Present: William R. Johnson, Daphne G. Spain, Donald J. Innes, Jr., Robert Davis, Joanne Bechta Dugan, Daniel P. Hallahan, Patricia A. Werhane, Doris F. Glick, Barbara Nolan, David T. Gies

Guest: James H. Aylor, Chair of the Department of Electrical Engineering

William R. Johnson, Chair of the Academic Affairs Committee, gave the welcoming remarks and had everyone introduce himself or herself.

Joanne Bechta Dugan, a professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering, reported on her department's request for a new degree program, which is to be called Computer Engineering. James H. Aylor, Chair of the Department of Electrical Engineering, came to the meeting to support the request for the program. Ms. Dugan gave an overview of the history of the degree proposal, which she said spans topics in both the Department of Electrical Engineering and the Computer Science Department. She reported on the goals, admission requirements, and the curriculum of the new program. The program has already been approved by the Computer Science and the Electrical Engineering departments, and already has been accredited, Ms. Dugan reported. Mr. Aylor stated that he is in strong support of the program. After questions and answers among the group, a motion was made to approve the new degree proposal, the motion was seconded, and it passed unanimously. The motion will go before the full Senate at the October 4 Faculty Senate meeting.

David T. Gies reported to the Committee regarding the charge to the Committee and ongoing initiatives that the Committee will continue to work on this year. These initiatives include the Faculty Senate Teaching Initiative and faculty/student interaction. The Committee will also work on the Teaching and Research initiative that is this year's Faculty Senate theme, and they will work on other issues as they arise.

Mr. Gies reported that a proposed Faculty Senate resolution on the University's policies on affirmative action will be presented to the Senate at the October 4 meeting, asking for a vote of approval.

The theme for the Faculty Senate this year, "Teaching, Research and the Creation of Knowledge," for which discussions began at the Faculty Senate Retreat, will be further discussed at the October 4 Senate meeting. The Senate will identify goals it hopes to achieve with this initiative and establish a forum to address the issues raised so that these goals can be met.

Mr. Johnson reported on this year's agenda for the Academic Affairs Committee. The agenda will include participation in the upcoming Teaching Initiatives Forum, which is scheduled for October 1, from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. The Faculty Senate Teaching Initiative is in its third year, and will need to be evaluated this year, Mr. Johnson reported. The Committee discussed ways to approach the evaluation process. A subcommittee will be formed to look at such things as the success of previous Teaching Initiative projects, and reviewing this year's proposals. The subcommittee will include Daniel Hallahan, Patricia Werhane, Doris Glick, and Barbara Nolan. The chair of this subcommittee will soon be appointed.

In addition, a subcommittee will be formed to gather information and evaluate the success of the Teaching Initiative, and they will submit their findings to the Provost. This subcommittee will include Daphne Spain, someone from the Teaching Resource Center, and Joanne Dugan.

A subcommittee will also be formed to continue last year's work on faculty/student interactions, which submitted recommendations to the Committee last year. Some of these recommendations will be addressed this year. The members of this subcommittee will be Robert Davis, Donald Innes, Jr., and a third Committee member to be appointed.

The next meeting date was set. The Committee will meet at noon on Friday, October 29, with lunch being provided. Further details of this meeting will be forthcoming.

The meeting adjourned at 4:35 p.m.