Executive Committee Meeting Minutes: March 8, 2002

Whetten Graduate Center - Giolas Conference Room
2:00 P.M.

  1. The meeting was called to order at 2:11 P.M. Interim Vice Provost Ian C. Hart presided.
  2. It was moved, seconded, and passed without dissent on a voice vote to approve as distributed the minutes of the 2-8-2002 meeting.
  3. It was moved, seconded, and passed without dissent on a voice vote to approve the list of Plans of Study and Dissertation Proposals.
  4. Two proposals received recently from the M.P.A. program, located in the Institute of Public Affairs, were considered and discussed. The proposals are to implement two new Graduate Certificate Programs, the first in Nonprofit Management and the second in Public Finance and Financial Management. J. Henkel provided background. E. Pagoulatos inquired about what appear to be new courses that are included. J.G. Clifford explained that new faculty members with expertise in public finance have joined the M.P.A. program in recent years. Courses in this area are being offered. Pagoulatos noted that consultation with other departments (e.g., Economics and Agricultural and Resource Economics) which offer related courses would be appropriate. Henkel noted that there has been consultation with the School of Business.

    L. Strausbaugh recommended that input from other departments which may already offer work in this area be sought before the group takes final action on the two proposals. Henkel agreed to check with departments. Final action on the proposals will be taken at the next meeting.

  5. I. Hart introduced Ronald L. Taylor, Vice Provost for Multicultural Affairs, who was present to discuss with members the draft of The Report of the Diversity Action Committee to the University of Connecticut Board of Trustees (a copy is attached to the file copy of the agenda for this meeting). Taylor explained the history of the effort and the process that resulted in the formation of the Diversity Action Committee and in the writing of the draft Report. Taylor noted that the situation today in terms of diversity at the University of Connecticut is only slightly better than it was 30 years ago. Much more needs to be done, he said. The current effort in terms of diversity was fashioned after the recent effort to develop a strategic plan for the University. Initially, the focus was the Storrs and the regional campuses, but the scope of the project was expanded to include the Health Center as well.

    Strategies were discussed for recruiting both faculty members and students. There was discussion about the resources that would be necessary to implement a comprehensive plan. The draft Report, which includes several dozen recommendations, is expected to be presented to the Board of Trustees for initial consideration at the group's April meeting.

    Concern was expressed about a specific recommendation contained in the draft Report which advocates hiring our own graduates for faculty positions.

    It was noted that expressions of support for the draft Report from various campus groups would be useful. E. Pagoulatos agreed to draft such a letter on behalf of the Executive Committee. It also was recommended that the Graduate Faculty Council have an opportunity to discuss the draft Report.

  6. It was agreed that a meeting of the Graduate Faculty Council will be called for Wednesday, March 27, 2002. Agenda items will include the annual resolution to confer graduate degrees and extending an invitation to Vice Provost Taylor to meet with the Council to discuss the draft of The Report of the Diversity Action Committee to the University of Connecticut Board of Trustees (see #5 above).

  7. Updates and Announcements -


    • I. Hart noted that the statement concerning the proposal of a sub-committee of the University Senate to modify the academic calendar passed at the February Council meeting will be fowarded soon to the President, the Chancellor, the Senate Executive Committee, and to the Senate Scholastic Standards Committee as requested by the Council.

    • J. Henkel distributed copies of the third of three proposals to implement professional master's degree programs (with support from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation). This proposal is to implement a professional master's degree program in Microbial Systems Analysis, and it will be considered at the next meeting.

    • There was discussion about Special Service Facilities.

  8. Adjournment was at 4:10 PM.

Present:

  • Clifford, J.G.
  • Cournoyer, D.
  • Hart, I. (Interim Vice Provost)
  • Henkel, J. (Associate Vice Provost)
  • Herzberger, D.
  • Maresh, C.
  • Marsden, J.
  • Pagoulatos, E.
  • Peters, T. (Assistant Dean)
  • Smith, E.
  • Strausbaugh, L.

Guests: Ronald L. Taylor, Vice Provost for Multicultural Affairs

Regrets:

  • Anderson, G. (on leave Spring 2002)
  • Maxwell, G.


Respectfully submitted,

Thomas B. Peters
Secretary