Brown Bag Seminar:

Thanks to L. Patrick Hughes, our colleague in the History Department, for giving us a wonderful look at the "cult of personality" in Texas politics as personified by Ma and Pa Ferguson and Pappy O'Daniel.

Task Force Meeting:

Attending: Frank J. Garrahan, Chair, Paz Pena, Judy Nwachie, Jack Floyd, Ed Mullen, Stefan Haag, Ron Fletcher, Karry Evans, Jonathan Buckstead, David Ferris, Hugh Moore, Allan Poe, Amber Archuleta-Lucero, Lisa Perez, Vicke Hammond, Gaye Lynn Scott.

I. Committee Reports:

A. Committee on Assessment of Student Learning.

This committee is working to write the Government Department's assessment instrument to be administered this Fall in all Government sections. The goal is to have an instrument ready to be used in a trial run by the end of the first eight week semester. If you would like to submit any multiple choice questions for inclusion in the assessment instrument, contact Marilyn Mote-Yale (NRG), committee chair, or committee members Karry Evans (CYP), Ed Mullen (PIN), Lisa Perez (RVS), Ronald Fletcher (RVS), or Maria Valverde (RGC).

B. Faculty Evaluation Committee.

The work of this committee occurs primarily in the Spring semester. The committee members are Gaye Lynn Scott (NRG), committee chair, Stefan Haag (RVS), Allan Poe (NRG), and Jonathan Buckstead (CYP). As a reminder to all Government faculty members, evaluations in the Spring are based on Fall teaching. The committee suggests that each faculty member begin compilation of the teaching portfolio which will be the basis for the evaluation process in the Spring. Please refer to the Government Instructor's manual for the current academic year to find detailed information about the evaluation process, the standards for excellence in instruction, etc.

Student evaluations will be administered from October 30 to November 17 (16 weeks), October 2 to October 13 (first eight weeks), November 27 to December 8 (second eight weeks), October 16 to November 3 (twelve weeks).

For information about the Faculty Evaluations process, you may also go to http://irt.austin.cc.tx.us/fe/

C. Adjunct Faculty Committee.

This committee is chaired by Judy Nwachie (RGC) and the members are Lynn Lehle (RGC), Cecile Durish (CYP), and Amber Archuleta-Lucero (NRG). The committee has already interviewed several applicants for the adjunct faculty pool and will continue to schedule interviews as applications come in.

D. Professional Development Committee.

Paz Pena (RVS) chairs this committee, and the members are Jim Fowler (RGC), Roland Hayes (EVC), Vicke Hammond (NRG) and Glen Hunt (RGC). The work of this committee will be invaluable to all of us this year, as adjunct faculty must receive at least four hours of professional development while full time faculty must receive at least twelve hours. While ACC's Professional Development Office offers some options, the Government Task Force also wants to offer as many opportunities for discipline-specific professional development as possible. Contact the committee chair or a committee members with ideas you might have, particular requests for offerings, etc.

II. Chair's Report.

A. Spring 2001 class schedule. Scheduling of full-time faculty is complete, and the Dean's Office is currently working on scheduling MSTAs. Once MSTAs are scheduled, the Dean's Office will proceed to schedule the remaining faculty.

B. Budget, 2000-2001. There has been some confusion regarding where to get basic supplies such as chalk, pencils, etc. The administrative assistant at each campus will order and maintain supplies for faculty members. Any supply needs beyond these basics must go through the Task Force Chair.

C. Reorganization. The details of the reorganization announced last Spring are still in flux. Remember to refer to your Government Instructor's Manual for information about administrative responsibilities, lines of communication, and so forth. As remaining details are worked out, such details will be communicated to everyone.

D. Professional development requirements. As mentioned, the College now mandates four (adjunct faculty) or twelve (full time faculty) hours of professional development in order to receive a step raise. These hours must be completed by August 1, 2001. Anything offered by ACC's Faculty Development Office will be automatically acceptable, as will anything offered by the Government Task Force such as the brown bag seminars. Remember to formally document your professional development activities following the procedures established by the College. Also remember that the Task Force Chair's pre-approval is required for any activity outside those offered by the College or the Task Force.

Upon completion of any professional development hours, please submit verification to the Task Force Chair (the College requires the Task Force chair to post these internally on the Faculty Development Record Page). To check your documented hours, go to http://irt.austin.cc.tx.us/fd and click on "check your status".

III. Travel Requests.

The following travel requests were approved:

A. Paz Pena to the American Political Science Association meeting in San Francisco in September 2001.

B. Gaye Lynn Scott and Marilyn Mote-Yale to the Midwest Political Science Association meeting in Chicago in April 2001.

C. Judy Nwachie to New York for the United Nations Model Simulation.

IV. Announcements.

Government Department Listserv. The Government Instructor's manual has information regarding this listserv and how to subscribe. It was decided at the Task Force meeting that the best way to communicate with all the Government faculty members would be through this listserv. Announcements can be made regarding professional development opportunities and other activities of the Government Task Force. Please subscribe as soon as possible so that you will be "in the loop".

Class rolls. Class rolls have been distributed to all faculty. This year faculty members are required to make a note of any students they have never seen and then return the rolls to the Admissions & Records office.

Pay stubs. As you may know, ACC's payroll department has had some difficulties this past year. As a reminder, be sure to hold on to your pay stubs and double check the amounts with your contract.

Test bank opportunity. Harcourt is revising Democracy Under Pressure by Cummings and Wise and is seeking someone who would be interested in updating the test bank for the new edition. If you're interested, call Stacy Sims at 817 334-7822.

V. Put these dates on your calendar.

Brown bag seminars (topics TBA) and Government Task Force meetings: Friday, October 27 and Friday, December 1. Brown bag seminars at noon, HBC, Task Force meetings to follow at 1:00pm.