COMMITTEE: Academic Awards

MEETING DATE: Feb. 1, 2007

PERSON PRESIDING: Patricia Dragon (chair)

REGULAR MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE: Charles Boklage, Jessica Christie

EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE: Sylvie Henning

OTHERS IN ATTENDANCE: Dot Clayton

ACTIONS OF MEETING

Agenda Item: Approval of the December 7, 2006 committee minutes

Discussion: None. Minutes were not available.

Action Taken: Agreed to table the approval until the next meeting or until minutes are distributed by email.

Assigned additional duties to: None.

Agenda Item: Progress report from the various teaching and research award subcommittees.

Discussion: P. Dragon reviewed reports that she had received via email prior to the meeting.

J. Williams wrote that the finalists had been notified for the Max Ray Joyner Award, and that teaching CDs were due on Feb. 15. The group intends to make a final decision by the end of February.

R. Powers wrote that the letter containing nominees’ names for the 5 year and lifetime research awards had been delivered to Dr. Mageean. The letter requested that the Academic Awards Committee be notified when the nominees had been contacted. This subcommittee has completed its work.

P. Dragon reported that the finalists had been notified for the University Alumni Award for Outstanding Teaching. Teaching videotapes will be due about the first of March, and the group will make their final decision by the end of March.

Action Taken: None.

Assigned additional duties to: None.

Agenda Item: Progress report from Dot Clayton on the activities for the two Board of Governors’ Teaching Awards.

Discussion: D. Clayton reported that the subcommittee for the Award for Excellence in Teaching had completed its work, having forwarded its recommendations. The subcommittee for the Distinguished Professor award has begun reviewing portfolios, and will finish its work in March.

Action Taken: None.

Assigned additional duties to: None.

Agenda Item: Discuss how to ameliorate the confusion about who the administrative representatives on the award subcommittees are next year.

Discussion: P. Dragon related the difficulties the University Alumni Awards subcommittee had had ascertaining the names of and involving the administrative representatives on this subcommittee. It was decided that not much could be done, other than that subcommittee chairs should keep in contact with the membership of their subcommittees, beginning as early as possible, making sure that all members understand the commitment required of them, and should speak up if representatives are missing from their membership. D. Clayton said that she would forward any and all information she receives regarding administrative representatives.

Action Taken: None.

Assigned additional duties to: None.

Agenda Item: Other committee business.

Discussion: Concern was raised over how little time nominees have to put together their portfolios, especially since the deadline was moved back to Nov. 1 this year. It was suggested that perhaps colleges and schools could be requested (or required) to provide the names of their nominees to the Academic Awards Committee by the end of the spring semester, in order to give the nominees the summer to gather their portfolios.

Action Taken: None.

Assigned additional duties to: D. Clayton will check with Lori Lee on the feasibility of making this request.

NEXT MEETING: March 1, 2007 (likely to be cancelled in favor of email reports from still-active subcommittees)

ITEMS TO BE DISCUSSED: