 related to the recommendations of the Student Recruitment and Admissions Committee concerning graduate admission decisions. She indicated that the committee supports departmental decisions regarding graduate admission and the COE draft proposal on Continuing Professional Development for Teachers dated October 22, 2002 (the words “in principal” and the qualification following the draft document date should be deleted). Sindelar made a motion to approve the minutes, with revisions. Echevarria-Doan seconded the motion. The minutes were unanimously approved.

Reports from FPC Committees

· College Curriculum Committee.

Waldron stated that the next CCC meeting is scheduled for November 25.

· Undergraduate Admissions/Petitions Committee.

Franks indicated that there was no new report from this committee since the last meeting.

· Graduate Admissions/Petitions Committee.

Echevarria-Doan announced that this committee met on November 8 to consider petitions for three students and would meet again on December 6.

· Faculty Affairs Committee.

Townsend reported that the committee would hold their next meeting on December 2.

· Research Advisory Committee.

Conroy reported that the committee addressed several issues at the meeting on November 12, including (a) revising the committee description in the COE Constitution to better reflect their function, (b) reviewing cost-sharing guidelines for grants, and (c) soliciting faculty input regarding college doctoral research requirements. Dean Emihovich will be discussing the CARE office at the next committee meeting scheduled for December 10th.

· Student Recruitment and Admissions Committee.

Yeager reported that the committee would hold its next meeting on December 11th.

· Long-Range Planning Committee.

Archer mentioned that the LRPC proposal for faculty forums would be discussed later in the meeting. The committee also reviewed the end-of-year recommendations of the 2001-2002 LRPC, which provide direction for future committee activities. The committee is attempting to clarify their role, and posed the question, “What role should a faculty committee play with regard to long range planning in the College?”

· Ad Hoc Committee on Assistant/Associate Dean Review.

Correa distributed a document that identifies a process for reviewing academic administrators that is used by the Indiana University School of Education (Review Procedures for School of Education Academic Administrators – Indiana University). The Ad Hoc Committee will be developing a similar set of procedures and will be sharing this with Dean Emihovich. The Ad Hoc committee decided to develop procedures, collect a few samples of evaluation scales, and ask the Dean to establish a formal review committee. This committee will develop an instrument and procedures that will be used to conduct the Assistant/Associate Dean review.

Correa reminded FPC members about the timeline for submission of feedback regarding the proposal on Tenure &Promotion Procedures. This topic will be an agenda item at the December 2nd meeting.

Report from the Dean

An article (Colleges find diversity is not just numbers)[1] that Dean Emihovich sent to COE faculty and staff regarding diversity issues on November 15 was distributed to FPC members.

Associate Dean Webb reported that diversity is an issue he and Dean Emihovich would like the college to consider in the coming months. The issue is not just one of recruitment (attracting students and faculty from diverse backgrounds), but also how we make the COE a more inclusive community in welcoming a diverse student and faculty population. To begin considering this issue, conversations have occurred between Dean Emihovich, Michael Bowie, and the UF Counseling Center. The Dean’s Advisory Council will hold a retreat in December on the topic, facilitated by the UF Counseling Center. Webb requested additional suggestions and involvement from the faculty regarding how best to proceed to address this important issue. Concerns were raised that the proposed process seemed to emphasize administrative input. Webb reinforced that the intent is to invite participation from the entire College – faculty, students, and staff. Meeting with the DAC is simply a first step. Correa recommended meeting with COE students, whose multiple perspectives and experiences might be helpful. Various types of diversity were discussed, including the preponderance of female faculty and students in the COE, and issues related to international students.

