University of Nebraska Kearney

Minutes of the Meeting of the Deans Council
Thursday, April 6, 2006 – 9:30 a.m.
Warner Conference Room

PRESENT:  Finnie Murray, Bruce Forster, Larry Hardesty, Marilyn Hadley, Frank Harrold and William Jurma

ABSENT:     Ken Nikels, Lois Flagstad,

GUESTS:     Rick Miller, Dennis Potthoff and Martha Kruse

1. Rick Miller and Dennis Potthoff RE Chair Roles and Responsibilities:  Rick Miller and Dennis Potthoff distributed, discussed and answered questions regarding handouts titled “Roles & Responsibilities of the UNK Department Chair” and “Council of Chairs Meeting – Prioritization of TOPICS for 2004-05”.  Discussion was held on the role of the department chair and how it is large and is increasing.  There is also a high turnover rate in the chair position.  Rick and Dennis explained how they had had several retreats and had done a survey two years ago to see what needed to be changed to assist the chairs.
2. Martha Kruse RE Writing Intensive Proposal from Faculty Senate:  Martha discussed and answered questions regarding the revisions to the Writing Intensive Policies made by Faculty Senate.  The revisions she discussed are as follows:
   1. Reduce WI requirements from 12 hours to 6 hours.
   2. Require 3 hours of WI to be taken within the student’s program of study.  WI will be assessed in this course.
   3. Require each program of study to develop a plan to teach writing in the discipline as well as writing objectives.
   4. Enforce the class size limitation of 25.

   The WI/CD Committee agreed that Fall 2007 would be the most feasible date for implementation of the revised policy.

   Discussion was held on the fact that samples of writing can vary from different disciplines, and there being over 200 majors just in the College of Natural and Social Sciences, it would be a lot to ask for a rubric from each one.  Martha explained that Writing Intensive is more labor intensive as it takes a lot of time to grade. 

There being no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned.  The next meeting of the Deans will be on Tuesday, April 11, 2006 at 9:00 a.m. in the Warner Conference Room.