Minutes

All-Faculty and Department Meetings and Workshop

Spanish-American Institute

February 1, 2003

Convened: The Faculty Meeting convened at 10:10 am.

Attendance: E. Aniban, J. Arbai, L. Artega, F. A. Bush, A. Burakovsky, E. Castillo, R. Connelly, M. Diaz, L. Eco, D. V. Ferraro, K. El Harmassi, L. Hernandez, J. Kodjo, L. Fallarme, L. Grajo, R. Krishnamoorthy, N. Larsen, E. Manliclic, D. Mumkaya, E. Nibeyro, N. Panganiban, O. Piddubna, C. Prager, E. Ramos, I. Rymer, F. Sibucao, A. Tuldanes, A. Verbine,

President’s Report: Mr. Ferraro welcomed everyone. He reported that we received the draft report in December from the State Education Department's Office of College and University Evaluation for the March, 2002 site visit. The report made may helpful recommendations.

Chair and Other Faculty Reports:

Computer Technology—Khalid El-Harmassi reported that computer faculty have begun to implement the revised Internet course. He also indicated that the faculty have proposed two new computer applications courses. The first is Photoshop, an introduction to computer graphics. The second is FrontPage, an introduction to web-page design.

ESL—Radha Krishnamoorthy reported that 6 students in last Fall's ARW class completed the pilot information literacy project with final written and oral reports. She will be piloting the project again with another ARW section.

Accounting—Lilliam Hernandez reported that some Accounting students have trouble reading the textbook. She will talk further with Dean Prager about this.

Other Faculty—

1. Most faculty members expressed an interest in a future workshop on developing web-page design skills with applications to classroom teaching.
2. Several faculty expressed concern that students are not bringing books to class. A discussion followed about how to encourage them to do so.
3. Computer faculty indicated that more students are taking computer TOEFL. A discussion followed about how to encourage and support them to do so.

Academic Dean's Report: Dr. Prager—

• requested that faculty review the current periodical subscription list and make suggestions for renewals or replacements,
• reminded ESL faculty that the Institute now has several thematic videos appropriate for ESL classroom teaching,
• reminded ESL faculty that ETS will incorporate a test of spoken English into TOEFL starting this Fall,
• announced that the Institute has received State approval for the College Success course to be implemented soon, and
• clarified ACICS review and accreditation deadlines and dates.

She explained that the Institutional Effectiveness Plan (IEP) is a living document that is constantly being revised and updated. She explained how the IEP and Self-Study fit together. She reported that some faculty members had recently made suggestions to the IEP Study Group in response to the copy of the IEP draft received in December, 2002 and invited other faculty to do so.

Faculty Department Meetings: Faculty broke into Department Meetings at 11:30 p.m.

Computer and other program faculty met to discuss implementation of the information literacy portion of the revised Internet course. K. El Harmassi facilitated the discussion.

ESL faculty met to discuss informal ways to encourage student writing in ESL class. R. Krishnmoorthy facilitated the discussion and F. A. Bush took notes. Faculty suggestions will be compiled, published, and distributed to all ESL faculty.

Faculty Meeting Reconvened: The full faculty reconvened at 12:15 to hear reports from the Department Meetings. The Faculty Meeting adjourned at 12:30. Mr. Ferraro invited everyone to lunch at a local restaurant.