Instructional Support Committee

Attending: Mark Schneider, Katya Gibel Azoulay, Anatoly Vishevsky, Margarita Pillado, Kara Lycke, Jen Green, Christopher McKee, Jon Chenette, Bill Francis, Justin Abramson, Terri Phipps

Minutes of last meeting approved.

Cecilia Knight will join ISC after fall break and complete Jen Green's 2-year term.

Fast track proposal approvals were noted as follows: 2 classroom visitor proposals (3 visitors, $450 total), one field trip proposal (~$100), one pedagogical conference proposal ($600).

Jon/Terri will contact SACC regarding a student representative to ISC.

Update on Burling planning:
It is not yet clear what the first floor renovation will involve or whether it can be completed over one summer. Different constituencies have different goals for the renovation. These goals include expanding technology and workspace in the reference area, increased open space in the periodical area in which events such as readings and study breaks can be held, aesthetic improvements to the entrance and circulation area, and the incorporation of two study rooms, currently planned in the map storage space. These study rooms will seat approximately six people each.

Classroom Visitor / Course-Related Fieldtrip Guidelines
Visitors: The current draft allows $75 honorarium and up to $75 total for travel and meal expenses. One member suggested that classroom speakers who plan to meet with students over lunch should be required to use the dining halls for this meal so that all members of the class could attend, rather than some students being denied due to budgetary or time constraints. After a lengthy discussion, Jon offered to rewrite the draft to address concerns.

Fieldtrips: The majority of fieldtrip proposals have been for local trips, easily completed in one day. However, longer trips have been approved in the past. Guidelines will remain up to $1500 total per trip. If departments foresee a recurring need, they should request funds through their departmental budgets.

Office of Interdisciplinary Studies: Requests funds for small groups of faculty to meet over lunch to discuss OIS initiatives. Committee members agreed that participants and discussion topics should be tracked, but were not clear that this fell under its purview. The majority agreed to fund these lunches. One member dissented, stating that professional development should not be funded through Instructional Support. ISC will be involved in OIS initiatives, realizing that this will set a precedent for other EKI initiatives. Marci Sortor will gather proposals and forward them to ISC for funding.

Strategic Plan: An expanded version of the strategic plan implementation document currently available will be distributed soon. Jon solicited comments on the technology infrastructure section from ISC. Recommendations include increased wireless coverage. There are 30-35 "hotspots" on campus with some areas having more coverage than others. Approximately 50% of campus now has wireless access. Other recommendations include increased availability of collaborative tools, GIS use and support, continued improvements to audio-visual support, and possible changes to IT infrastructure including wireless computers for staff members, depending on their job function.

Jon would like feedback on the expanded strategic plan document. The Board has received a copy of the draft. The document will go before the faculty in early October. ISC will continue the discussion.

Respectfully submitted,
Terri Phipps