College of Engineering, Mathematics, and Science

Executive Council Minutes

November 16, 2006

 

Members Present:    J. Clifton,  C. Cornett, M. Gill , P. Jinkins, A. Masoom, S. Owusu-Ababio, L. Riedle, K. Rolle, R. Shultz, D. St.John, S. Wills

 

Absent:  M. Anderson, M. Muslu

 

Visitors:  T. Salmon-Stephens, H. Evensen, P. Sealy (for M. Muslu)

 

Minutes from November 2, 2006 were not available for approval.

 

Announcements:

 

  1. Sheryl said that the 34th Annual Mathematics Contest was held yesterday, Wednesday, November 15.  There were 36 high schools with 5,500 students attending.  It was a successful event.
  2. Tammy reported having 36 faculty and staff attend the EMS Advising Workshops on November 1st and 3rd.  They were well received.
  3. Tammy said that the Women in Engineering Open House went very well last week.  She thanked Lisa for the suggestion.  Tammy would like to do this every semester.
  4. Tammy said that the Women in Engineering Career Day held on October 30th also went well.  There were 86 students and 30 parents attending.  She mentioned that there would not be a spring career day.
  5. Tammy announced that the Women in Engineering Advisory Board Meeting will be tomorrow, Friday, November 17th.  Anyone is welcome to attend the lunch at 12:00 noon.  Please let her know is you are interested.
  6. Phil Sealy mentioned that the EXPO Committee needed contests for EXPO.  He asked that the Departments submit these contests as soon as possible to Phil.
  7. Rich announced that after discussions with Dan Weinacht, ABET Team Leader, the weakness in Electrical Engineering has disappeared.  There is still one weakness in Civil and Environmental Engineering.  That response will be addressed by February 2007.

 

Agenda:

 

1.      UUCC – EP 4130 Microsystems and Nanotechnology

Hal Evensen passed out a request for approval of this course.  A motion was made and seconded that approval was contingent upon approval from the individual departments involved with this course.  Discussion followed and there were several concerns mentioned regarding math prerequisites, etc.  Rich thought that the Council was not comfortable with the prerequisites justifying a 4000 level course.  A motion was made and seconded to table this course.  All were in favor.

 

2.  Higher Learning Commission (HLC) Update

Abulkhair and several others have been involved for several years preparing for the visitation of HLC.  HLC will be here December 3-5 and chairs and program coordinators are strongly encouraged to attend the 4:00 p.m. meeting on Tuesday, December 5 at the Pioneer Student Center (no room yet).  If all goes well, the next visit will be 2016.

     3.  Undergraduate Catalog

Lisa asked that everyone get their catalog updates to her no later than February 1.  Lisa will need to review and make sure that all departments’/programs’ pages are consistent within the college pages.  The final updates are due to the Registrar’s Office by February 15th.

 

3.      Late Withdrawal from Classes

Lisa said that a late withdrawal form was created last year and it is working well.  All students are notified within a week if they have approval for late drops.  She would like everyone to

remind students that they need to pay late drop fees.  A statement to this effect is going on the revised late drop form.

 

4.      Other

1.                  Kurt submitted some prerequisite changes for four courses, ME 2630, ME 3300, ME 3640, and ME 4930.  There was a lengthy discussion concerning these changes.  Rich said that if these prerequisites are approved, he would like Kurt to keep track of the number of waivers for the senior design class for a one-year period.  Lisa would like to see how this would change the four-year plan before it’s approved.  A motion was made to table these prerequisite changes until the next meeting.

2.                  Lisa mentioned that David Van Buren asked her to bring to everyone’s attention that an elementary foreign language does not count towards a language requirement.  Please share with faculty in programs/departments.

3.                  Rich asked the chairs to email him with the pieces of equipment that each Department still has to purchase through the DIN account.

4.                  Rich asked that second semester contracts be turned in after Thanksgiving to him.

5.                  Rich wanted everyone to think about how to administratively house the Nano Mems minor.  This will be discussed at the next meeting.

6.                  Rich announced that the College meeting will be held on Thursday, December 7th at 4:00 p.m., 144 Ottensman.  The College dinner could not be arranged with WSPE so there wouldn’t be one for the fall.  The exemplary faculty awards will be presented at the College meeting on December 7th.  Please share this information with your faculty.

 

The meeting adjourned at 2:59 p.m.