COMMITTEE: Academic Awards Committee

MEETING DATE: September 4, 2008

PERSON PRESIDING: Patricia Dragon (Past Chair)

REGULAR MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE: Sue Steinweg, Carolyn Willis, Rebecca Powers, Chris Jantzen

EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE: Dorothy Muller

OTHERS IN ATTENDANCE: Jan Tovey (Chair of the Faculty), Lori Lee

ACTIONS OF MEETING

Agenda Item: Elect committee officers

Action Taken: Chair: Rebecca Powers; Vice-Chair: Chris Jantzen; Secretary: Jessica Christie

Agenda Item: Begin sign-up for subcommittees.

Discussion: Patricia went over the 5 subcommittees that need to be formed, their deadlines, and their procedures. She said that all committee members, including ex-officio members, should expect to sign up for two subcommittees, with the exception of AAC officers. Some members of the group voiced preference for some subcommittees.

Dorothy announced that the teaching awards ceremony was scheduled for April 28, 2009, and that the entire AAC was encouraged to attend. She also requested the input of the AAC in planning the ceremony.

Action Taken: The group decided to make the rest of the subcommittee assignments over email before Nov. 1.

Agenda Item: Scholarship of Engagement Awards to be developed (Cf. AAC report to Faculty Senate, May 2008)

Discussion: The group discussed the Scholarship of Engagement Awards that we recommended be created at our report to the Faculty Senate in response to the ECU Tomorrow initiative. Patricia reported that Dr. Mageean was very receptive to the idea and had indicated that planning for such awards was already underway. Jan Tovey suggested that since such an award ought to come under the purview of the AAC, the committee draft award descriptions and procedures and present these to Dr. Mageean.

Action Taken: This was listed as a committee goal for this year.

Agenda Item: Research awards: 5 year or Lifetime?

Discussion: Patricia read an email she received from Paul Gemperline with a question he had gotten regarding whether it would be possible for unsuccessful nominees for the Lifetime Achievement Award to be automatically considered for the 5 year award. There was concern that the criteria for the awards was different enough to make this unadvisable. Dorothy suggested that there was no reason why a person could not be nominated for both awards (with two nomination letters and two packets) simultaneously.

Action Taken: The group agreed to discuss this question via email and respond to Paul as quickly as possible.

NEXT MEETING: October 2, 2008 (likely cancellation—next meeting after that would be Nov. 6, 2008)

ITEMS TO BE DISCUSSED: