|
 |
List of all Retention Council Agendas & Minutes
Agenda & Minutes for May 7, 2003
| |
Agenda of the Retention Council
Bartlett Room 262, NHII 10:00 a.m. - Noon
| I. |
Announcements and Introductions |
Horace Smith |
| II. |
Approval of the April minutes |
|
| III. |
Update on the Class Scheduling Proposal |
Ron Cavanagh |
| IV. |
Seniors 114+ Study*
How are we doing?
What are we learning?
|
Tim Wasserman, School/College Representatives |
| |
(* Some materials were distributed in anticipation of this discussion at the last meeting- please bring those with you) |
| V. |
Other Business |
|
| Next Meeting: June 4, 2003 Bartlett Room 262 NH II |
Minutes of the Retention Council
In Attendance: Charles Barletta, Maureen Breed, Ron Cavanagh, Andrew Clark, James Duah-Agyeman, Bea Gonzalez, Marlene Hall, Sandra Hurd, Dave Kohr, JoAnn May, Ken Miles, Jane Neuburger, Lena Rose Orlando, Michael Olivette, Felicia Proud, Amie Redmond, Rebecca Reed Kantrowitz, Hanna Richardson, Donald Saleh, Anne Shelly, Steve Simon, Eric Spina, Martha Sutter, Seth Tucker, Michael Wasylenko, Tim Wasserman, Barry Wells
I. Announcements
Introduce - Horace Smith introduced Jane Neuburger, Director of the Learning Resource Center, and Steve Simon, Director of the Office of Disability Services.
Horace Smith - Requested that Council members, where able, support the legislature in restoring higher education funding.
Minutes from April 9, 2003 meeting approved unanimously.
II. Update on Class Scheduling
Cavanagh - Feedback to date: Students don't like new schedule. Faculty do like it (only 10 have responded). Proposed class scheduling paradigm issues:
Reduce conflicts caused by scheduling overlap, increasing student access to courses.
To increase twice-weekly, 80 minute blocks.
Maintain 3 times a week, 55 minutes availability for those courses deemed appropriate for it.
To create more continuous research time, consultation time, advising time.
To create a time period during the instructional week where no courses are offered so large events may be scheduled.
Incorporate Friday as a full instructional day.
To make the most effective use of the classrooms available for assignment.
Wednesday afternoon time block is misunderstood. It has been interpreted that this block means nothing is happening on Wednesday or some feel that events can only be scheduled in this block.
Wasylenko - Advocates two open blocks (Tuesday-Thursday) to cut competing events.
Faculty (10) are making the case that students won't attend Friday afternoon classes.
Saleh - How is the effort to insure broad distribution of courses across the schedule being managed?
Cavanagh - Existing courses will be automatically converted to new blocks as a suggestion.
Saleh - What prevents faculty from avoiding Tu/Fr schedules?
Cavanagh - Current Tu/Th will automatically convert to Tu/Fr. These pre-schedules will be given to schools/colleges for review asking them to review for bunching. Also, there are not enough rooms for all classes to be changed to avoid Tu/Fr. Also, only Deans and VC are the only ones that can approve such schedule changes. So, Deans will be accountable for such changes.
Wasylenko - If we have bunching, how and if we automatically convert them won't we still be bunching on Tuesday and Friday?
Cavanagh - Yes, but when Deans review the schedule they will allow some spreading out from this date to reduce bunching.
Wasylenko - Should there be a set of scheduling guidelines for scheduling staff at school/college level as a "front line" for previewing bunching?
Cavanagh - Students argue that the proposed system allows faculty to pick schedule for their convenience and that three days a week is better for learning. Research suggests this is true for some fields. Other comments have stated this also points out that faculty want to be here minimal amount of time. Deans will have to address the concerns internally.
Shelly - Concern that the proposed schedule may impact part-time faculty?
Cavanagh - Deans have acknowledged concern but are willing to address the issues.
May - Has the committee considered increasing numbers of evening classes?
Proud - Wednesday time will really be valuable for student services needs particularly for special populations like athletes whose time is tight.
Neuburger - Comes from school that has common time and it works. Also, questions number of two day a week classes pedagogically.
Grassi - Overwhelming number of three-day a week courses are lower-division, thus, freshman naturally will clump in three-day blocks for curricular reasons.
Cavanagh - Senate vote will be called in October after a series of town meetings. Chancellor will move quickly after a vote to make a decision. If all works out, new schedule will be used for Fall 2004.
III. Seniors 114+ Study
Gonzalez - Were students noted as IUT-ing to UC on the list?
Wasserman - This was not reported.
Richardson - Regular reminders of need for data will be helpful. Identified students as putting off calc. and causing problems later graduating. SummerStart.
Gonzalez - Presented unfinished business project - offered to expand beyond student athletes.
Redmond - agrees with Richardson that regular nudges are helpful. Really appreciates this effort.
Saleh - Wouldn't many of these students have graduated anyway in the 5th and 6th year?
Wasserman - Possibly but interviewing early frees resources for dealing with harder cases later.
Richardson - contacting earlier these student are easier to reach.
Grassi - agrees with Saleh that many will graduate anyway.
Miles - appreciates list and its prompting to reach out.
Shelly - Is the four year timing optimal and the January time good? General affirmation that timing is good.
Sutter - How do you handle students that definitely learn for other institutions or other reasons? Do you want these identified?
|
| |
|
