WILLIAM MARSH RICE UNIVERSITY

Minutes of the Faculty Meeting

May 08, 1998

1. Minutes

2. Approval of lists of candidates for degrees

3. Approval of undergraduate honors

4. Teaching prizes and awards

5. Recognition of retiring faculty

6. Tribute to deceased colleague, Albert Tipton

7. Faculty accomplishments

8. Announcements

1. Minutes

The minutes of the April 29, 1998 meeting were approved.

2. Approval of the lists of candidates for degrees

Ed Doughtie, Chair of the Committee on Examinations and Standing, presented the list of candidates for baccalaureate degrees. The faculty approved the list of candidates. No exceptions have been made in the fulfillment of undergraduate degree requirements this year. Moshe Vardi, Chair of the Graduate Council, presented the list of candidates for advanced degrees. The list was approved unanimously. The following degrees were approved: Doctoral degrees, 114; Masters degrees, 333; Bachelors degrees, 666. Total degrees awarded, 1113. Number of persons receiving degrees, 1062.

3. Approval of undergraduate honors

The Committee on Examinations and Standing recommended the following honors (Grade point average), which were approved by the faculty.

Rank	1998	1997	1996
Summa	4.014	3.973	3.974
Magna	3.829	3.802	3.795
Cum laude	3.621	3.621	3.621

4. Teaching prizes, and awards

The George R. Brown Prize for Excellence in Teaching was awarded to Chandler Davidson (Sociology).

The following persons were recognized as recipients of the George R. Brown Award for Superior Teaching:

Eugenia Georges (Anthropology)
John Hutchinson (Chemistry)
Robert Stein (Political Science)
Terrence Doody (English)
John Olson (Biochemistry)
Charles Stewart (Biology)

The Nicholas Salgo Distinguished Teaching Award was given to Larry Temkin (Philosophy).

The Phi Beta Kappa Teaching Prize was won by Karen Schnietz (Jones School).

The Charles Duncan Junior Faculty Achievement Awards were presented to David Nirenberg (History) and Mark Wiesner (Environmental Science and Engineering).

Awards were also presented to the outstanding faculty associates of each college:
Ingrid Hansz (Baker) Jinny Sisson (Lovett)
Felicia Cavalini (Brown) Ian Barland (Sid Richardson)
Robert Stingley (Hanszen) Gerald McKenny (Wiess)
Richard Stoll (Jones) Dick Massey (Will Rice)

Both the Julia Miles Chance Award and a Graduate Student Association Award were presented to Katherine Ensor.

A second Graduate Student Association Award was presented to Robin Sickles (Economics).

5. Recognition of retiring members of the faculty

Department representatives spoke in appreciation of the accomplishments and dedication of retiring faculty from several departments, including Sidney Lamb (Linguistics), Robert Bixby [not present] (Computational and Applied Mathematics), Anita Kiperman [not present] (Hispanic and Classical Studies), Fred von der Mehden (Political Science), Robert Haymes (Space Physics and Astronomy), Dieter Heymann (Geology and Geophysics), Hally Poindexter (Human Performance and Health Science), Jesse David Hellums (Chemical Engineering; former Dean of Engineering), John Merwin (Civil Engineering), Riki Kobayashi (Chemical Engineering).

6. Tribute to deceased colleague, Albert Tipton

Dean Michael Hammond recounted the outstanding career of retired faculty member Albert Tipton, who was a founding member of the Shepherd School of Music and who passed away during the year.

7. Faculty Accomplishments

President Gillis complimented the faculty on the published books, performances, grants, honors, and medals that demonstrate the academic and professional accomplishments of Rice faculty. He also read reports from each of the deans highlighting particularly outstanding achievements in each school.

8. Announcements

Bob Patten and Hally Poindexter discussed commencement arrangements.

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