Date: Novbember 6, 1998

Attending:

Frank J. Garrahan , Task Force Chair, Stefan Haag, Lynn Lehle, Hugh Moore, Jonathan Buckstead, Vicke Hammond, Cecile Durish, Paz Pena, Gaye Lynn Scott

1. Task Force Chair's report:

A. The Chair continues to work on the Summer '99 schedule, operating within the guidelines provided by the administration. Government will offer eight sections this summer at the new Eastview campus, as well as increasing the number of PCM (Web-based) Open Campus sections.

B. The Chair reported that the Faculty Development Office has requested a list of potential mentors for the Spring '99 semester. FDO intends to assign mentors to new faculty as they are hired. After some discussion, the Task Force unanimously passed the following resolution:

"The Government Task Force has decided to delay submitting a list of recommended mentors to the Faculty Development Office because we feel the job of assigning mentors is best done within the discipline."

2. Committee reports:

A. Faculty Committee: The committee chair (Gaye Lynn Scott, NRG) reported that planning is proceeding for a forum on local government. However, the forum is likely to be early in the Spring semester rather than in the remaining weeks of the current semester. In addition, the interviewing subcommittee is proceeding with its interviews of recent applicants for the Adjunct faculty pool.

B. Academic Committee: The committee chair (Stefan Haag, RVS) reported that no FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) have been received to add to the Government Web page. If you have any ideas for FAQs that could go on our Web page, send them to Stefan (e-mail: shaag@).

C. Budget Committee: In working on our discipline's three-year and five-year strategic plans, the committee chair (Lynn Lehle, RGC) reported on the desired creation of the ideal classroom for the next millennium, a classroom which will be suited to new technologies and continuing innovations in teaching. Such an ideal classroom should contain the following as standard equipment:

1. large white boards (or black boards) across three walls of the classroom, beginning two feet off the floor and rising to seven feet above the floor.

2. movable student desks and at least one student table with chairs for students with special needs

3. podium with wheels for easy relocation

4. overhead projector and pull-down screen

5. pull-down wall-mounted maps

6. wall-mounted high resolution TV with cable connections (e.g., C-SPAN, CNN) and VCR

7. computers with Web connections, the ability to project PowerPoint or other presentation software, CD-ROM capability

8. accessibility for disabled students

9. uniform capacity for 36 students

3. LRS presentation:

Jonathan Buckstead (LRS, CYP) gave a very informative presentation highlighting the resources and tools available through ACC's Learning Resource Services Web page. These resources include online catalogs, indexes, databases, study guides for students, documentation formats, etc.

The URL for Learning Resource Services is: http://lrs.austin.cc.tx.us

Note: ACC has joined the TexShare consortium which allows students and faculty to use other libraries in the consortium without charge. The UT library system is also part of TexShare, which means that as faculty we can go to an ACC library, apply for a TexShare card, and then use UT's libraries for free.