The Interim VPAA, COL I. S. Metts, presided and opened the meeting. Approval of the minutes was deferred until next meeting.
COL Metts indicated that a major item for today's meeting was completion of work on the Faculty Manual, and he, therefore, called upon LTCOL James Leonard, Chair of Faculty Council. LTCOL Leonard distributed a handout (copy attached), with relevant portions reflecting changed language for the Faculty Manual shown in bold.
Regarding these, COL R. A. White (English) moved and COL J. W. Gordon seconded that the first three items shown on the handout be accepted. Much discussion followed. COL Folley (Aerospace) enquired if these faculty governance provisions for department head selection and appointment also applied to the military departments (i.e., Aerospace, Military Science, Naval Science). Other members pointed out the different models for governance drawn from military and academic approaches. Discussion also dealt with how well these provisions would cover all possible likely occurences. These were considered and discussed against the items in bold, as was the language of the several provisions. The question was called.
In the voting which followed, the motion passed (11 in favor; 6 opposed). The portion in bold (shown on the handout, attached) replaces existing verbiage in three sections of the Faculty Manual.
Regarding the paragraph on the "I" grade, the language was modified to include the four items in use on the current form recently adopted. This motion was moved by COL Bebensee (Business Administration) and seconded by LTCOL Comer (Mathematics and Computer Science), and passed unamimously.
The final item on the handout was moved for acceptance by COL Gordon and seconded by COL Bebensee, and passed unanimously.
Much discussion followed. It was moved (LTCOL R. Carter) and seconded (LTCOL A. Finch) that this item be sent to the Campus Affairs Committee of the Faculty Council.
In the discussion that followed, COL R. A. White stated that he was not in favor of evaluation so late in the cadet's career, and LTCOL R. Emory emphasized the need for safeguards. COL Metts discussed aspects of the experience of evaluating cadets at the end of three semesters, as opposed to the old practice of evaluating at the end of the first year. Discussion emphasized the need for special and effective academic advisement for "at risk" cadets.
When the question was called, the motion failed. LTCOL P. Ross (Biology) then moved and COL White seconded that academic evaluation for continuation take place at the end of the summer after the fourthclass year. The motion passed unanimously.
LTCOL Ross stated his view that it was wrong to have each department head come up with how the SET should be used; the college should do it.
COL David Reilly moved and LTCOL Emory seconded that the issue of evaluating teaching and determining how the SET should be used as well as other aspects related to the subject be referred to the appropriate subcommittee of the Academic Board. The motion passed unopposed.
COL Gordon emphasized the need to maintain the integrity of the class schedule to include Friday classes, 21 March, and efforts at "holding the line." He also covered Absence Delinquency Reports, and any issue regarding these should be sent to his office.
He went over the plans and process for selecting two rising seniors for study in the Cambridge University summer program.
Respectfully submitted,
John W. Gordon
Colonel, USMCR
Dean of Undergraduate Studies