Dean Emihovich reported on several issues that impact the College of Education, including the following items:

  • The recent Statewide elections will impact the policies related to the rewriting of the Florida School code by the Legislature (“devolution”); specifically, the passage of Amendment 11 will result in a transfer of the authority currently vested in the K-20 Board to a new board that governs the State University System.
  • Presidential Search: A subcommittee of the Board of Trustees has met to set up the initial search process for a new president for University of Florida. College deans have provided input for the presidential search and have recommended that the candidates have strong academic credentials (AAU background is an important issue) and have experience in a large, diverse university (including diversity of academic units). The deans also recommended a smaller search committee—that must include faculty representation—and suggested that the candidates do not necessarily have to currently serve as a university president.

Dean Emihovich asked for additional FPC input about the College Strategic Planning. She will meet with Provost Colburn on December 2nd to discuss the College of Education’s Strategic Planning initiatives. She will revise and update the document that was created by the COE to outline the College’s strategic directions in response to the UF Presidential Task Force. She reiterated that the document that she submits will represent the beginning of a discussion, not a blueprint for what would necessarily unfold.

She discussed the impact that the recent elections would have on COE initiatives. The emphasis that will be focused on early childhood education may provide the impetus for the development of a state-of-the-art early childhood research center at the COE. The core strengths of the College revolve around issues related to children and families and the preparation of highly qualified professional educators.

Dean Emihovich and FPC members also discussed (a) current and proposed linkages and partnerships with other colleges and units and (b) the problems related to designing innovative collaborative programs and university rankings.

She requested that the FPC members review a draft document that she is preparing for Provost Colburn and provide input before she submits it to him on November 26.

New Business

  1. Long-Range Planning Committee Proposal for Faculty Forums

Based on the concerns and issues that were cited at the Fall Faculty Meeting, the LRPC has recommended topics for Faculty Forums that will take place on Monday, February 3, 2003 and Monday, March 3, 2003, from 2-4 PM.

Clark moved that the committee accept these dates. Yeager seconded his motion. The motion was unanimously approved by the FPC.

The topics recommended by the LRPC included the following:

    1. How to balance doctoral education and research with the demands for service and teacher preparation
    1. How to increase a sense of college identity

These topics were discussed at length, including the advisability of combining both topics into one topic for the February Faculty Forum. Recommendations included the following:

·  The focus of the February meeting should be “college identity.”

·  The focus of the March meeting should be determined by the issues and concerns that are identified at the February meeting.

·  The importance of “shared governance” with regard to the selection of topics for future Faculty Forums

·  The involvement of the LRPC and the FPC with the process of planning future Faculty Forums

·  Responsibility for hosting/sponsorship of the Faculty Forums

·  Responsibility for the facilitation of such forums

Clark recommended that Correa send an e-mail to faculty members inviting them to the February Faculty Forum—hosted by the FPC and attended by the deans—that will be a continued discussion of issues and concerns that were identified at the Fall Faculty Meeting. There will be a Faculty Forum in March that will build upon the discussion at the February Faculty Forum.

At the next FPC meeting there will be a discussion of the process/procedures for the forums, as well as information that will be shared with faculty in advance.

  1. Research Advisory Committee Proposal for Change in Constitutional Language

Conroy reported that the RAC has proposed the following revision of the committee’s function as outlined in the College Constitution:

F.(2)(b) The Research Advisory Committee shall give advice on address policies and matters relating related to research within to the College of Education Office of Graduate Studies as requested.

Conroy made a motion to approve the revisions. Clark seconded the motion. The FPC unanimously approved the wording of the proposed revision. The proposed revision will be presented at the March FPC meeting that will address changes in the College Constitution.

  1. The Impact of the Declaration of the College of Journalism about its Role as a “Priority” College at UF

Archer proposed that the FPC discuss the impact of a recent statement made by the College of Journalism regarding its designation as a “non-core” college. The statement was issued in response to the report by the Presidential Task Force on the Future of the University of Florida. The discussion focused on the impact of this declaration on other colleges—specifically the COE—that had not been listed as UF “core” colleges.

Discussion topics included the following:

·  Colleges not designated as “core” colleges face certain challenges, and need to demonstrate to the UF administration what they are capable of accomplishing.

