2-11-2011 GAC Minutes
Minutes of the Council meeting for February 11, 2011
Approved by the Council on February 18, 2011
In attendance: J. Baronner (staff), F. Bolton (Staff), S. Chittur, S. Commuri,
N. Fahrenkopf, C. Fox, L. Kranich (Chair), W. Lanford, T. Timmons,
K. Williams
Unable to attend:
J. Aini, J. Bartow (Staff), R. Beach, L. Fuller, T. Groves, H. Miller,
S. Kazanas, F. Leiva, N. Novroski
1. Minutes
Minutes from the January 24, 2011 were approved by Council with one abstention.
2. Dean’s report
Dean Williams did not have a report for today’s meeting.
3. Chair’s report
The Chair discussed the issue of absenteeism and its impact on the Council’s ability
to function. A quorum was not present at the start of the meeting. Had this been a
regular meeting rather than a discussion of CAA reviews, the Council would have
been unable to act. Also, the members in attendance had been prepared to discuss the
next scheduled programs, but the members assigned to present those programs failed
to attend. The Chair raised the issue of imposing sanctions in the event of excessive
absences. It was mentioned that the Senate’s policy is to drop members after non-
attendance of three meetings. The Chair will ask GOV whether it is possible for the
Council to adopt its own policy or if there are Senate-wide rules. The Chair noted
that among those who responded to the Doodle poll in December everyone indicated
they were available during this time slot.
The issue arose earlier of whether the Council members assigned to present CAA
program reviews should have their names redacted from GAC minutes. After further
discussion, the Council voted to allow member names to be included in minutes.
The Executive Committee met on January 31st. The School of Business proposal for
a Graduate Certificate in Information Security will be considered by the Senate on
Monday, 2/14/2011.
The Executive Committee discussed the composition and charge of the Budget
Advisory Group (BAG IV). The task of BAG IV will be to recommend immediate
cuts for the 2011-12 academic year and to formulate a longer term vision of what the
University should be in the future.
GAC Minutes
February 11, 2011
Page 2 of 2
The Charter amendment proposed by Governance to require Senate approval of the
slate of Council Chairs was withdrawn until it is determined how it could be
implemented. If the overall slate was not approved, how would Councils be called
upon to act in that case?
4. CAA Assessment Report
The Computer Science summary was circulated to members prior to the meeting on
1/24/11. The History summary is being revised. Other summaries have been
circulated. The last scheduled discussion of the CAA reviews is on April 8th.
Members should circulate draft summaries at least one week earlier for discussion
and approval at that meeting. Summaries of the programs considered at the last
meeting can be discussed and approved via e-mail.
The Council voted to approve the Computer Science draft summary, subject to noting
that Epidemiology and Biostatistics Professor Babu Guda, who had been affiliated
with the department, is no longer at the University. The report on Reading will be
deferred to a future meeting since Council member T. Groves was unable to attend
today’s meeting. W. Lanford presented the review of Criminal Justice. Following
the discussion of Criminal Justice, N. Fahrenkopf presented the report on Earth and
Atmospheric Sciences (currently, Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences). He will
e-mail his report to Council members.
END OF GAC 2/11/2011 MINUTES
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