ACC MEETING:  GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT

Minutes

 

Meeting Date:                 October 6, 2006

Time:                               1:00 PM

Location:                         HBC 103.2

Chair:                              Glen Hunt

 

Members Present:  Shina Amachigh, Roy Casagranda, Cecile Durish, Joseph Engle, Karry Evans, Ron Fletcher, Frank Garrahan, Stefan Haag, Glen Hunt, Lynn Lehle, Charles Miles, Marilyn Mote-Yale, Carl Mullen, Ed Mullen, Judy Nwachie, Paz Pena, and Lisa Perez-Nichols.

 

Agenda Item:  Creating Writers at ACC

Presenter:        Chris Berni

Discussion:       Chris Berni, Professor of English at ACC, presented her research results from her sabbatical study on student writing at ACC.  She provided the department with the findings from her project as well as recommendations for the college in terms of improving the writings of our students.  A short discussion followed.

 

Agenda Item: Center for Public Policy and Political Studies

Presenter:         Terry Thomas

Discussion:       Terry Thomas shared with the Government Department faculty plans for a new Center for Public Policy and Political Studies at ACC.  A question and answer session followed with the faculty sharing suggestions and concerns regarding the focus of the center.  Terry will be back in touch as the planning for the Center progresses.

 

Agenda Item: Chair’s Report

Presenter:         Glen Hunt

Discussion:      

 

1. Constitution Day was held at NRG on Friday, September 15, 2006; thanks to Karry Evans, Jeff Millstone, and Cecile Durish for their help in planning and conducting this event.

2. The South Austin Campus Opening celebration was held on September 16, 2006.  Thanks to Lisa Perez-Nichols, Mike Harris and Heman Prager for planning and staffing our event.

3. Dr. Marilyn Mote-Yale presented a portfolio training class September 28, 2006.  This was an excellent training class.

3. Portfolios are due to the Department Chair office at NRG by November 3, 2006.

4. Estaffing will be completed by October 10, 2006.

5. The History Department’s Emeritus Professors Lectures will be held on Saturday, October 21, 2006 from 9:30-1:00 in the Northridge Lecture hall (NRG 4136).

6. Patrick Hughes is offering a cross-listed honors class in both the history and Government Spring schedule.  This class will focus on the political transformation of Texas from 1930-present.

7. The college is moving toward a year round scheduling process that will be implemented in the coming year.

8. The full-time hiring committee is composed of Stefan Haag, Lisa Perez-Nichols, Cecile Durish, Charles Miles, and Glen Hunt

 

Agenda Item: Adjunct Faculty Hiring Committee Report

Presenter:        Jeff Millstone

Discussion:       Several applications have been received.

Decision/Follow-Up items:    Interviews will be held later in the fall.

Person Responsible:  Jeff Millstone

 

Agenda Item: Student Assessment Committee Report

Presenter:        Cecile Durish

Discussion:       The Student Assessment pre-tests and post-tests have been distributed to 21 randomly selected instructors.  Approximately half of the pre-tests have already been returned.

Decision/Follow-Up items:    Results will be reported in the spring.

Person Responsible:  Cecile Durish

 

Agenda Item: Faculty Evaluation Committee Report

Presenter:        Dr. Marilyn Mote-Yale

Discussion:       Portfolios are due in by November 3, 2006

Decision/Follow-Up items:    Evaluations will begin in December.

Person Responsible:  Dr. Marilyn Mote-Yale

 

Agenda Item: Faculty Development Committee Report

Presenter:        Lisa Perez-Nichols

Discussion:       Lisa thanked Roy Casagranda for his Brown Bag presentation prior to the meeting.  The Government Department book Club meeting will be held on Thursday, October 26, 2006 from 4-6 pm at Genuine Joe’s at 2001 W. Anderson Lane.

Decision/Follow-Up items:    None

Person Responsible: Lisa Perez-Nichols

 

Agenda Item: Curriculum Committee Report

Presenter:        Dr. Marilyn Mote-Yale

Discussion:       Dr. Yale presented a proposed framework for considering future Hybrid Course Proposals

Decision/Follow-Up items:    The framework will be considered by the Department at our December meeting.

Person Responsible:  Stefan Haag

 

Agenda Item: Distance Learning Orientation Subcommittee

Presenter:        Frank Garrahan

Discussion:       Frank presented committee plans to develop a streaming video presentation to be available for all distance learning instructors in the department for use in allowing prospective students to evaluate whether or not distance learning courses were a wise choice for them.

Decision/Follow-Up items:    Material will be forthcoming

Person Responsible:  Frank Garrahan

 

Agenda Item: Textbook for new course

Presenter:        Paz Pena

Discussion:       Paz requested a new textbook be added to the approved list for his new course, Govt. 2311. Mexican-American Politics.  The book is Latino Political Power by Kim Geron.  Lynne Rienner Publishers, Inc., 2005 ISBN 1-58826-321-5 paperback).

Decision/Follow-Up items:    The department approved the addition of the text to the approved list.

Person Responsible:

 

 

Agenda Item: Textbook revisions

Presenter:        Glen Hunt

Discussion:       Glen presented a chart showing a timeline for scheduled new editions of textbooks we use in the department.  The department voted to not switch editions of any textbooks for the spring semester.

Decision/Follow-Up items:    None

Person Responsible:

 

 

 

Next Meeting Date:  December 1, 2006,  HBC 103.2, 1:00 pm