EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MINUTES

Present: Bryant, Latta, Mayo, Miller, Prochaska Cue, Scheideler, Siekman

Absent: Aguilar, Bender, Humes, Whitt, Zorn

Date: October 27, 1999

Location: 420 University Terrace, Ste. 203

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1.0 Call to Order (Latta)

Latta called the meeting to order at 3:10 PM.

2.0 Announcements

2.1 Upcoming Executive Committee Meetings

Latta announced the schedule for the upcoming Executive Committee meetings: 11/3 and 11/17 meet with Chancellor Moeser, SVCAA Edwards and VC Omtvedt; 12/1 meet with Kent Hendrickson, Assoc. Vice Chancellor for Information Services; 12/8 meet with Bob Carlson, manager of the campus bookstore; 12/15 meet with Chancellor Moeser, SVCAA Edwards and VC Omtvedt.

2.2 Working with the Legislature

Latta stated that the committee needs to begin work on establishing our goals for working with the Legislature in the spring. She noted that upcoming agendas will deal with this issue.

2.3 Update on Bylaw 4.3

Latta reported that she and Sally Wise, Co-Chair of ARRC, met with Dick Wood and Lee Jones to discuss the latest version of Bylaw 4.3. She noted that, in particular, they discussed academic freedom. She stated that she will be working with the Senators from the other campuses to complete the new language of the policy since they will also need to approve it since it will be a university-wide policy. She stated that we may be presenting it to the UNL Senate in December for a possible vote in January. Scheideler asked if "mutual consent" is still a part of the Bylaw? Latta reported that "mutual agreement" is still a part of the policy.

2.4 Update on Prioritization Commission

Latta stated that the Prioritization Commission will be meeting for the first time on Friday, October 29^th.

3.0 Approval of 10/13/99 and 10/20/99 Minutes

Mayo moved and Prochaska Cue seconded approval of the 10/13/99 minutes as amended. The committee discussed the minutes and agreed to have lengthy meetings more briefly summarized. As a result of this decision, the 10/20/99 minutes will be revised and will be approved at the 11/3/99 meeting.

4.0 Appointment to Chancellor's Award for Exemplary Service to Students Committee

The committee recommended either Steve Jones, Animal Science, Don Lee, Agronomy, or Ted Pardy, Biological Sciences to serve of the Chancellor's Award for Exemplary Service to Students Committee.

5.0 Appointment to Lab Fees Committee

The committee recommended Julia Torquati, Director of the Child Development Lab, to the Lab Fees Committee.

6.0 Distance Education Council Appointments

Latta reported that Associate Vice Chancellor for Extended Education Jim O'Hanlon agreed to have faculty representatives on the Distance Education Council. Bryant asked how the Teaching/Learning/Technology Roundtable fits into the Distance Education Council? Latta noted that the first working group formed by the T/L/T/R three years ago, was on the vision of distance learning. She pointed out that some of the members on the Council are also members on the T/L/T/R. She noted that the T/L/T/R does not have an on-going work group focusing on distance education. The Roundtable forms working groups to study issues and make recommendations, but it does not make policies. She noted that the Distance Education Council makes policy decisions, looks at the budget, and deals with programming issues. She stated that the Council is technically an advisory committee to Associate VC O'Hanlon. Mayo pointed out that there is almost a need for two separate groups. He stated that the biggest problems that faculty run into are the bureaucratic roadblocks that only administrators can alleviate and that perhaps we should have a committee that determines what the problems are that the faculty face with these courses. The committee agreed to discuss these issues with Associate VC O'Hanlon.

7.0 Senate Office Furniture

The committee agreed to approve the purchase of a plaque for $150 - $200, honoring the past presidents of the Faculty and Academic Senates. The committee recommended that a budget be put together for new Senate office furniture to replace the chairs and tables in the Senate conference room.

8.0 Review of Academic Senate Priority Goals and Agenda

Item postponed.

9.0 Associate Vice Chancellor for Extended Education Jim O'Hanlon

Latta welcomed and thanked Associate VC O'Hanlon for meeting with the committee and asked what he envisions his role. Associate VC O'Hanlon stated that one of the short term goals is to provide support for people teaching distance education courses and a longer term goal is to determine where we want to go with extended education in the future. He noted that extended education is a broad term that includes cooperative extension, distance learning courses and other outreach programs while distance education courses are classes that are offered using various forms of instructional technology. He noted that we do not currently have the infrastructure in place that is needed to adequately support these classes. Latta pointed out that the committee has concerns regarding the value of appointing 2 - 3 faculty to an administrative committee the size of the Extended Education Council and she asked what is the charge of the Council. Associate VC O'Hanlon stated that the council has a representative from each of the colleges as well as some members from other areas of the campus. He pointed out that one of the issues they dealt with last year was the tuition policy on distance education courses. Currently, they are working on putting together a budget and trying to envision where extended education is going in the next five years. He stated that he would like to establish a mechanism that would allow faculty to communicate with others on what they are doing in distance education. Miller asked what kinds of demands are being made for courses? Associate VC O'Hanlon noted that there is not enough information to determine this, but he stated that many communities want to have a learning center. Bryant suggested that high school classes can be tapped into via technology. Mayo pointed out that the lack of an infrastructure is problematical for faculty. He stated that there is a need to get help back to the faculty members. He suggested that there be an advisory group of faculty that can identify problem areas in teaching distance education courses. Miller suggested that rather than having a number of committees to deal with this issue, can they identify entrepreneurs in the field and then provide them with support so they can create these kinds of courses? Mayo pointed out that this is the approach that has worked so far. Associate VC O'Hanlon stated that many outside groups are wanting us to create these courses. Miller pointed out that we need to find areas that we can excel in rather than trying to cover all courses. Associate VC O'Hanlon pointed out that another concern is how do we show to prospective students that our distance education courses are quality courses. He stated that new forms of collaboration are possible with distance education courses. He noted that we need to have a construction designer and someone who can do the contact work to recruit more students for these courses. Siekman pointed out that they need to consider how these courses are being delivered and monitored. Latta told VC O'Hanlon that given the committees concern about appointing faculty to an administrative Council, perhaps the Senate should explore establishing a faculty committee to serve as an advisory group to the VC that could help identify faculty needs and strategies for enhancing distance education at UNL. Associate VC O'Hanlon stated that this would be fine and that he would welcome the opportunity to work with such a group. He indicated that they may want to talk about some of the same issues that the Extended Education Council is discussing. Latta indicated they would discuss the options further and that she would follow up with VC O'Hanlon.

10.0 Unfinished Business

No unfinished business was discussed.

11.0 New Business

No new business was discussed.

Meeting adjourned at 5:00 pm. The next meeting of the Executive Committee will be held on Wednesday, November 3^rd at 3:00 pm, 201 Canfield Administration Building. Respectfully submitted, Miles Bryant, Secretary.