Minutes

Faculty Meeting and Workshop

Spanish-American Institute

May 31, 2003

 

 

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

 

Attendance:  E. Aniban, J. Arbai, N. Berrada, F. A. Bush, A. Burakovsky, E. Castillo, G. Coronado, M. Diaz, G. Diaz, L. Eco, D. V. Ferraro, L. Hernandez, J. Kodjo, L. Fallarme, A. Fred-Horsfall, F. Kikilashvili,R. Krishnamoorthy, N. Larsen, E. Manliclic, D. Mumkaya, E. Nibeyro, N. Panganiban, O. Piddubna, C. Prager, E. Ramos, P. Schiffman, F. Sibucao, A. Tuldanes, C. Vargas,  A. Verbine.  

 

President’s Report:  Mr. Ferraro welcomed everyone to the meeting and to a tour of the new additional space.  He indicated that we are continuing the self-study phase of the accreditation process.  He encouraged everyone to review the draft self-study they had received and to make comments. He also thanked faculty who had worked to develop the FrontPage and Photoshop courses. 

 

Chair and Other Faculty Reports: 

 

   ESL—Radha Krishnamoorthy reported that she has completed ESL teacher classroom observations. 

 

   Accounting & Business—Lilliam Hernandez reported that she has completed business and computer teacher classroom observations.  She also announced that some students have progressed to the second volume of the new accounting text. 

 

   Other Faculty—

 

  1. Books:  Several faculty expressed concern that students are not bringing books to class.  Several made constructive suggestions for ways that faculty and staff can encourage students to buy required books and bring them to class. 
  2. PhotoShop and FrontPage Enrollments:  Computer faculty indicated that several students have enrolled already in the PhotoShop and FrontPage courses.  They indicated that they were talking to other students who seem interested in taking the course.  Computer faculty also indicated that FrontPage students needed to publish some of their exercises.  Mr. Ferraro will help them implement whatever is required. 
  3. Computer Lab Use:  Computer faculty also indicated that students not enrolled in computer courses are using the computer lab, sometimes spending time there when they should be in other classes for which they are enrolled.  Several faculty members made constructive suggestions about ways to monitor appropriate use of the computer lab. 
  4. NorthStar:  ESL 2 faculty indicated that students are very positive about the NorthStar new Listening and Speaking text.  

 

Academic Dean's Report: 

 

  1. TOEFL Test:  Dr. Prager reported that ETS has delayed incorporating a test of spoken English into TOEFL until next year.  However, they will be piloting speaking test elements this year.   Students should be advised that these test elements will not count in their final test score.
  2.  Syllabi Revision:  She indicated that syllabi are being updated to reflect new texts, materials, and/or course objectives.  
  3. College Success Course:  Dr. Prager provided an overview of the purposes of the new College Success course.  She described how College Success, TOEFL, ARW, and Internet teachers could work together directly through team teaching to achieve course objectives and all other faculty could contribute indirectly to course outcomes.  She distributed a selection of sample lesson plans that demonstrated several of the course's learning objectives, including developing English language skills, especially writing and speaking, and information literacy skills.  She then led an hour-long discussion of how the course's learning objectives.  That discussion included but was not limited to the following:

 

1.      They stressed the importance of the new course's group-work and project orientation. 

2.      They suggested that the course might include simulated oral exchanges with college admissions staff. 

3.      They also suggested that College Success students be encouraged to learn and use PowerPoint for their presentations, since American students now typically use PowerPoint, especially in graduate courses.