Attending: Frank Garrahan, Chair, Ed Mullen, Gale Barchus, Judy Nwachie, Roland Hayes, Jim Fowler, Lynn Lehle, Gaye Lynn Scott, Hugh Moore, George Finan, Vicke Hammond, Cecile Durish, Jonathan Buckstead, Amber Archuleta-Lucero, Glen Hunt, Cloteal Haynes, Ron Fletcher

1. Report from Chair.

A. Fall Schedule. The scheduling of Government sections for the Fall is almost complete. The tentative schedule can be found on ACC's web page (www2.austin.cc.tx.us/schedule/s199f). Full-time faculty are currently being assigned sections. Once that is complete, adjunct faculty will be staffed.

B. Textbooks. All faculty have been asked several times (via Task Force memos) to make their textbook selections for Fall through the Government Department Web page (www2.austin.cc.tx.us/govtdept/). It's easy and fast; you have been asked to designate your textbook preference for GOV 2613 and GOV 2623. There are approximately 20 faculty members who have not yet done this, and textbook orders must go in within the month. Therefore, the Task Force voted to assign a textbook to any faculty member who has not made a selection. This is your last chance! For GOV 2613, faculty will be assigned the Patterson text; for GOV 2623, faculty will be assigned the Haag/Peebles/Keith text.

C. Summer Projects. The Chair will be working to update the manual for Government Instructors. If you have suggestions for how the manual can be improved, please let Frank Garrahan or Gaye Lynn Scott know (frankjg@austin.cc.tx.us, gls@austin.cc.tx.us)

2. Committee Reports:

A. Budget Committee. The capital request for the purchase of a computer and video projection cart for a Government classroom at each campus has been included in the LRS budget request. LRS is making this a priority and is requesting 16 carts collegewide. In addition, any ideas on moving rollover moneys into other accounts for the current budget year should be communicated to Lynn Lehle at RGC (lynlehle@) or Frank Garrahan at NRG (frankjg@).

B. Faculty Committee.

1. The colloquium with Ed Greenberg (sponsored by Longman Publishers) was Friday, April 16. Those who attended enjoyed the opportunity to exchange ideas with their colleagues from other colleges. Jonathan Buckstead also provided information about technology being used in the classrooms here at ACC (Web Course in a Box, IVC classes), which the participants found very informative.

2. The Faculty Evaluation process is largely complete. Each faculty member should have received his/her evaluation summary by now. What we learn every year through the evaluation process is just what an exceptional faculty we have in the Government Department. Congratulations to all for the job you do.

3. We are trying to organize opportunities for professional development during the summer. Stay tuned for information and/or fabulous flyers.

C. Academic Development Committee.

1. Assessment. The Committee members have begun looking at the key concepts which have been established for GOV 2613 and GOV 2623 (and which can be found in the Government Instructor's Manual) in order to come up with more specific Learning Objectives based on those concepts. The goal is to help clarify for all of us the central ideas that we should be covering in our courses. If you would like to see a draft of the Learning Objectives for GOV 2613, please contact Stefan Haag at RVS (shaag@). Any comments or questions or offers of help should also be directed to Stefan and his committee.

3. TEXTBOOKS!

The Task Force must have up-to-date information regarding the textbooks each faculty member will be using in the next academic year. There is a link from the Government Department web page to an online form which allows you to provide this information quickly and easily. (www2.austin.cc.tx.us/govtdept) Those of you who do not choose a textbook for next year will be assigned a textbook. (Didn't I say that already?) LAST CHANCE.

4. Travel Requests and Course Reductions.

The Task Force approved travel requests for Judy Nwachie to attend a conference in Mexico City. In addition, approval was given to Judy Nwachie and Ed Mullen for course reductions in the Fall. Ed will be developing our Land Use course to be offered next Spring. Judy will be developing an opportunity for ACC students to participate in the annual United Nations Simulation Program.

5. Elections.

Frank Garrahan was elected as Task Force chair for next year. Adjunct representatives on the Task Force next year will be Jonathan Buckstead, Cecile Durish, Vicke Hammond, Rick Henderson, Glen Hunt, and Hugh Moore.