Minutes

Faculty Senate Student and Faculty Honors Committee

Friday, October 12, 2007

Room 130 Hullihen Hall

Present: Kirsten Andrews, Mohsen Badiey, Linda Gottfredson, Rhonda Hyde, Zachary Schafer, Mark Serva, Ismat Shah, Jonathan Urick

• Approved minutes of 9/21/07 meeting
• Committee approved annual report with minor changes, including the removal of the names of those considered for the Alison Award other than the awardee himself.
• Rhonda delivered her group’s report on the Alison rubric
• Documents presented to the committee include rubric guidelines, a sample evaluation form, and a revised dossier submission form
• The rubric presented was very well received
• The committee was in unanimous agreement that both scholarship and teaching are to be considered for the Alison Award, though scholarship is primary
• Rhonda’s presentation and the ensuing discussion led the committee to agree on a number of guiding principles and objectives to be considered throughout the process of reviewing the Alison Award:
• Consistency across all documents such as letters to deans and faculty, and the website
• Sufficient information and guidance for both nominators and the committee
• Flexibility so as not to tie the hands of the committee or promote a formulaic approach by nominators
• The committee discussed indicating on the submission form more specific categories for documents included in the dossier
• Linda indicated a desire to formulate a more comprehensive sample evaluation form
• Linda directed the committee to review the Alison Award’s founding document which is on the committee’s website
• The committee’s next step is to turn the proposed rubric into documents and letters to be released to nominators
• Linda also stated that she would attempt to formulate a packet including all relevant documents for the committee’s consideration of the revised Alison rubric
• Kirsten delivered her progress regarding contacting alumni for nominations
• The current direction of the alumni email system is unclear
• It is unexpected that alumni will be able to create an email address in time for the upcoming nominating season
• Alternative options are being considered
• The appropriate contact at the Alumni Office is also unclear as responsibilities are changing under the new administration.
• New contacts were discussed
• Zach and Jonathan presented the results of their deliberations with Michael on efforts to increase nominations and better reach students. They presented the following suggestions:
• A “meet and greet” recognizing the previous year’s award winners coinciding with the upcoming nominating season. Such an event would possibly include,
• Food such as cheese and crackers, vegetables and dip, fruit, cookies, etc—not a full meal.
• An opportunity for awardees to speak, and students to recount their experiences with award winners
• The involvement of the departments of the awardees
• A focus piece in the Review on the previous year’s award winners coinciding with the meet and greet, including possible interviews and directions how to nominate
• Incentives to nominate such as a drawing for iPods
• Targeting of departmental honor societies, as well as non-departmental honor societies/fraternities such as Alpha Lamda Delta, Phi Kappa Phi, and others
• Collaboration with Residence Life to promote nominations
• The committee reacted positively to all suggestions except the use of lottery type incentives which were rejected.
• The meet and greet was particularly well received
• Ismat suggested including a statement encouraging nominations on course evaluation forms.
• It was also suggested to use Career Services to help increase both student and alumni nominations
• The committee discussed steps needed to make the “meet and greet” an annual event
• Linda directed the committee to look over the Honors Day booklet with an eye toward what awards can be eliminated from inclusion in the booklet
• Meeting adjourned: 10:00 AM