Minutes from Social Sciences Task Force Meeting of February 6, 2009

 

The Social Science Task Force met Friday, February 6, 2009 from 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM at the Highland Business Center in room 221. The following faculty members were in attendance:   Karen Bell, Mary Beth Booth, Carol Hayman, James Hill, Don Jonsson, Tony Lee, Lizzie Pintar, Michael Petrowsky, Michael Pool, Marianna Sidoryanskaya, and James Sondgeroth.

1. The agenda for the meeting was approved.

 

Agenda:

 

1.       Approve the agenda.

2.       Approve the minutes from last meeting: http://www.austincc.edu/SOCSCI/Minutes/meet_11_14_2008.htm.

3.       Information about the change in status of the Peruvian Program with a discussion on whether to take action on modifying the motion passed last meeting concerning that program.

4.       Adjourn.

                                 
   

  1. Jim mentioned that each Social Science Task Force member should review the minutes and report any inaccuracies to rdayton@austincc.edu. Also please make sure to that you are listed as attending each meeting if you were there. Voting adjunct task force members that attend task force meetings are paid a small stipend of $20.00 per hour at the end of the academic year. The attendance sign up sheet at the meeting is used to process stipends. The minutes from the November 2008 meeting were approved (http://www.austincc.edu/SOCSCI/Minutes/meet_11_14_2008.htm).

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  1. Jim Sondgeroth explained to the task force that he was 90% sure that the Peruvian program would be reinstated for the summer 2009 semester. The president of ACC reversed the decision to cancel the program based on certain conditions. Don Jonsson asked what it was that the task force needed to do to help ensure that Carol’s Peruvian program was reinstated. Jim mentioned that he would like to discuss the task force taking away the rebuke of the administration for cancelling the program in the first place. Jim mentioned that he, Carol Hayman, and Karen Bell met with Frank Flauto because Frank had to approve the changes to the program based on the President’s suggestions. At first Frank Flauto seemed hostile and was non-cooperative, but he did seem to come around. There were four amendments he wanted Carol to make. Once the changes were made and presented to him, he would then recommend that the program be reinstated.  Tony Lee asked if it was wise to remove the condemnation before the program was definitely reinstated. He suggested that we hold off on a motion to moderate directions until the program is reinstated and then we will revisit. We don’t want to drag them thru the FFS and the AFA if they are going to reinstate the program. One thing that came through this process is that ALL complaints will definitely go to the department chair and that the administration does acknowledge that complaints should start out here and work their way up. James Hill asked if it was an administrative rule that all complaints have to go thru the department chair and Jim Sondgeroth said that it was. Mike Pool asked if we could propose a motion to table passing on contingent on program being reinstated. In addition to reinstating the program for this summer, President Kinslow also said that it is okay to have your spouse accompany you on an international programs trip as long as it was stated up front to your students. Mary Beth Booth suggested a motion that we would resend our original motion contingent upon whether or not the program was reinstated. Michael Petrowsky suggested a written motion to table the original motion. Mary Beth suggested that we include the item number in the minutes and the date listed as November 14, 2008. Lizzie Pintar mentioned that she was approached about her offering her Argentinean program and that she responded with the fact that she received little to no support from the International office and would not be interested in offering this course in the future nor had she offered one in the past. Here is the agreed upon motion:

The Social Science Task Force recognizes the positive developments that have occurred in the Summer Peruvian Program and thus tables its original motion ( as stated in agenda item #7 of the November 14th 2008 minutes) pending a complete and satisfactory resolution of this matter, including subsequent performance by the International Programs office to support the program.

Mike Pool asked if we should ask the Adjunct Faculty Association and the Fulltime Faculty Senate to help advertise the Peruvian program to their students. Mary Beth Booth mentioned that all other international programs had a year to get students interested in their program, apply for scholarships, etc. Carol Hayman mentioned that the deadline to apply for a scholarship is February 24th. Marianna Sidoryanskaya asked if scholarship applicants for the Peruvian program could be given an extension due to the circumstances. Jim Sondgeroth discussed the scholarship process. There is a committee that reads all applications and then scores them based on a certain criteria with a certain amount of points. They then allot funds to those with the highest points in succession until the funds run out. Michael Petrowsky made a motion that the task force ask that the scholarship application deadline be extended by one month. Marianna then said that this might affect those students who had applied on time and that perhaps it was not such a good idea. Michael Petrowsky asked if we should ask the faculty associations to help distribute fliers and handouts. Here are Michael’s thoughts:

In view of the delays that arose because of this issue, we request that ACC, especially the International Program’s office, allocate special resources to fund and advertise this program, including making scholarships funds available to students who want to participate in it.

Carol Hayman mentioned that she has a meeting with Frank Flauto on Thursday February 12th and if the improvements are approved then Mike Midgley will need to sign off on reinstating the program. A motion was made to table the original motion on November 14th. Mike Pool made a motion to pass the above resolutions. The motion was approved.

           

  1. A motion was made to adjourn at 1:30 p.m. The motion was approved.