Attending: Lorrie Clemo (presiding); Michael Ameigh (recording). Rameen Mohammadi, Yvonne Petrella, Richard Skolnik, Linda Rae Markert, David King, Fritz Messere, Timan Nekritz, Cathy Santos, Rhonda Mandel, Mehran Nojan.

Assigned Time:

The Council discussed issues surrounding the reduction of teaching loads through the assignment of faculty to other activities.  Mehran Nojan, Director of Institutional Research and Assessment, presented data collected during the 2009-2010 academic year.  She proposed that assigned time can be separated into two categories, essential and non-essential, and indicated the college lacks a clear policy on what is appropriate activity for such assignments.

Action item:

• Mehran and the deans will prepare a ‘white paper’ on the issue to be discussed by the Council in mid-September.

Alumni Survey results:

The Council proposed a number of program ideas in response to the Alumni Survey discussed at last week’s meeting. Lorrie indicated it is imperative that we move quickly to transform some existing and new programs into online and other formats to compete more directly with emerging competitors in those realms.

Action item:

• The Council will put together a plan by September 15th of programs we will develop in online format for delivery by January 2011 and September 2011.

Mentored Modules presentation:

Rhonda Mandel, Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, displayed a sample of web-based modular degree programs currently available internationally.  These include graduate programs available from University at Buffalo and Stony Brook University that are presented in modules and can be taken at the convenience of the student.  Students are mentored one-on-one at their own pace as opposed to participating in cohorts.

Action items:

• Rhonda will follow up with SUNY Stony Brook, ask for assistance in developing similar programs here, will determine how mentors are compensated.
• Yvonne will look into the possibility of developing modularized/mentored programs as non-credit options.

Academic Summit:

The Council reviewed a draft agenda for the Academic Summit to be held August 24^th with department chairs and program directors.  A revised agenda will be distributed to the Council for final revisions via email.

Additional Action Item:

• Council members were asked to give access to Google Mail’s calendar feature in their accounts to Darlene Abrantes, Assistant to the Provost.

Announcements:

• Rhonda announced the college has received a $200,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to continue work on the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) initiative.

• David announced an application for $450,000 has been submitted to the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation to continue work on the professional masters degree initiative he is directing for SUNY.

• Linda Rae announced a $300,000 application has been submitted to continue the School of Education’s Project Blend initiative.

• Yvonne announced that Anna Maria Mirabito has been hired to manage the Phoenix Education Center.

• The Council will not meet on August 18^th as Lorrie will be away from campus.

-adjourned