Minutes of December 6 APPC Meeting

Monday, December 6, 2004

 

Present: Bruce Bennett, Emily Rose Smith, Alice Jordan, Sally Sievers, Yasmine Jaber, Nicole Pellegrino, Jeri Vargo, Karla Leybold-Taylor, Susan Talbot, Ellen Hall, Carolyn Denard, Muin Uddin, Amy Staples, Victor Penniman.

 

Meeting called to order by Amy Staples at 12:40PM

 

Corrections of minutes from 11/29/04 meeting:

Religion position currently filled by a visiting professor (A. Bellinzoni’s position) would not “automatically” be converted to tenure track but would include a “request to change” to a tenure track position as soon as possible.

With corrections, Victor moved approval. Susan Talbot seconded the motion.

 

Agenda:

Course approval:

Hist 285 History of Modern India. Three credits. Visiting professor William Kuracina from Syracuse University. Already sent out course description. This is a sabbatical replacement for Beatrice Farnsworth.

 

Experiential Learning proposal:

ASA gives approval “if” students can mix and match—use old plan and/or new plan to satisfy requirements.

S. Sievers: thinks so—no problem educationally—would encourage participation in experiential learning in any case.

N. Pellegrino—thinks not. Students should have no problem choosing one or the other requirements.

C. Denard--- asked isn’t mixing going to happen by default—that is, doesn’t the new plan include the requirements of the old plan with new additions.

K. Leybold-Taylor—no, not by default. In old plan students could use an Independent Study to satisfy requirement—in new plan they cannot. Mix and match would actually allow more Experiential Learning opportunities. Now only time is over January.

N. Pellegrino—can’t imagine why someone can’t choose one or the other.

Alice Jordan--Student basic survival will sometime prevent WILL students from completing internships—especially in January. Students with families sometimes have to work 3 jobs in January.

Emily Rose Smith: Confirmed that Freshwomen, Sophomore, and Juniors would be the students affected by this.

K. Leybold-Taylor moved to approve the APPC proposal with the change recommended by ASA. J. Vargo seconded.

The new proposal would take effect for students entering in Fall 2005; others can choose old or new requirements, or a combination of the two.

 

A. Staples called for vote: Approved: In Favor: 13. Opposed: 1

 

A. Staples asked that we change Part 4 , Page 3 of the proposal to read that students could satisfy either the old or the new plan to complete their experiential learning requirement (3 January term options or 3 experiential learning opportunities), or could combine the old and new requirements (for example, do one January independent study and two experiential learning opportunities).

 

A. Staples will send a notice of motion for December faculty meeting to Christina Wahl. Vote for approval will be at February faculty meeting.

 

Dean Hall on the Board of Trustees meeting:

Board of Trustees meeting went well.

 

The Board did not vote at this meeting.

 

The Senior Staff presented a draft of the operational plan for three years to the Board . In general, the Board was very favorable. Some tweaks were requested here and there, but nothing in the academic area. The discussion included enhanced technology, and refurbishing of the classrooms. Requested three positions each year over the next three years. Would become part of the faculty initiatives of the Strategic Plan. Should be approved formally by end of the month.

 

Dean Hall reiterated that the funds earmarked for transition will be $1.4 to $1.6 million over time.

 

The Board will review the plan annually to see what is needed. They were pleased that the operational plan was moving forward. The Board believed their decision and the planning associated with it would enhance the quality of the College.

 

Discussion of Wells 101 was tabled until February.

 

Announcement that Emily Rose Smith and Yasmine Jaber are going abroad this coming Spring semester.

 

Introduced Amy Truax, Co-Vice President of Activism Symposium:

Came to meeting to request the endorsement from APPC for the March 4, 2005 Activism Symposium. The theme for this year’s Symposium: “The Activist’s Tool Kit.” Margaret Agosin will be guest speaker on March 4.

Symposium leaders are looking for ways to integrate symposium into course syllabi.

S. Sievers: Would endorsement mean requiring faculty to cancel classes or encouraging students to attend and, thus, allowing them to leave classes to go to Symposium?

N. Pellegrino: Committee is putting together booklet so that faculty can find way to incorporate aspects of the symposium into the syllabus.

A.Staples. Encouraged this endorsement and noted that we have supported this event in the past. Would not require faculty to cancel classes, but would give APPC support to the program.

E. Hall moved to have APPC support symposium. J. Vargo seconded the motion.

APPC gave unanimous support for the Activism Symposium.

 

Summary of strategic planning and adjournment:

C. Denard gave a short summary of strategic plan work. Have had 48 responses on preferences from the original list of suggestions. Subcommittees will tally responses and report to full committee. The Strategic Planning Committee will have its final meeting of the semester on December 17 to develop a vision statement from all responses and preferences.

 

Meeting adjourned at 1:45 PM.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Carolyn Denard, Associate Dean of the College


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Posted 2/16/05