SENATE EDUCATIONAL POLICIES MEETING SUMMARY

October 21, 1996

Attending: Susan Whitney, Chair; J. R. Blachère; David Crossman ; J. T. Cain; Jack Daniel; Barbara Fredette; Leon Khaimovich; Brenda Manning; Tom Metzger; Susan Neuman; Tony Silvestre.

1. The Committee approved the summary of the last meeting.

2. Dr. Whitney reported that the Committee's feedback to the SEPC report was sent to the Senate. The University Times accurately reported the Committee's position. A final report will be issued in the next few weeks.

3. Discussion of Founder's Day was tabled.

4. Dr. Silvestre reported on the Ad Hoc Faculty Survey Task Force Report. The task force was established last May to gather faculty input about enhancing teaching. After a number of meetings, the task force concluded that asking faculty input with little likelihood that actions could be taken on specific recommendations would be counter productive. At the same time, it appears that the Development Office is ready to assist faculty seeking funding on specific proposals. It appears that the Committee's goal to increase faculty initiatives to enhance teaching could be promoted by establishing mechanisms or re-focusing existing ones to establish occasional or long-term links among faculty interested in enhancing teaching and between faculty and funding sources.

Committee discussion concluded that the Center for Instructional Development could play a significant role in establishing and maintaining such linkages. Center administrators will be invited to a future meeting of the Committee to discuss the matter.

Further, the Committee discussed a number of options for bringing faculty together. These included an open forum with a panel consisting of past winners of the award for teaching; faculty workshop(s)dealing with grants and other external funding for enhancing teaching; additional methods for disseminating information about the Center for Instructional Development services; and faculty workshops on specific topics related to enhancing teaching.

A number of names were discussed for invitation to the panel of past awardee. There was general agreement that the forum be held before the March 20 faculty conference.

5. Dr. Daniels provided an update on peer evaluation of teaching. The provost's office will send a letter asking Deans to report on their school's experience with peer evaluation. Dr. Daniel will report on the their responses at the December 2, 1996.

6. Dr. Whitney distributed a letter from the University Times dealing with core undergraduate requirements and invitation for Senate nominations.

The meeting adjourned at 3:10 p.m. (Respectfully submitted by A. Silvestre)