President's Council Meeting Summary

March 24, 2004

 

 

Present:  Dene Thomas, Kathy Martin, Lynn Mathers for Rob Lohrmeyer, Richard Moore, Tony Fernández, Whitney Pugh, Allen Schmook, Bert Sahlberg, Deacon Meier, Dave Taylor, Dawn Byers, Kathie Wilcox, Chet Herbst, Janis VanHook

 

Absent:  Rob Lohrmeyer, Polly Blasko

 

Guests:  Marge Stout and Laura Wilson

 

Calendar Review

Calendars for March and April were distributed noting the administration’s travel and major campus events.  A campus meeting is scheduled for Monday, April 5, at 3:15 p.m. to provide updates on strategic planning and budget actions.

 

World Series Volunteerism

President Thomas and the vice presidents encourage employees to volunteer and have agreed to a four-hour work release for those who wish to volunteer.  The work release requires prior approval of the employee’s supervisor.

 

President’s Report

 

President Thomas and Provost Fernandez attended the Western Interstate Commission on Higher Education reception on March 10 in Boise.   WICHE provides data and promotes cooperation among the institutions.

 

The State Board of Education met in Boise on March 11 and 12.   The Board did not approve LCSC’s repeated request for the full 9.98% increase in student fees.  The Governor has not appointed individuals to the two open positions on the State Board of Education.

 

The legislature voted to approve the flat-line budget with the partial funded salary increase for higher education. 

With a smaller-than-requested increase in student fees and a lower-than-expected state appropriation, Lewis-Clark State College is faced a need to economize in planning the fiscal year 2005 budget.

 

In order to look for economies with a minimum of disruption to current employees, LCSC President Dene K. Thomas has instituted a soft hiring freeze.  Before filling a vacant position, she will review the position, seeking input from others, to see if the hiring can be delayed or if the duties can be handled in another manner.  This year’s budgeting goal will be to maintain instructional programs at their present level and avoid cuts that affect students most directly, in their educational plans, as the highest priority.

 

A search for the Vice President for Administrative Services position is being organized.  Individuals have been invited to serve on the search committee.  Advertising will begin April 5.

 

Provost and Vice Presidents’ Reports

 

Provost:

 

Christine Pharr has accepted the position of Dean for Academic Programs beginning July 14.

 

The position for Chair of the Nursing Division has been extended and the closing date is this week. 

 

Last November, the state board approved the American Board Certification of Teacher Excellence computer test as an alternate means to teacher certification. Board members hope it will allow mid-career professionals and others with at least a bachelor's degree to teach in mostly rural districts that rely heavily on uncertified teachers.  The test has been criticized for its lack of an internship or student teaching component. The board passed a revised version of the rule allowing the test March 12, and clarified its mentoring program. Designed to replace student teaching, the mentoring program would be conducted online or via videotaped exchanges with approved mentors. The new rule also opened the field for computer tests other than the American Board.   

LC’s Education Division may expand its two-year-old accelerated teacher certification program in response to the ABCTE being pushed by the State Board of Education.  LC understands the need the board is trying to address with the controversial computer test. The PACE program is already addressing that need and can accommodate further growth.  LC will become a leader in alternative certification.  The provost has made the request to the State Board of Education for that statewide mission designation.


Following the recent announcement that Idaho reservists may be called to active military duty, questions have arisen. Below is LCSC’s policy designed to assist those students.  Students who are activated for military duty have two options:

1. Withdraw and received a grade of W for all classes (regardless of the date)

2. Work with professors to receive Incomplete (I) grades for all classes in which the student is currently doing satisfactory work. (Must be activated within 3 weeks from the end of the term).

Students withdrawing from all classes will receive a full fee refund (if self-paid) including pro-rated residence life fees IF they attach a copy of military orders to report to duty, or report to training, to the total withdrawal form.

A spouse of an activated military person is entitled to the same choices listed above. The spouse will have to provide a copy of the military orders to report to duty, or report to training, for their spouse, to the total withdrawal form.

It is the responsibility of the student to contact faculty members who assign grades of Incomplete. Students are allowed to extend an incomplete through the end of the term after the term in which the “I” grade was assigned.
This policy state the minimum action that faculty can take to accommodate guardsmen.


Students who have questions regarding the information above, should contact the Veteran’s Representative, Mike Reiner in the Admissions office at 792-2210.

 

CAAP will include the following discussion topics.

  • Roles and mission: LCSC will request statewide leadership role in alternative teacher certification
  • Common course numbering and articulation agreements among the institutions
  • Financial exigency

 

Community Programs: Division chairs, CDA staff and academic administration will participate in a strategic planning session for the CDA campus programs to identify short-term and long-term possibilities, resources needed to support them, and prioritize these items.  The strategic planning session has been planned for June 8 and 9.   