·  Dean Emihovich has clearly communicated to the UF President and Provost the important role that the COE plays regarding children and families and in training professional educators.

·  Education is a key issue in the state and nation.

·  The COE needs to make our accomplishments more visible.

·  All of the colleges listed as “core” colleges have approached Dean Emihovich to request COE participation in collaborative efforts.

·  The COE differs in many ways from the College of Journalism with regard to such strategies. Journalism used a “media” response format, we should respond in a manner consistent with educating others about our perspectives and contributions to the university.

Adjournment

Clark moved that the meeting be adjourned. Franks seconded the motion. The committee voted unanimously to adjourn the meeting at 3:50 p.m.

[1] The article was reprinted from the New York Times (November 12, 2002 issue).

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5 November, 2002 Dean’s Advisory Council Meeting Minutes

Members present:  Dr. Michael Bowie, Dr. Vivian Correa, Dr. Harry Daniels, Dr. James Doud, Dr. Kathy Gratto, Ms. Kay Hughes, Dr. John Kranzler, Dr. James McLeskey, Dr. David Miller, Dr. Mickie Miller, Dr. Don Pemberton, Dr. Dorene Ross, Dr. Theresa Vernetson, Dr. Nancy Waldron, Dr. Rodman Webb, and Dr. Sandra Witt

Information Items

Committee members reviewed the October 15, 2002 meeting minutes. Dr. Pemberton made a motion to accept the minutes, Dr. Bowie seconded the motion, and the committee members agreed unanimously on their acceptance.

Dean Emihovich circulated packets of information from the University of Southern California, Lehigh University, and Michigan State University that contain descriptions of academic programs, centers, and related information for review by committee members. She reported that Ms. Hughes is in the process of creating a similar packet to showcase programs in the College of Education. She also circulated an announcement about the Professional Development School Conference that will take place at Towson University in Baltimore on March 27-29, 2003.

Interim Associate Dean Kranzler distributed copies of the College of Education Fact Book, 2001-2002, a document compiled by the Office of Graduate Studies and Research that reports comprehensive information about student enrollment; faculty issues related to teaching, research, and service; degrees, grades, and attrition; and provides a 2001-2002 fiscal analysis. Associate Dean Kranzler will disseminate this document to the department chairpersons and deans. He will also post it on the Office of Graduate Studies and Research Web site.

Dean Emihovich and Ms. Hughes have met with Ms. Jackie Levine, managing editor at the Gainesville Sun, and several other Sun editors and staff members in an effort to increase the future visibility of College initiatives through publication in the Sun.

Dr. Vernetson distributed handouts from a UF workshop on the Buckley Amendment that was held on October 22. She indicated that she would welcome input and questions about the Buckley Amendment and confidentiality of student records from the departments.

Drs. Doud, McLeskey, Ross, Vandiver, and several local principals will participate in a meeting that addresses issues related to “redesigning the principalship” at Innisbrook Conference Center in Tarpon Springs next week.

Dr. Correa will address a Blue Ribbon Commission on doctoral leadership in special education programs in Washington, D.C. this week.

Discussion Items

  • Proposal for Continuing Professional Development for Teachers

The Provost has requested that the College of Education submit a proposal that outlines the ways in which the College can meet the needs of teachers. Dean Emihovich and Interim Associate Dean Kranzler met with Provost David Colburn, Vice-President for Research and Graduate School Dean Winfred Phillips, and Graduate School Associate Dean Ken Gerhardt in September to discuss ways in which the College could respond to the continuing professional development needs of teachers.

