Executive Committee meeting notes

Quick notes on the most recent Executive Committee meeting (division chairs + dean Paula + assoc. dean Carol):

In our meeting of 9/16 we discussed some issues that were raised in the Chairs Committee meeting the previous day (as a result of MY course proposals!):  What to do about a course proposed by an adjunct that is truly interdepartmental; that is, one that doesn't clearly fall within a specific department.  Paula expressed concern about making the curriculum wide open and so feels it's important that any course be housed in a department.  Makes sense.  The question then is, should a department be allowed to offer a course that doesn't clearly fall within its discipline (the course in question was Theatre's proposed ST Art and the Apocalypse)?  No clear answer, but there's clear concern about "adjunct creep" and having a basis for turning down a course proposal.

The larger issue came up as to whether the Chairs Committee should approve Special Topics course proposals.  Seemed to be general agreement that authority could stay at departmental level,  rather than rise to the level of all department chairs.

We agreed that the time was right to go ahead and put ballots in mailboxes for the major changes to "the document formerly known as green".  General celebrating ensued for the next 5 seconds.  Only one absolutely crucial issue remains:  What Color???  Judgment:  We'll see. 

Each division chair (Nat Sciences, Soc Sciences, Library, FAH) gave a quick report on what was happening.  The Library has evidently hit a temporary glitch with construction of the study rooms; Chris is a model of patience.  Paul reported that Natural Science Div is talking to PAC about the college possibly adopting one or both environmental quality programs that have been cut by UNCA (one dealing with lead poisoning prevention in the area, the other with water quality issues in streams, lakes, etc.).  Exciting prospects.  I followed with a summary of what's been going on in FAH (see my earlier post) and mentioned my interest in a Center for Community Based Research, which coincides with the Nat. Sciences idea.  Some general excitement about the possibilities for real interdisciplinary work through community-based research (Service)!

That's it.