Thanks to the Faculty Development Committee for arranging a Brown bag Seminar by Dr. Sean Theriault on "Party Polarization in Congress". We heard a most interesting presentation reflecting Dr. Theriault's research on party polarization.

Department meeting Faculty Present: Cecile Durish, Joseph Engle, Karry Evans, Ron Fletcher, Frank Garrahan, Mike Gividen, Stefan Haag, Glen Hunt, Stephen Langley, Lynn Lehle, Jeff Millstone, Ed Mullen, Judy Nwachie, Paz Pena, Lisa Perez, Nashid Rashid, Celeste Rios, Kris Seago, Gaye Lynn Scott, Marilyn Mote-Yale

Mariano Diaz-Miranda reported on the new Mexican American and Chicano Studies program in development by the college. This program will lead to an Associate of Arts Degree. The department is looking for a faculty member to develop the curriculum and teach a new course which we hope to offer in the upcoming academic year. The course is GOVT 2311 Mexican American Politics.

The South Austin campus is scheduled to open in the fall of 2006. Lisa Perez, a full time faculty member, will be located at that campus.

Interviews for the new position(s) in the Government department will be held in early spring. The hiring committee is composed of Glen Hunt (chair), Dr. Judy Nwachie, Dr. Marilyn Mote-Yale, Karry Evans, and Veronica Rodriguez.

Social and Behavioral Sciences will have a workshop during the spring Faculty Development Day, January 13, 2006.

1. Adjunct Faculty Hiring: Jeff Millstone reported that one application is on file and interviews will be held in the spring.

2. Assessment of Student Learning: Joe Engle led a discussion of the department's approach to student assessment. The department decided to conduct a four year assessment program focusing on the four major units of the course-Foundations, Processes, Institutions, Policy. This year we will focus on Foundations. Faculty should submit suggested assessment questions to Joe Engle by the end of the semester.

3. Faculty Evaluation: Marilyn Mote-Yale announced that most portfolios have been received. The evaluation process will begin early in the spring. All faculty members should receive their student evaluations in the first week of the spring semester. Marilyn reminded all faculty to remember to submit their Faculty input Forms after they receive their student evaluations. Faculty are also reminded to double-check the evaluation standards that are described in the Government Faculty Handbook.

4. Faculty Development: Stefan Haag reported on committee activities. Lisa Perez reported on the first Book Club meeting and announced plans are in development for the spring books. Jeff Millstone reported on plans for a future Dialogue on Teaching. The committee is continuing its work on implementing a "shell" or sample web site for all Government Department faculty web pages.

5. Distance Learning: Frank Garrahan and Cecile Durish reported on efforts to develop tools to improve our distance learning courses. They distributed a sample "Student Learning Style Self-Assessment" for use by students considering a Government Distance Learning class. If you want to see a draft of this assessment contact Frank or Cecile.

Associate of Arts in Government Degree Plan: After a short discussion the faculty voted to change the Government degree plan to require any literature course from the Humanities section of the Core Curriculum rather than the previously specified literature courses. In addition, the faculty voted to remove GOVT 2633 from the degree plan since it will no longer be offered.

Associate of Arts in Government Degree Plan: After discussion the faculty voted to require credit (with a grade of 'C' or better) in English 1301 or its functional equivalent prior to a student being able to enroll in Govt 2305 or 2306.

The vote was 14 in favor, 2 opposed, and 2 abstaining.

Congratulations were extended to Glen Hunt who is taking over as Department Chair in January 2006.