Minutes from the Institutional Planning Council Meeting

 

September 14, 2004

 

Present: Boozer, Gulley, Barber, Love, Harrington, McDaniel, McClanahan, Pirrman, Sauter, Simmons, Hartman, Herring and Whitney. 

 

Dr. Boozer welcomed the Council and called the meeting to order.  A motion was made by Mr. Herring to adopt the minutes of the April 12th meeting.  A second was offered by Dr. Simmons.  The motion carried to adopt the minutes. 

 

Dr. Boozer updated the council on the Strategic Plan of the College.  Copies of the plan were distributed at the opening session.  The IPC routinely assesses the progress toward attainment of the three initiatives of the Strategic Plan.

            Enrollment initiative: Enrollment Management has purchased new software to streamline recruiting efforts.  The possible addition of a football program will aid in attaining the goal of 1,200 students.

            Curriculum initiative: Dr. Simmons reports that an analysis is underway be each academic department regarding decreasing faculty workload to 21 hours from the current 24 hours.  This decrease will allow faculty time to engage their students in out-of-class research.   

            Library initiative: President Gulley updated the council that conversations with the architect are ongoing and hopefully plans can be unveiled in late October.  The silent phase of the fundraising campaign is continuing.

 

Dr. Boozer reported that 21 of the 24 academic units have filed an Annual Summary of IE Activities report.  These reports are due in June of the year.  Administrative units of the college will be filing their institutional effectiveness reports in October.

 

Ms. Whitney updated the council on the renovation of the Callaway Auditorium.  The auditorium will close down after the Scholarship Luncheon on September 23rd, and will be closed until fall of 2005.  The renovation will allow seating for 750, with a larger stage and exceptional acoustics. 

 

President Gulley stated that the opening of the new school year has gone well.  Day of record is set for Friday, September 17th, but enrollment predictions appear to show approximately 1,045 students.  This is 25 more than last year’s fall enrollment and 22 higher than our previous record; but it is 20 shy of our budgeted goal.  However, we do have higher enrollment in the graduate program and more full-time enrollment in the Evening College, so our budget situation may not be as critical. 

 

An update on the potential football program was given by President Gulley.  He reported that many meetings with various constituents of the College have been held, the most recent with the student body.  The overall response from the students was reported to be favorable.  The Student Affairs Committee of the Board of Trustees will meet next Friday, September 24th to make a recommendation to the Board.  That recommendation will be heard by the board and voted on in October at the BOT meeting. 

 

Plans for Hurricane Ivan were discussed with the council by President Gulley.  He stated that the Cabinet would meet Wednesday morning at 11:30 to discuss the most current forecast for the storm and decide if the College should hold classes on Thursday and/or Friday.  Updates would be posted on the College website, local and regional television and radio stations.

 

The next meeting is scheduled for October 12th at 3 PM in the Assembly Room of the Student Center. 

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Shirley Harrington