The College of Education and the Graduate School have agreed to develop a proposal for the Provost’s approval. The College of Education proposal—drafted by Associate Dean Kranzler following consultation with Dean Emihovich and the Faculty Policy Council—addresses three separate issues:

  1. Teachers Pursuing the Master’s of Education (M.Ed.) and Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) Degrees
  2. Postbaccalaureate Status for Teachers
  3. Minimum GRE Requirement for All Graduate Students in the College of Education

Associate Dean Kranzler referred the draft proposal to the Faculty Policy Council (FPC) for review. The FPC referred it to the Student Recruitment and Admissions Committee (SRAC). The SRAC endorsed the draft proposal and supported it in principle with respect to the admission of students for doctoral-level graduate programs. The SRAC referred the proposal to the FPC with its recommendations. At the FPC meeting on November 4, a motion was made to approve the proposal so that it could go forward for further deliberation with the Graduate School and Provost. The FPC did not support the motion; four committee members voted for it, five voted against it, and one abstained.

Issues pertaining to the draft document were discussed, including the following:

  • Dr. Correa indicated that the proposed changes in the third section—specifically, the 900 minimum GRE score for admission—would negatively impact the students in the five-year Proteach Program, especially minority students.
  • She also reported that the minimum GRE score requirements have been historically a contentious issue for many Proteach students.
  • The importance of teachers’ professional development, including the possibility of providing professional development courses through distance education, was discussed.
  • A reconfiguration of the College’s undergraduate teacher education programs will have to be considered.
  • Pending changes in teacher certification, including a proposed national examination, will impact professional preparation programs throughout the nation.
  • The proposal would result in discrepant graduate admission standards for (a) practicing teachers and (b) students in teacher-preparation programs.
  • It was noted that the College should be allowed to set graduate admission standards that are professionally defensible and ethical; Dr. McLeskey cited the low correlation between “good teachers” and their GRE scores. He also suggested that Section 3 (Minimum GRE Requirement for All Graduate Students in the College of Education) should mirror Section 1 [Teachers Pursuing the Master’s of Education (M.Ed.) and Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) Degrees] more closely.
  • Issues were discussed related to valid documentation regarding the “success” of our graduates.
  • The costs involved in the successful recruitment of and competition for minority students were discussed.
  • There was discussion of the Graduate School requirement that an externally validated measure, such as the GRE, be used for admission decisions. Other options that have been presented for consideration have not been accepted.
  • Dr. Vernetson recommended replacing the term “teachers” by the term “professional educators” in the title of and in the first sentence of Section 2 (Postbaccalaureate Status for Teachers).
  • Options for alternative admission criteria were discussed, including no longer requiring the GRE for students in five-year professional preparation programs. Dr. Ross recommended reexamining the Proteach Program GRE-GPA data, using different data configurations (e.g., students who present a 3.4 GPA and a score of 850 or higher on the GRE) before the proposal is submitted to the Graduate School.
  • Associate Dean Webb asked whether it would be possible to add an option for allowing students to petition in the third section.
  • Dean Emihovich asked each of the chairs how their programs would be affected by setting a minimum standard of 900 on the GRE, apart from the impact it would have on the Proteach program. Each chair acknowledged it would have little effect since they do not typically accept students below this score.

Associate Dean Kranzler indicated that this proposal must go forward soon for consideration by the Graduate School.

After an extended discussion, Dean Emihovich agreed to amend the draft proposal in the following ways:

  1. Add the phrase “to include undergraduates students currently enrolled in the Unified Early Childhood and Elementary Education programs” after “certified teachers” in the first sentence of Section 1 [Teachers Pursuing the Master’s of Education (M.Ed.) and Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) Degrees]. The rationale could include that these students are close to teacher certification status. The teacher shortages in Florida and other states could also be cited.
  2. Delete all references to Proteach students in Section 2 (Postbaccalaureate Status for Teachers).
  3. Delete all references to Proteach students in Section 3 (Minimum GRE Requirement for All Graduate Students in the College of Education) since they would be covered by the changes in Section I.

Dean Emihovich indicated that she intends to present the draft proposal to the Graduate School by November 18. She also indicated that she and Associate Dean Kranzler would advise the Graduate School and Provost that the faculty are not completely supportive of the draft proposal, at least not for students in professional preparation programs.

