December 13, 2000 (2:00-3:30 p.m.)

Newcomb Hall, Room 389 Minutes

Present: Doris Glick, Kenneth Elzinga, Daphne Spain, Robert Davis, Daniel Hallahan, Elliott Weiss Guest: Marva Barnett, Director of the Teaching Resource Center

Doris Glick, Chair of the Academic Affairs Committee, called the meeting to order. The minutes for the November 8, 2000, Academic Affairs Committee were read and approved.

I. Announcements: A. Ms. Glick announced that Marva Barnett will attend this meeting to discuss the possibility of a Faculty Senate-sponsored workshop on intellectual diversity, or interdisciplinary departmental collaborations. Ms. Glick has spoken to Ms. Barnett by phone, and would like to bring the discussion to the entire Committee.

B. Patricia Werhane will recruit two people to co-chair the subcommittee on graduate student funding. C. Karin Wittenborg, University Librarian, will report on library issues at the upcoming Senate meeting, to be held on Friday, December 15th.

II. Teaching Initiative Evaluation: The Committee discussed the Teaching Initiative Survey. Fifty two responses have been received (from the 95 projects funded). Ken Elzinga's group will evaluate these for the final evaluation report. Discussion focused on how the information gathered should be disseminated. Some of the ideas discussed: · put the results on the Senate's web page · e-mail deans and others with the information · develop a brochure on Creative Teaching to be included with the Provost's New Faculty Orientation packet of information · have the information included in the President's Report (Daphine Spain will investigate this possibility) · updates and/or an article in Alumni News Magazine (Ken Elzinga will investigate this possibility)

III. Discussion on diversity: Ms. Barnett gave the Committee an overview on how diversity has emerged into discussions at the University. Diversity was first discussed and recommendations made with the University's Self-Study. Diversity was addressed at the Faculty Senate Retreat, and was addressed by the Academic Affairs Committee during Edward Ayers' term as Chair of the Committee. In addition, Ms. Barnett is involved in diversity issues at the Teaching Resource Center. The Committee discussed ideas about ways to use the remainder of the Teaching Initiative funds to merge teaching and intellectual diversity at the University. Robert Davis suggested that one way the funds could be used would be as "seed money" to begin an interdisciplinary undergraduate teaching and research course, which would be a collaboration between a student and a faculty member. Further discussion focused on obstacles to interdisciplinary teaching that evolve from difficulties in sharing funding and distribution of faculty FTEs between departments.

The recommendation that emerged was to develop opportunities to fund several projects to support teaching across disciplines. This would be a one time pilot project, to evaluate the outcomes of interdisciplinary collaborative efforts. Committee members agreed that this is a good recommendation. This is consistent with the original intent of the money to support teaching, and supports the Faculty Senate's focus on diversity. Ms. Glick will take the recommendation to Pat Werhane and Peter Low for feedback.

Ms. Glick said there may be a new program proposal to come before the Committee in the Spring.

The next meeting was set for Monday, January 29, from 3:30-5:00 p.m., in Room 389 at Newcomb Hall. The meeting adjourned at 3:05 p.m.