Instructional Support Committee

Attending: Leslie Gregg-Jolly, Karen Shuman, Rebecca Stuhr, Richard Fyffe, John Kalkbrenner, Bill Francis, David Cook-Martin, Jenny Anger, Matt Kluber, Kramer McLuckie (SGA), Terri Phipps

Minutes of 9 September approved.

Approved via email : Vishevsky/Geller faculty-faculty tutorial, provided they add at least three readings or films specific to Russian.

Fast-track approvals :

• Political Economy Reading group [EKI] ................................................................... $420
• Social Science Workshop (discussion group) [EKI] ................................................... $100
• Mirzam Handal (Sacred and Profane in the Early Modern Hispanic World Symposium) ............... $560

Report from Bill Francis, ITS and printing: Discussion tabled until after break. Bill will send prospectus on ways to reduce printing and waste.

 Curricular Development proposals:

• Vance Byrd (Iowa World Languages Association) ............................................... $335.75

Faculty sometimes travel to local meetings at their own expense, regardless of whether or not they are presenting. As an early-career faculty member, this meeting will help develop local connections and possibly lead into a leadership role in the organization. ISC supports this proposal.

It was suggested to update the Curricular Development guidelines to include criteria for this type of proposal.

• Craig Upright: Field trips

Two field trips to local establishments to meet with proprietors. Approved as follows.

Saint's Rest ................................................................................................. $69

Chuong Garden (reduced to $10 per person) ............................................. $230

• Craig Upright: Classroom visitors

Guidelines state that classroom visitors should be from the local area. Lodging is not provided. Proposal is approved at the level provided by ISC guidelines:

Per speaker: $75 honorarium

Up to $25 for meal expense

Mileage provided up to 100 miles ($55)

Goals for the year

Technology:

• Resolve the file format issue raised by John Stone in August 2007

PCs were set to default to .doc format, but could be changed by individual users. ITS has no control over default settings on MACs. Some converters are now available to enable reading .docx files, but not everyone has a converter. No converter is available for Excel. Suggestion to send a reminder to users to save documents in a more compatible format when sharing documents.

• Encourage more faculty requests for use of technology for curriculum development
• Develop ISC position on continuing or not continuing the experimental AV/CTS support assistant position (expires Spring 2010)
• PioneerWeb: Faculty input is needed. Bill will forward an agenda item to Karen.

Discussion of online resources and printing costs led to a brief discussion about book costs for students, and the conjecture that faculty might be using more online sources to save book money for students (with more printing from campus computers as a result), and the increased use of library reserves and other resources as books become more expensive.

Respectfully submitted,
Terri Phipps