  • Cost Sharing on Grants

Dean Emihovich plans to establish a policy (with review by and input from the FPC) that will provide for the sharing of indirect costs with the College for grants that are awarded with other units. Such cost sharing will be used to provide for the costs involved in funding College grant-related expenses. She discussed this idea at the FPC meeting on November 4, and reported that she needs the support of the faculty before she can present a proposal to the other UF deans.

  • College Strategic Planning

Dean Emihovich will meet with Provost Colburn on November 19 to discuss the College of Education’s Strategic Planning initiatives. She will revise the document that was prepared by the College of Education to outline the College’s strategic directions in response to the UF Presidential Task Force. She has requested that the FPC and DAC review this document and provide input before she submits the final version to the Provost.

She indicated that the framing piece of the College strategic plan would address issues related to children and families. She requested specific input from committee members about how the College’s programs are important for the UF strategic planning initiatives in three separate areas (a selection of responses is included under each area description):

  1. Core strengths in the College that align with the strategic plan that the University must fund.
    • External funding for children and families
    • College of Education rankings (higher than other UF units)
    • Outreach
    • Collaboration
    • Translating research into practice in different contexts
  2. Core strengths in the College that that do not seem to align with the strategic plan but should continue to be funded.
    • Partnerships
    • New instructional technologies
    • Models of cognition and learning
  3. Where the College can interface with the University’s interdisciplinary priorities and strengthen them and the College simultaneously.
    • Teacher education is broader than College program issues alone, as evidenced by the College’s ongoing and proposed collaborative initiatives with other units, including the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the Department of Pediatrics, the Brain Institute, Engineering, and the Institute of Child Health Policy.

The meeting was adjourned at 11:15 a.m.

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4 November, 2002 FPC Meeting Minutes

November 4, 2002

Room 158 Norman Hall

Members Present: Jim Archer, Phil Clark, Vivian Correa, Maureen Conroy, Silvia Echevarria-Doan, Lamont Flowers, Mirka Koro-Ljungberg (alternate for Bridget Franks), Paul Sindelar, Jane Townsend, Nancy Waldron, Elizabeth Yeager

Others Present:  Dean Catherine Emihovich, Associate Dean John Kranzler

The meeting was called to order by Correa at 2:06 p.m.

Agenda and Minutes

1.  Approval of the agenda for November 4, 2002.

Sindelar made a motion to approve the agenda as submitted by Correa. Echevarria-Doan seconded the motion. The FPC unanimously approved the agenda.

2.  Approval of the Minutes of October 21, 2002.

Echevarria-Doan requested two changes in the minutes on page 2 regarding recommendations by the Graduate Admissions/Petitions Committee for graduate admission policy changes. The minutes should read a “GPA of 2.5” instead of “3.0” in the first bulleted section, and deletion of the second bulleted section. Archer made a motion to approve the minutes (as revised), and the motion was seconded by Townsend.  The minutes were unanimously approved.

Reports from FPC Committees

· College Curriculum Committee.

Waldron stated that the CCC met on October 28th and will next meet on November 25th.

· Undergraduate Admissions/Petitions Committee.

Franks was not at the FPC meeting. There was no report for this committee.

· Graduate Admissions/Petitions Committee.

Echevarria-Doan announced that this committee would meet on November 8th.

· Faculty Affairs Committee.

Townsend reported that the committee held their second meeting today. After receiving written feedback from the departments about the Tenure and Promotion Proposal, they will review the feedback and make recommendations to the FPC. The issues of faculty “voice” and load were also discussed; Mary Brownell will meet with the Dean to discuss this matter further.

A question was raised about how FPC policy items may move to a full faculty vote, as compared to an FPC vote. In the constitution it specifies that the FPC makes the decision to either vote on a policy or have a full faculty vote.  It is not specified in the constitution the vote count needed from the faculty to approve a new policy.  Is it a simple majority? This will need to be addressed when the constitution is revised.

