The meeting was held in the 6th floor conference room, the William Pitt Union

Attending: Tom Metzger, Chairman; Diane B. Brubaker; Kerry Holzworth; Evelyn Talbott; Tony Silvestre and guest, Andrew Blair.

1. Report of the Chair:

a. Tuition is expected to increase 4% next year.

b. The "Revenue and Cost Attribution Methodology and Study for Fiscal Year 1999" report is completed and but not yet officially accepted.

c. The Senate accepted the Provost's computer plan. He will revise the report based on input. The final report will be sent to the Senate after it is officially issued. Dr. Metzger raised two major issues during the discussion. First, he suggested that the report specifically state that the modem situation will be reviewed every two years. Second, that the report ask schools to consider giving adequate support to part-time faculty and GSRs.

d. A committee is being set up to develop an evaluation of committee chairs. Our chair will be a member of the committee and will be sure to see that "attention to teaching" is adequately dealt with. The Council of Deans will review the evaluation.

2. Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs: Dr. Andrew Blair

Among other things, Dr. Blair convenes the Advisory Council on Instructional Excellence. The Council put together by the Provost includes many past winners of teaching awards. The Council has three subcommittees. The first is the Instructional Grants Program. The Program made its first awards days ago. Fifteen faculty out of 68 who submitted proposals were funded. The awards ranged from under $5,000 to $28,000. Cost varied according to the scope of the project.

The second subcommittee oversees CIDDE. Dr. Blair noted that Course Info is being widely used by faculty. He suggested that data are being gathered by CIDDE that will describe the faculty utilizing their services. The third subcommittee is the Faculty Development subcommittee. At this time, the group is gathering information about faculty development from other campuses.

3. Nominations for Chairman

Dr. Talbott nominated Dr. Metzger for Chair for 2000-2001. Ms. Brubaker seconded the nomination. At Dr. Metzger's suggestion, nominations were not closed so that other members of the committee will have the opportunity to make additional nominations at our next meeting.

4. 2000-2001 Agenda

Dr. Metzger asked for suggestions for our agenda of activities for next year. For items were identified.

a. Gathering information about how departments use student evaluations

b. Reviewing CIDDE data to ascertain who is using their services and the impact of services on the faculty in general.

c. Pursuing our concerns about part-time faculty

d. Reviewing issues around teaching a diverse student body

The Chair announced that the next meeting of the Committee will be on Tuesday, May 16, 2000 at 11 a.m. in room 637 of the William Pitt Union.

The meeting adjourned at 12:30 p.m.

Respectfully submitted: Anthony J. Silvestre