Minutes of the Meeting of the Deans Council
9 a.m. – August 3, 2004
Warner Conference Room
PRESENT: Finnie Murray, Lois Flagstad, Marilyn Hadley, Larry Hardesty, Robert Rycek for Frank Harrold, William Jurma, Ken Nikels and Kathy Smith
- Approval of Minutes: Tabled until August 31 meeting.
- Fall Academic Convocation: Kate Benzel, Director of the First-Year Experience would like UNK to have an Academic Convocation for students with a nationally-known figure being the featured speaker. We will talk to Faculty Senate about this. We have applied for funding through the UN.
Bob Kerrey has been suggested for the speaker. Marilyn Hadley suggested the theme of the Convocation could be used as a campus theme for the entire academic year. We should strive for topics and concepts that will lead students to be more active citizens. Statistics show that only 1 in 5 college students (18-25 years old) vote in national elections.
At a recent AASCU Meeting, VC Murray learned more about the DEMOCRACY IN AMERICA Project. He would like UNK to take part in this project too. Chadron, UNO and Wayne are involved. Dr. Murray will discuss with Kate Benzel and Peter Longo. Marilyn Hadley, Peter Longo and John Anderson did send in a proposal involving democracy and faculty teaching thereof.
Related to UNK efforts to address Summer School enrollments, Kim shared a draft survey that could be given to Summer School students to obtain useful information about reasons for attending, length of sessions, and classes offered. She then forwarded a proposal from the Ad Hoc committee reviewing summer school asking for a return to the 12-week Summer Session that would begin immediately following Commencement in the Spring. The Committee agreed that the current dates of summer school are detrimental to optimal summer offerings. At present, University campuses do not coordinate sessions. Until 2000, the summer 12-week session was scheduled for four days per week (M-Th) and began the Monday after Spring Commencement. Discussion ensued. Motion was made by Marilyn Hadley that for Summer 2005, we return to the former 12-week Summer Session. The first 4-week session would begin on Monday, May 9, and finish on Friday June 3. The 8-week session would be offered Monday, June 6, through Friday, July 29, and classes would be held four days per week. William Jurma seconded the motion. All members of the Deans Council voted ”Aye”. The motion passed.
- Salary Structure: Deans reported their discussions on Hiring Salary Structure at an informal meeting.
- Priority Program Funds: Because V Murray was going to be away the next two weeks, he asked Ken Nikels to meet with the Deans to review and prioritize all requests for Priority Program funding. He further asked the Deans to rewrite any request that might be confusing or unclear to those who will review and determine the requests.
- Fall New Faculty Staff Orientation: The schedule for new faculty orientation was presented to the Deans for approval. Final copy of agenda is hereto attached.
- Other. The Deans have now received budget information. Frank Harrold asked what procedure will be for requesting new positions for next year. It was recommended that discussions start with the Dean of the college and come forward to the Senior VC in a prioritized list for that entire college.
Marilyn Hadley has recently visited with Michelle Flieg-Palmer RE the Dual Career program. She has been working cooperatively with Good Samaritan Hospital and the City of Kearney to assist in helping spouses secure employment in Kearney. At present, the Director of Dual Career Program is 0.25 FTE. The four College Deans each fund the position $2,500 per year. The Senior VC then pays the operative costs for Michelle, and the Library has contributed funds for her to attend a conference. New federal guidelines require a minimum pay of $450 per week for monthly employees, regardless of actual time spent in the position. If the position were coded an hourly position rather than a salaried position, the level of funding for her position will be in compliance with Fair Labor Standards Act.
There being no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned. The next meeting of the Deans will be on Tuesday, August 31, 2004, at 9 a.m. in the Warner Conference Room.