Faculty Council

Wednesday, January 12, 2005, 12:00 p.m.

Cohen House, Esther M. Cohen Dining Room

 

Present: Ed Akin, Jose Aranda, John Casbarian, Vicki Colvin, Marj Corcoran, Lynne Huffer (Speaker), Donald Morrison, Nancy Niedzielski, Bob Patten (Deputy Speaker), Caroline Quenemoen, Patricia Reiff, Herb Ward, and Mark Wiesner Absent: Steve Crowell, Rebekah Drezek, and Matteo Pasquali. Guests: Michael Gustin, Diane Havlinek, Derrick Mathews, David Tenny, and Ann Wright.

 

(1) Minutes: The minutes were approved from the December 7, 2004 business meeting.

 

(2) Self-Scheduled Exams: The business meeting was dedicated to the discussion of Self-Schedules Exams with special guests: Michael Gustin, Chair of the Teaching Committee, Diane Havlinek, Director of Enrollment, Derrick Mathews, Student Association President, David Tenny, Registrar, and Ann Wright, VP for Enrollment. 

 

Wright opened the discussion giving a brief summary of the Self Scheduled Exam issue stating that in 2003 the Registrarıs Office began researching problems associated with the Self Scheduled Exam policy.  After an internal review in the Registrarıs Office, this issue was presented to Faculty Council in Spring 2004 and was then assigned to the Teaching Committee for further review.  Major concerns identified with the Self Scheduled Exam policy include, lack of proctors to administer exams, classes below 50 students do not have the option to schedule an exam under the current system, increasing trend of Faculty members moving exams to the last week of class to by-pass this system, and administrative burdens on Faculty and Staff.

 

Gustin, Chair of the Teaching Committee presented the document Final Exam Proposal dated December 3, 2004.  This draft proposal recommended the elimination of Self-Scheduled Exams moving to a fully scheduled final exam schedule, which would include scheduled take home exams. Mathews presented the studentıs viewpoint, agreeing with the recommendation of the eliminating Self Scheduled Exams, but instead suggested replacing them with take home exams.

 

Guests answered specific questions from the Faculty Council.  Following the discussion, future steps in the Self Scheduled Exam evaluation and proposal process were outlined:

  1. Survey the faculty to see what they are currently doing in regards to final exams and request feedback on how they would revise their process should Self-Scheduled Exams be eliminated.
  2. Obtain input and recommendations from the Honor Council.
  3. Obtain input and recommendations from the Student Association
  4. Teaching Committee to review all information and draft a proposal to present to Faculty Council.

 

(3) Governance Reform: The January 26, 2005 business meeting will be devoted to governance reform.

 

(4) Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 1:15 p.m., with the next Faculty Council business meeting scheduled for January 26, 2005.

 

Sarah Holloman

Executive Assistant