Present: Susan Coultrap-McQuin (presiding), Michael Ameigh (recording), Mary Beth Bell, Lanny Karns, David King, Rhonda Mandel, Linda Rae Markert, Walter Opello, Yvonne Petrella, Mary Schoeler, Sara Varhus.

1.  Announcements and updates:

- Congratulations to Rhonda and ORI committee for work on lecture by Sherman Alexie, author of "The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven."

-Susan announced that Honors Convocation will be held Friday afternoon, April 15, and that Quest Day is scheduled for Wednesday, April 20. A formal announcement from the President's office will be forthcoming. Please encourage faculty and staff to participate in the event.

- Susan indicated she has received and welcomes minutes of meetings from departments and divisions for purposes of learning more about our university.

- Yvonne announced that access to Swetman Hall will improve with the opening of doors and walkways previously closed for construction. This will happen shortly.

2.  Budget:

Susan announced that we have a budget for 2004-2005 and it will be distributed shortly. OTPS remains the same; the division has a clear count of full-time faculty lines. As we move forward,  all requests to transfer funds from one account to another needs to be processed through the Office of the Provost to forward to the Budget Office.  Conversely, the Provost has asked the Finance Office not to seek transfers directly from deans and directors.

3.  Searches:

Susan indicated we will continue to move forward on searches. She will be meeting with Priorities and Planning Committee this Friday (10-8-04), accompanied by deans.  A discussion of what we are looking for in our faculty members ensued.  She asks that all candidates for faculty positions be required to do presentations to classes and that there be an opportunity for student feedback.  She encouraged everyone to pay careful attention to the crafting of advertisements for faculty.  She will draft a template description of Oswego and faculty based on our discussion that might be used in our ads.

4.  Sabbaticals:

We discussed the importance of quality proposals and reports and the process of ensuring them. A call for applications will be distributed shortly.

5. Topics for our next meeting will include brainstorming on size and mix of academic programs and types of faculty appointments, discussion of current faculty development, and annual goals of each unit. 

-Adjourned