MINUTES
HONORS PROGRAM COUNCIL

April 24
November 22
September 29

MINUTES
HONORS PROGRAM COUNCIL
April 24, 2000
12 p.m. B KT 101

Members present: Gary Blumenshine, Dipak Chowdhury, Matthew Kubik,
Ray Macrhionni, Rebecca McConnaughey, Susan Skekloff, Steven Sarratore,
Georgia Ulmschneider.

Student Members: Rachel Brune, Brent Roddy.

  1. Call to Order at 12:05.
  2. March Minutes approved.
  3. Directors report on program=s year end events
On April 16th approximately 170 students, parents, Honors faculty and guests were in attendance at the annual Honors Program Awards reception. The ceremony went much better than previous year even though there were some technical glitches.

The preferred SOAR date for incoming freshman that have been accepted into the Honors Program is May the 20th. Brent Roddy and Melissa King will serve as peer councilors at the event as Matt Kubik will not be in attendance.

Chancellor Scholars will be sent letters awarding them vouchers for one Honors course fee remission. This is a way for the Honors Program to recruit members and is an extra award for the scholars.

The secretary position that is now vacant will be announced at the end of the fiscal year and hopefully filled by mid to late July.

The Honors Center has once again been put on hold by physical plant. This is due to the fact that the Writing Center is being used as a carry over for displaced offices until remolding is finished in Kettler Hall. The current projected open date is some time in September.

It has been proposed by the Honors Student Committee that the Honor Center be named the Steven Hollander Honors Center. This proposal was taken to the Chancellor and was then forwarded to member of the English Dept. and other colleagues of Steve=s. All responded very enthusiastically. That being said, university procedure for contacting the family will be observed as the naming process proceeds.
  1. Directors Position


    2. It had been announced that Matt Kubik would step down as Director in January 2001. The reasoning behind this was two fold; first the overload of teaching. Matt was released to teach 0.75 FTE and throughout the past semesters he has been carrying a FTE as high as 1.25. Second, this is putting great stress on his family with all the extra time spent working on social activities and other related Honors Program events.

    Matt stated that if changes were made, he would re-evaluate his position in January 2001.

  2. Steve Sarratore Notes and Comments


    3. Several options are available for changes to the Director=s position; Change the release to half time from the current quarter time release, enhance the administrative assistant position (more responsibilities and higher pay), create a Associate Director position at quarter time release, or enhance the council (more responsibilities).

    Discussion took place pertaining to all options. It was agreed that the best option was to create an Associate Director position.

  3. Associate director position


    4. Duties might include handling the social aspects of the Honors Program. With two different departments involved with the director position there would be a higher level commitment to the Honors Program.

  4. Motion for the creation of an Associate Director position
On April 24, 2000 it was moved, seconded, and unanimously passed that the following motion be put forth:

Whereas, the Honors Program continues to grow in number of students enrolled in Honors Courses, and the in the number of Honors Courses offered each semesters, and

Whereas, the Director's position requires increased administrative work and social responsibility, namely, organizing and attending numerous social functions, in addition to growing administrative tasks, and

Whereas, the Honors Program's place in academic life on this campus has been recognized by being the only program specifically named in the university's strategic plan, and

Whereas, to further the Program's expansion and diversification, a Associate Director, from a discipline and School different from that of the Director, should be appointed.

Therefore, it has been moved and seconded that the Honors Program Council endorse an Associate Director's position being established, constituting a 25% FTE reduction for administrative acts and responsibilities, with specific duties regarding course development, social and public events, and academic teaching and personal counseling to be detailed in a later document.

 
 

MINUTES
HONORS PROGRAM COUNCIL
November 22, 1999
Noon B ET 206

Members Present: Gary Blumenshine, Dipak Chowdhury, Peter Hamburger, Matthew Kubik, Steven Sarratore, Mitchell Sherr, and Georgia Ulmschneider. Student Member: Brent Roddy.

1. Call to order

Meeting was called to order at 12:10 p.m. 2. Director=s Report Handout with spring semester enrollment numbers for honors classes.

Seventy people attended the October 31 Star Gazing Party.

Pat Ashton accompanied the director to Tulsa, Oklahoma, for a national live satellite seminar teleconference presentation.

The writing center should be vacated spring semester, making room for the honors program center. A student committee has been organized to work on furniture.

 3. Review and Action on Proposals for Honors Courses a. Jeanne Barone and Steve Carr discussed their proposed class and answered questions.

b. Lowell Beineke=s report was not available.

c. Mitchell Sherr=s course proposal - Curriculum committee moved, seconded, and adopted unanimously that the honors course proposal, Legal Issues in Modern Society, be recommended provisionally for approval by the Honors Council. A vote is scheduled to be taken in January.

 4. Minutes were approved with a change being made to the director=s report. The long term goal should be 300-400 active students, not 600-800.

5. Curriculum Committee recommendation:

The Curriculum Committee moved, seconded and approved unanimously to recommend to the Honors Council that the following semester course rotation be adopted by the Honors Program:

1 course: either W140 or honors Communication 114

2 courses: introductory sections of general education in humanities, social sciences or math/science

2 or 3 courses: upper level honors courses

 The Honors Program Council voted unanimously to endorse this recommendation. 6. Curriculum Committee recommendation: The curriculum committee recommends unanimously that the H-Option be normally employed within the honor student's major.

The Honors Program Council voted unanimously to endorse this recommendation.

 7. Curriculum Committee recommendation: The curriculum committee recommends that departmental honors projects be accepted as fulfillment of the honors project within the requirements of the honors certificate with the stipulation that all honors projects must also conform to the guidelines of the honors program. 8. Informational Report: Honors Course Proposal Form The form was found adequate. It was suggested that a list of criteria be attached. 9. The Good and Welfare of the Honors Program The revised senate document is close to being finished. It should be ready in the spring semester. 10. Meeting adjourned at 1:10 p.m.

Next meeting date - noon, December 8, KT 101

MINUTES
HONORS PROGRAM COUNCIL
September 29, 1999
11 a.m. B KT 101

Members Present: Gary Blumenshine, Dipak Chowdhury, Peter Hamburger, Matthew Kubik, Raymond Marchionni, Rebecca McConnaughey, Steven Sarratore, Mitchell Sherr. Student Member: Brent Roddy.

1. Introduction of new board members.

2. Honors Program Overview

The director gave an overview of the program, discussing the purpose of the honors program, who=s eligible, and some of the advantages. 3. Election of Council Chair Gary Blumenshine was elected chair. 4. Director=s Report The number of students enrolled in honors classes this fall totals 115. One class was canceled due to low enrollment. There are 157 active members out of 800-1000 eligible students. The long term goal is 600-800 active students

Honors Program activities for this semester include a tour of the Lincoln Museum, dress rehearsal of Assassins, night at the art gallery, and a Star Gazing Party at Fox Island sponsored by the Fort Wayne Astronomical Society.

The spring semester course brochure is at the printer. Priority registration has been given to active honors program members. Honors program has received space in Kettler that should be ready for occupancy in the spring.

 5. Committees formed Curriculum Committee: Gary Blumenshine, Peter Hamburger, Rebecca McConnaughey, Georgia W. Ulmschneider, and student Rachel Brune.

Senate Document committee - draft from last year=s committee will be reviewed and used.

 6. Course proposals Course proposals are being considered from Jeanne Barone, Steve Carr, Dipak Chowdhury, and David Whiteis. It was suggested that any professor proposing a new course be invited to a council meeting to give a presentation of the proposed course. 7. Meeting adjourned at noon.

Next meeting date - noon, Nov. 15, KT 101