AHC-FCC MEETING MINUTES

December 4, 2008

10:00 - 11:30 a.m.

ChildrenŐs Rehab Center, Room 406

 

These minutes reflect discussion and debate at a committee meeting of the University of Minnesota Senate or Twin Cities Campus Delegation; none of the comments, conclusions, or actions reported in these minutes represents the views of, nor are they binding on, the Senate or Delegation, the Administration, or the Board of Regents.

Present:  Brian Isetts (chair), Collin Campbell, Paul Olin, Susan Berry, Cheryl Robertson, Peter Davies, Vernon Weckwerth

 

Regrets:  Steve Downing

 

Guests:  Barbara Brandt, President Robert H. Bruininks, Katie Stuckert (Office of the President)

 

Approval of Minutes:  The October 2nd and November 6th meeting minutes were unanimously approved.

 

Academy for Excellence in the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning 

 

Chair Isetts announced the nominees for the Academy for Excellence in the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning and briefly provided an overview of each nominee.  All committee members should have received a set of nominations via campus mail.  Isetts explained that the committeeŐs job is to serve as the nominee screening committee.  Assistant Vice President Barbara Brandt, Academic Health Center, said that the Academy for Excellence in the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning has been planned by Dr. Cerra for some time.  The Academy was developed over the course of the last three years, and complements the Academy for Excellence in Health Research.  The first Academy inductees were presented last year.  She stated that the feedback from last yearŐs event was great.  Academy members receive an annual augmentation of $10,000 for five consecutive years.   VP Brandt emphasized to members that the committeeŐs review should focus on the nomineeŐs scholarship of teaching and learning credentials.  She stated that the external faculty reviewers play an important role in the selection process.  Professor Berry said that she thinks other groups such as master teachers should be recognized in a similar fashion and Brandt responded that there are recognition awards that cover other groups in the University community.

 

There will be up to four Academy inductees this year.  Chair Isetts noted that AHC-FCC members may need to review all of the candidates, make notes on each and then re-review the candidates to focus their evaluation.  The Committee will discuss nominees and make its recommendations at the January 8th meeting.  Chair Isetts said that members should make substantive comments that he can use for his report.  Members discussed if they should rank the nominees and VP Brandt said that they could share their individual rankings with Dr. Cerra, but not with the external reviewing committee.

 

Professor Olin expressed a need to get a full finance and planning committee together.  There are currently two open seats in the AHC-FCC Finance and Planning subcommittee (hereafter F&P), one for a Medical School applied science member and one for a Medical School basic science member that need to be filled.  Chair Isetts agreed and hopes to have both seats filled shortly after the new-year.  Olin recognizes that F&P will be taking on a greater prominence in University governance with the current and future financial climate.  Isetts will be participating more with F&P by attending the committeesŐ meetings as much as possible.  In a related note, the next committee meeting with Dr. Cerra has been moved to December 10th and the main topic will be the evolving roles and responsibilities of AHC faculty governance in the presence of economic challenges.

 

A Visit From President Bruininks

 

President Bruininks and Katie Stuckert joined the meeting and engaged in an informal fireside dialogue with committee members.

 

The meeting was adjourned at 11:55 a.m.

 

Lisa Towry

University Senate Office