 

Administrative Services: 

 

Whitney Pugh provided an analysis of membership expenses for a 13 month period beginning January 1, 2003 through February 27, 2004.   The Council reviewed the list for cost savings in dual memberships.

 

The Kempthorne Administration has taken action to assist Guardsmen, their families, employers and communities in the wake of this alert and during any possible overseas deployment.  A toll-free phone number – 1-866-GUARD-ID – has been set up as an information resource for anyone affected by the possible mobilization. Also, the Idaho National Guard website, http://www.idarng.com/, will be updated to include contacts and information for Guardsmen, their families, and their employers.

 

Student Affairs: 

 

Native American Awareness Week was well attended and had quality panels.  Rosa Yearout received the Lifetime Achievement Award.  David Sears received the outstanding faculty award.  

 

Lewiston School District is planning to purchase land and build a new high school.  Planning has evolved and property acquisition is being negotiated.  A bond levy will have to be approved before the construction can be affirmed.

 

At the present time, we are down 1% in total applications compared to date last year but up in international and CDA applications.  Applicants who are fully admitted are up by 24%.    Since we are comparing to the highest applicant year ever figures, we are in very good shape.

 

Student health insurance total cost for 2004-2005 is $365 from $348.  A fee has been included to process the plan, and $3.50 addition for pharmacy co-pay. 

 

 

Direct Reporting Units

 

Athletics:  Men’s Basketball team will compete in the national tournament March 22-27 in Kansas City.

 

Institutional Research and Planning:  Assessment plan will be implemented in the next month.  

 

GPA and Retention Statistics: The Council discussed retention statistics reflected below. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cum GPA - following

 

Fall 02

Fall 03

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total student population

 

2.94

3.13

 

 

 

 

 

 

All degree-seeking, full-time students

 

2.99

3.07

 

 

 

 

 

 

Term GPA

 

 

Fall 03

 

 

 

 

 

 

All 1st-Time, 1st-Year, full-time, degree seeking

 

 

2.70

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Retention - from fall to fall

Fall 01-02

Fall 02-03

Fall 03-04

 

 

 

 

 

 

All 1st-Time, 1st-Year, full-time, degree seeking

58.75%

52.20%

—

 

 

 

 

 

 

within group above: provisional students

53.02%

50.00%

—

 

 

 

 

 

 

Retention - from fall to spring

 

Fall 02-Spr 03

Fall 03-Spr 04

 

 

 

 

 

 

All students (excludes fall graduates)

 

75.69%

73.20%

 

 

 

 

 

 

All 1st-Time, 1st-Year, full-time, degree-seeking

 

78.89%

77.30%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Definition of First-Time, First-Year Student is a student who entered college with no prior college

 

experience; i.e., no credits to transfer in.  However, if a student took courses for college credit while

 

still in high school (dual credit, Tech Prep), they are considered First-Time, First-Year the first

 

semester they attend college after graduation from high school.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Definition of Full-Time Student is a student taking 12 or more credits during the semester.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Definition of Degree-Seeking Student is a student who declared a major, including the designation

 

of Undeclared.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Definition of Provisional Student is a student admitted to LCSC with either a provisional (ADPR),

 

conditional (ADCO), or restricted probation (ADRP) admittance status.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Reports

 

Professional Staff Organization officer nominations being accepted, election on March 24.

 

The Classified Staff Organization:  Silent auction was successful.  Proceeds will go to the Moss family fund and the annual classified staff luncheon and meeting on April 8. 

 

Professional Development Day is scheduled for April 23.

 

Around The Table

 

The Center for Arts and History will host the Clarkston Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours on Thursday, from 5:00 to 7:00 a.m.

 

The General Education Task Force has identified goals and is working on organization of the General Ed Committee.  The Task Force will report to the Faculty Senate and Faculty Association in the near future.

 

Proposals for summer capitol projects are being reviewed and prioritized.  A proposal is being submitted to move the Help Desk to the Library close to Media Services.

The Budget Office is accepting proposal for student technology fees.

RFP have been reviewed for the new Student ID system.

The video, “Walking on Sacred Ground,” has been produced for the National Park Service and the US Forest Service to educate visitors to the Ancient Trail System about protecting cultural sites and artifacts.  The grant only allowed for a fifteen minute video, but the institution may expand the video to 30 minutes.

 
Institutional Development grant proposals are due on Friday, March 26. 

 

The Eastern Idaho Technical College Dean of Instruction will visit campus on March 30 to discuss strategic planning formats, truck driver training, information technology and institutional research functions.  

 

Meeting Adjourned

The next President's Council will be on Wednesday, April 14, at 9:00 a.m., in the Alumni Board Room.