Members Present: Nancy Dillard, Tori Ellison, Jared Belk, Heather List, Lex Davis, Janet Dickinson, Dixie McGinty, Gayle Miller, Phyllis Bolick, Bob Orr, Roger Turk, John Bardo, Debbie Beck, Fred Hinson, Jeanine Newman, Kathy Wong, and Dave Whitaker
Members Absent: Jared Wilkins, Jeff Bewsey, Debie Connelly, Keith Stiles, Karen Lunnen, Newt Smith, and Bob Vartabedian.
The meeting was called to order at 3:37PM. After welcoming Dave Whitaker back as Secretary, the minutes were approved as written.
Edna Waldrop from IT Services was not able to be with the UAC today. She will present her information on the Banner conversion for us next month.
The UAC forwarded its recommendation concerning the Alternate ID to the Chancellor, who in turn forwarded it to Dr. Franke for consideration. Because the Banner System conversion, which will occur over several years, allows the use of alternate IDs for students and faculty, the recommendation was put on hold until that upgrade is well underway. Again, a presentation on that system will be given at the February meeting.
Additionally, the UAC recommended that the Social Security Number Task Force, which has faltered recently due to lack of leadership, be folded into the new IT Advisory Council that Dr. Franke is developing. This decision was agreed to with members citing that it was a good idea because the notion of social security numbers had to do with data security and distribution, which IT handles anyway.
In the area of new business, the UAC discussed the difficulty in communicating with students via their WCU assigned email address, which is provided to students during orientation. Discussion included points that mentioned faculty members creating lists of alternate addresses and some that required the use of those WCU addresses for class purposes. Dr. Bardo agreed that it was a definite concern. A recommendation to the Chancellor will be drafted stating that the student email system is falling short of expectations. The Chancellor will take the appropriate action.
Dr. Bardo gave the Adminstrative Council report. The College of Education was reaccredited recently. The budget situation will continue to be very unstable and Dr. Bardo will give updates when they become available. On either February 21st or February 28th, a conference will be held with the central purpose being "What role does Western Carolina University play to promote the interests of the region?" All members of the UAC will be invited to take part in this discussion with each other as well as regional business leaders. Speakers include Dr. Phil Kirk, Director of NCCBI, Marc Basenite, former Speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives, and Mary Jo Waits, Director of the Public Policy Institute at the Arizona State University. The University met its budgeted enrollment goal. Retention stands at 70.9% from spring 03 to fall 03; placing Western at the bottom of the system. When asked if our retention was worse than previously, Dr. Bardo commented that it actually improved but others in the system improved more than we did. Legislative priorities include enrollment growth, health care and benefits for employees, and endowed professorships.
Kathy Wong reported that the student paper on leadership opportunities has been received and read. She commented that the paper was first rate and she would be calling the Leadership Committee together to study it and make recommendations to the UAC shortly.
The meeting was adjourned at 4:54PM.
Respectfully submitted,
David A. Whitaker
Council Secretary