· Research Advisory Committee.

Conroy reported that the committee has finalized the criteria and procedures for the Faculty Travel Support Program. The committee will meet on November 12.

· Student Recruitment and Admissions Committee.

Yeager reported that the committee supports the concept of departmental decisions regarding admission to the graduate programs. She indicated that the committee supported the College of Education draft proposal on Continuing Professional Development for Teachers dated October 22, 2002.

· Long-Range Planning Committee.

Archer announced that the committee would address the April 2002 LRPC Executive Report, which delineates the types of support the COE might provide to obtain higher levels of faculty involvement in research and facilitate an increase in high quality research. Copies were distributed to FPC members. Committee meeting will be held on November 8th.

· Ad Hoc Committee on Assistant/Associate Dean Review.

This committee plans to meet with Dean Emihovich and Associate Dean Webb to determine the procedures and instruments that will be used to conduct this review.

Report from the Dean

Dean Emihovich reported on several issues that impact the College of Education.

The following items were discussed at the Provost’s Breakfast Meeting:

  • Because of a change in Statewide policies related to the rewriting of the Florida School code by the Legislature (“devolution”), the University of Florida will have the authority to set tuition to meet market demands, which will result in higher tuition fees.
  • Presidential Search: College Deans will have a meeting this week to receive an update and discuss initial search procedures and criteria for a new university president.
  • Personnel Changes: As part of the rewriting of the Florida School code by the Legislature, UF will have local employer status effective January 7, 2003. The University of Florida Board of Trustees will become the employer of all employees at UF and must therefore establish its own policies and procedures involving employment. Staff members have expressed concern about the new policies, especially those that will impact job security.
  • Tenure and Promotion: The provost will be bringing a proposal regarding new procedures and criteria for Tenure and Promotion to the UF Faculty Senate. The proposal recommends lengthening the T & P process to 7 years, with a 1 year renewal, as well as instituting a three-year formal review. The proposed changes seem consonant with the College of Education T & P Proposal that is presently being discussed by faculty.
  • SACS: A University of Florida SACS accreditation review will take place from April 7-10, 2003. The NCATE review is scheduled for April 5th – 8th.
  • International Issues:

UF International Day will be November 20th. Information about university events will be provided to faculty.

– International Students—Several changes that will impact international students were discussed, including a required health insurance co-payment (that domestic students already pay), a requirement that all full-time graduate students meet the university minimum enrollment policy (12 credit hours per semester), and a service charge of $50 incurred by the increased expense of new immigration-related paperwork required for the processing of student visas.

  • Teacher-Scholar Award: This UF award recognizes outstanding research and teaching. The nominations are due by December 6th.
  • University Minority Mentoring Program: Dean Emihovich will request information from faculty members to determine who has mentored minority students through the University Minority Mentoring Program. Dr. Jacquelyn Hart, Vice Provost for Affirmative Action Programs, UF Office of Academic Affairs indicated that COE faculty were not well represented in the current group of faculty mentors. Policy council members indicated that many faculty have been involved in the program for a number of years. Emihovich will collect faculty information and present this to Dr. Hart.

College Strategic Planning: Dean Emihovich will meet with Provost Colburn on November 19 to discuss the College of Education’s Strategic Planning initiatives. She will revise and update the document that was created by the COE to outline the College’s strategic directions in response to the UF Presidential Task Force. She requested FPC review and input regarding this document before she submits the final version to the Provost.

Cost Sharing on Grants: The Dean would like to work with the FPC to establish a policy that will specify the sharing of indirect costs (with the COE) for grants that are awarded with other units. This policy will be shared with other colleges and deans when the COE is developing new grants and contracts that involve COE faculty.

New Business

Continuing Professional Development for Teachers Proposal (Student Recruitment and Admissions Committee).

