Posted on Monday, October 4th, 2004

Present: Kevin Begley, Martin Castillo, Miriam Chavez, David Coker, Jon Conescu, Mary Cooper-Wallace, Julie dePree, Lucille Farrington, Reinaldo Garcia, Patricia Gillikin, Tina Kritzrow, Michelle leBeau, Rita Logan, Mary Robinson, Esther Shir, Joann Summerhays, Stephanie West

Absent: Toni Black, Cindy Chavez, Olga Gandara, Dubra Karnes-Padilla, Ray Rondeau

Visiting: (no visitors)

• The meeting began at 1:30, followed soon thereafter by a motion to approve the minutes by MleBeau and seconded by MRobinson.

• IC welcomed new members Patricia Gillikin (English) and Julie DePree (math), both of whom are now serving as Developmental Studies Coordinators.

• Reinaldo announced that we awaiting a decision on our Title V grant—probably not until the end of the month.

1. Requests for Instructional Equipment funds. 

   1. A motion to accept the requests by Fine Arts was made by David Coker and seconded by Patricia Gillikin.  Motion was approved. 

   2. A motion to accept the request for a wheelchair-accessible exercise machine (requested by Dubra for the Wellness Center) was made by Jon Conescu and seconded by Rita Logan.  Motion was approved. 

   3. Tentative Approvals:  Michelle Le Beau requested funding for a classroom model of a cognitively functioning brain for the Psychology department. Miriam Chavez offered to help seek an appropriate model.  This motion was given tentative approval pending specific details.  Lucille requested funding for a scanner for the TLC that would enable quick scanning of texts onto CDs (badly needed for visually impaired students).  This request was given tentative approval pending details. Stephanie West requested funding for a self-checkout system for the library that was given tentative approval pending details.  NOTE:  Michelle Le Beau presented a later request for a set of laminated classroom maps for the History department, which Reinaldo tentatively approved pending details and support from IC.   

   4. Rita Logan’s requests for Community and Extended Education were then prioritized in the order presented and given approval to use the remainder of the funds after the money for the tentative approvals is taken out. 

   5. Mary Robinson then reminded IC that a great deal of our Instructional Budget money could have been used on other areas of instruction that serve more students if departments had charged these kinds of expenses to equipment money funding.  Michelle Le Beau agreed that we are not providing needed materials, services, and instructional support through the Instructional Budget for departments whose main needs cannot be met through equipment funds.  IC agreed to look into increasing the 3100 budget line for departments to help offset this problem.

2. Department Reports.

   1. TLC—Lucille reported that there were heavy needs in the area of ADA.  She reminded IC that adjustments in the classroom for ADA should be reasonable.

   2. SCIENCE—Miriam reported that there is increased enrollment in Health Sciences.  The Cadaver Lab is needed but will not be ready until summer, so creative scheduling will allow first a focus on the outside of the body, which can make use of another lab, before the following course that focuses on the inside of the body, which must use the Cadaver Lab.  She said there will be about five labs on track after the summer.  Celestyn will be moving into her office when she moves into the new building, and his old office will be freed up for use as a conference room.

   3. LIBRARY—Esther reported that there a lot of new technology: computers  in the Library classroom, scanners in the Library itself.  She is looking into ways to scan documents into PDF format so that students can access reserve materials online as is currently being done at UNM. She mentioned the need sometime soon for an expensive program for this—Docutec—that would help a great deal ($8,000).  She also reminded IC that the bond issue is coming up in November’s elections and that an important element is funding for library books. The Library has already ordered 84 SW mysteries with NEH funds.  Other activities include adjusting to Banner, offering lots of Library Instruction classes, and ongoing efforts with the Taskforce on Information Literacy.

   4. COMMUNITY ED—Rita reported that registration had just finished in Moriarty, with Socorro coming up next.  Extended University is offering one upper-level course—Ed Psych 310, taught as an overload by Jon Conescu.  She also reported that there is a chance of UNMVC offering a four-year degree in BUS and Education at some point soon.

   5. CARL PERKINS FUNDING—Kevin reported that Perkins has $27,000, mostly for faculty development for vocational instruction.  Most of the funding this year went to providing cameras for the labs, upgrading CAD software, and sending BT instructors to Las Cruces.

   6. GED/ABE—Tina reported that there were more GED students than they had room for: 404 students in the database since July 1.  Outcomes reveal that 60% of the GED students are placing into English 101 and Math 100. ESL is doing well, and Mary Rita Esquivel is conducting several ESL workshops.  There is a GED class in Spanish and a conference in Spanish to be held this spring.

   7. MATH—Mary reported that math classes are jammed and that she had to open many sections of Math 010 and 100 to meet the demand.  She says that 24 of 52 math classes are developmental.  She also hired six new pt instructors. They are piloting a computer lab class.  Mary also reported that she is making progress to help set up a make-up Testing Center for DS students.  Ray Rondeau is agreeing to use the Testing Center in Student Services for this purpose.

   8. TECH-PREP—Mary reported that this is a “wind down year for Tech-Prep” and that there are no new programs.  There will be a conference probably on Nov 5.

   9. ENGLISH and SOCIAL/CULTURAL STUDIES—Michelle reported that enrollment was very strong although some of the extra DS classes that were added over the summer did not make.  The new Eng 098 class is affecting enrollment numbers in 010.  She hired about 13 new instructors.  English is piloting a linked class and two one-credit attached DS labs.  Some problems are surfacing with the discrepancy between class caps and computer lab sizes, and there are real glitches with the new four-credit DS classes to be worked out.  We have five successful course offerings on Saturdays.  Goals include providing stipends for course coordinators--$500 each for coordinator of 010, 100, 101, 102 and Acad.

   10. CSS—Martin reported that we are leaving Eagle and that the student folder on Sand is back up.  Soon we will be eliminating Novell.  Adjuncts only have access to NT.  CSS replaced six labs this summer.

   11. DEAN OF INSTRUCTION—Reinaldo reported that the furniture for the new adjunct office was not ordered on time so there will be a delay in setting up the office. There is an ongoing attempt to set up the phones appropriately.  There are 10 lines available instead of 5, but there may only be 10 phones.

   12. UNMVC CHILDCARE—Joan reported that the programs are strong and that they are applying for accreditation this spring. The afternoon drop-in center is running, and it can accommodate 16 pre-registered drop-ins.  The grant is solid for the next three years, and they are working with the statewide portfolio research project to strengthen families.  They offered a successful training session in nonviolent communication.  She wants to use funding from their next grant to add shade to the area and to increase salary support.

   13. FINE ARTS—David reported that there are no problems and there will be an exhibit soon on the 18^th or 19^th.

   14. EDUCATION—Jon reported that the programs are off to a healthy start and that he would like to make it a firm goal to work toward the possibility of offering a BA in Education at UNMVC.

   15. FEC—Stephanie reported that FEC will meet next week and that there was a good response to the welcome back card sent to faculty.

   16. WELLNESS CENTER—Dubra reported that the center was doing very well.  The showers are still not ready, though.

The meeting adjourned at 3:40 pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Michelle LeBeau 

Michelle LeBeau (filling in for vacant academic office administrator)