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Minutes of the Steering Committee

January 13, 2000

 Time: 10:05 am                                Location Powell Hall Conference Room

Meeting Chaired By: Dr. Wright

Attendance: Mrs. Alemayehu, Mr. Crow, Dr. Emeh, Dr. Goings, Dr. Johnson, Dr. Wright, Kelli Ketover

Absent: Bryant Thomas – Student Representative

Old Business

A. The search is ongoing for an Administrative Assistant. The option of using a temporary agency was discussed and agreed upon. The use of a temporary agency will be discussed with Dr. Silver and the job announcement will be reviewed and edited by Mr. Crow and Mrs. Alemayehu. Human Resources will be notified of terminating the search.

B. The furniture in the warehouse is not available. Furniture in other rooms will have to be assessed. Available office space may have been found. Once office space has been found an open house will take place for SACS. Subcommittees will be setup to create banners and other promotional material for the open house and to promote awareness of SACS 2000.

C. Act for Assessment of Academic Proficiency is willing to make a trip to Savannah for free. Dr. Wright will arrange a date for the meeting and the subcommittees will also be included.

D. Dr. Goings and Dr. Wright met with Dr. Silver and he recommended a notation be placed on the web site indicating that it is a work in progress. The minutes will not be verbatim but a list of topics discussed and actions taken. Subcommittees should receive a log form to guide how minutes are recorded. Log form was passed out and copies will be given to committee members for approval.

E. Dr. Silver is not in favor of expansion of the steering committee. The Vice President of Student Affairs, Dr. DeSousa, was added and approved by Dr. Brown. The Student Body President was called regarding absence at meetings. He has not responded and there is concern about his lack of attendance. It was agreed that is adviser would be contacted to help remedy the problem.

New Business

A. Kelli Ketover has been assigned to SACS and will be working out of Mr. Crow’s office.

B. A letter from Steven Smith was passed out along with the revised positioning statement that the Committee on Institutional Purpose prepared. The Steering Committee believes that the statement is general and not distinctive of SSU. The statement will be sent to Dr. Gilligan’s subcommittee of Principles and Philosophies. The finalization of the mission statement was also discussed.

C. The meeting with Dr. Silver confirmed that there is support from the administration.

D. Dr. Johnson will not be a permanent member of the steering committee. He will concentrate his efforts on NASPA.

E. The reports to the steering committee by the principal chairs will be 5 to 10 minutes in length.

F. Dr. Richardson will be on the Library committee. Barbara Haas will also be on the Library Committee and is suggested co-chair. Mrs.Ilugbo will be moved from the Editorial Committee to the Library Committee and Dr. Zhang will also be added to the Library Committee. Mrs. Alemayehu will replace Mrs. Rhodes on the Financial Aid Committee. The names will be sent to Dr. Brown for approval.

G. The Self Study Calendar will be revised and reprinted.

H. Dr. Wright and Dr. Goings will go to Augusta.

I. Student participation was discussed in E.

The next meeting is set for January 20, 2000 in Powell Hall Conference Room

                          January 27, 2000                                                                                                      

Location: Powell Hall Conference Room

Meeting Chaired by: Dr. Wright

Attendance: Dr. Emeh, Dr. Goings, Dr. Wright, Kelli Ketover 

Absent: Mr. Cuffee– Student Representative, Mrs. Alemayehu (meeting with the president), Mr. Crow (ill).

Presenters: Committee on Educational Programs: Dr. O’Neil and Mr. Scott. Committee on Institutional Purpose: Dr. Sullivan and Dr. Smith.

Introduction: Vice President of Student Affairs, Dr. DeSousa and the new student representative, Mr. Cuffee, did not attend the meeting as previously planned.

Old Business

A. The new office for SACS is room 234 in the Jordan building.

B. Dr. O’Neil and Mr. Scott presented their report (handout) of tasks completed and attendance of the Committee on Educational Programs.

Dr. Sullivan and Dr. Smith presented the audiot apes from the focus groups that their committee organized regarding Institutional Purpose. The committee discussed whether to make the president’s vision statement the University’s vision statement. The Steering committee felt that that was not necessarily the true vision of the University and recommended that the President be invited to the institutional purpose meeting to further discuss the vision. The Committee on Institutional Purpose thus far has formulated the mission statement. Faculty group comments were also reviewed.

C. At this time, Faculty Senate has not appointed someone to take Dr. Johnson’s place on the Steering committee.

D. The action report on ACT has been omitted. Assessments have already been done.

E. Did not discuss committee assignments to vacant positions.

New Business

A. By March 1 there will be a newsletter assessing each committee’s progress. Dr. Goings and the Editorial Committee will be responsible for the newsletter.

B. Mrs. Alemayehu and Dr. Emeh will have suggestions next week for the opening of the SACS office in February

C. The student/SACS relations is a new program that will ensure students know the purpose of SACS.

The next meeting is set for February 3, 2000 in room 234 Jordan Building.