Provost Colburn met with Vice-President for Research and Graduate School DeanWin Phillips, Graduate School Associate Dean Ken Gerhardt, Dean Emihovich, and Interim Associate Dean Kranzler in September to discuss ways in which the COE could respond to the continuing professional development needs of teachers. Provost Colburn requested the submission of a proposal outlining the ways in which the needs of teachers could be met by the COE. The SRAC has endorsed this proposal and supports it in respect to the admission of students for COE graduate programs. Kranzler indicated that the goal is for the COE and Graduate School to develop a proposal for the Provost’s approval.  Given the university’s decision to eliminate post-baccalaureate students, the goal of the proposal is to create a means by which teachers may continue to be engaged in graduate programs and professional development opportunities at UF.

The COE and the Graduate School have agreed to collaborate on this proposal, which addresses three separate issues:

  1. Teachers Pursuing the Master’s of Education (M.Ed.) and Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) Degrees
  1. Postbaccalaureate Status for Teachers

3.  Minimum GRE Requirement for All Graduate Students in the College of Education

Issues pertaining to this draft document were discussed, including the following:

  • The importance of teachers’ professional development, including the possibility of providing professional courses through distance education
  • Reconfiguring the COE’s undergraduate programs
  • Pending changes in teacher certification, including national examinations
  • Statutory requirements for state-approved teacher education programs

Archer moved that the FPC accept the proposal as a negotiating document that will be presented to the Graduate School and the Provost. Yeager seconded the motion. The discussion included the following issues:

  • An effective date would have to be determined if a new admissions policy is implemented.
  • The impact of the 900 minimum GRE score for admission on students in the Proteach Program, especially on minority students
  • The discrepancy between the standards that would be set for practicing teachers and UF students presently enrolled in teacher-preparation programs
  • The setting of standards by the COE that are professionally defensible and ethical
  • Modifying the rationale from the COE perspective
  • Discussion of the Graduate School requirement that an externally validated measure such as the GRE be used for admission decisions
  • Options for alternative admission criteria

After an extended discussion, Archer amended the motion because of the impact that the 900 GRE score requirement would have on minority students. He requested that a statement be added to the first sentence in the section (Minimum GRE Requirement for All Graduate Students in the College of Education): “Petitions for students with an earned bachelor’s degree only with GRE total scores less than 900 will not be approved, except under exceptional circumstances.” Clark seconded the motion. The amended motion was discussed, and the following issues were brought up:

  • Would this represent a reversion to the current policy?
  • The effects this motion would have on Proteach students as opposed to the students in other COE programs
  • The possibility of removing section 3 entirely
  • Leave Section 3 as it is and add a stronger statement about the impact on minority students

Action Taken: The FPC voted and did not approve the revised amendment.

The FPC voted on the original motion/proposal as it is written (provided that Deans Emihovich and Kranzler advise the Graduate School of the COE reservations regarding the GRE requirement and the disenfranchisement of minority students when they negotiate the change in policy). Action Taken: The FPC did not approve the motion.

Kranzler indicated that this proposal must go forward for consideration by the Graduate School. Dean Emihovich reiterated that they would advise the Graduate School and Provost that the faculty are not wholly supportive, at least not for students in professional preparation programs. The proposal will also be discussed at an upcoming Dean’s Advisory Council meeting.

Unfinished Business

1. Continuing the Conversation of “Vision” in the College: Faculty Forums.

Correa indicated there was consensus about the need to hold one, or a series of faculty forums.  The first faculty forum could be held in December to address the COE Strategic Plan. Archer reported that the Long-Range Planning Committee would meet this week to refine the topics and questions for the forums.

Waldron suggested that a faculty forum could be held in the spring to address perspectives on teacher-preparation programs. The possibility of connecting this forum with the upcoming visiting lecture by Art Levine was discussed.

Adjournment

Archer moved that the meeting be adjourned. Sindelar seconded the motion.  The committee voted unanimously to adjourn the meeting at 3:58 p.m.

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