General Faculty Organization

Executive Council Meeting: 01/06/2004

January 6, 2004, 8:30 am, Room 211B

Present: Colin Danby, Patricia Kelley, Sandeep Krishnamurthy, Mike Stiber, Barbara Van Sant and Linda Watts

Guests: Alan Leong

Discussion of proposal for undergraduate MIS concentration

Because a quorum was not achieved nor adequate departmental representation was present on Tuesday, a comment phase on the MIS Concentration will be conducted electronically through this Friday, January 9, 2004. On Monday, January 12 a paper ballot will be sent to EC members for voting on a motion to accept and forward the proposal document (as previously distributed to EC members for review). Business and CSS have approved the proposal for the MIS concentration, with those actions, they recommend the proposal to EC's consideration. Alan Leong presented the EC with a summary of the vision for the MIS concentration, which highlighted the cross programmatic collaboration of Business and CSS. There is internal and external support for this concentration, local industry has shown interest and UWB Student Affairs has received feedback on student interest. A few students have been piloted through the courses with good results. The proposed starting quarter will be Autumn 2004. Some of the points of the presentation follow:

Vision for MIS Concentration
Students who can excel in a digital business environment
MIS will bring in a new audience
Assessed interest from industry and students indicate this concentration will create new FTEs, 40% of Business students indicate interest
Points of Differentiation
Collaboration with CSS, students can choose the depth of computing study Innovative pedagogy, integrated courses with Computing and Business Mentorship program Collaboration with Industry, an Industry board will be established
Minimal incremental cost
Tested courses, all required courses have been offered before
Strong industry and alumni support
Supported by Tana Hasart, Student Affairs
Industry resources
Does not require HECB approval
MIS concentration will create a bridge, strengthening the IT component in Business
CSS classes have been customized for Business students
CSS course completion can be applied to a CSS minor

Challenges to UWB:

Low-cost vs. transformational
The MIS concentration could grow into a degree program
Business and CSS need to build a strong long-term partnership
Policy making body - curriculum, workload - who will make decisions?

Approval of EC minutes for November 24, 2003 and December 12, 2003
EC Minutes of November 24, 2003 were unanimously approved.
EC Minutes of December 12, 2003 were unanimously approved, pending addition of Patricia Kelley to the members present on that date.

Sandeep added an agenda item: Discussion of faculty workload issues, to be considered for a GFO meeting. Workload concerns have come to the forefront as an issue with the faculty and could be brought to the GFO for discussion and input. Some areas of concern are:

Service

Small programs have fewer faculty, committees can require associate or full professors and leave the program strained. Internships above and beyond the teaching load, professors supervising independent study

Summer support for research, programs that are under funded
Future growth
New Courses
Lower division courses offered
New Programs
Pressures to over enroll
Pressure on junior faculty for service, recognition and promotion

Colin pointed out that the UWB Finance Committee is tasked with considering the growth of campus to 6000 FTE, what impact is that having on faculty? A critical approach to growth is needed, a controlled rate of growth, since FTE will not remain consistent. If we add new faculty lines, what happens when enrollment falls off? The EC agreed that these issues would warrant discussion with GFO.

Minutes submitted by Barbara Van Sant