Present:  Edmund Buis, Sarah Cron, Ann Gifford, Sandy Hinkle, Dennis Holt, Fred Janzow, Martin Jones, Bert Kellerman, Gerald McDougall, Chris McGowan, Milo Miller, Wes Mueller, David Naugler, Michael Parker, Phil Parette, Carol Scates, Jane Stephens, and Shirley Stennis-Williams.  

Guests:  Sharon Bebout-Carr, Anthony Duben, Ray G. Ewin, Peter Hirschburg, Michael Roark, Dennis Seyer, Mark Strauss, Mike Weatherson, and Glen Williams.

1. Minutes of December 5, 2000.  Upon motion of Chris McGowan and seconded by Fred Janzow, minutes were approved unanimously.
   
   
2. Action Items
   
   
1. Restructuring Proposals for Department of Speech, Communication & Theatre:  Provost Stephens reiterated with the Council and guests that the School of the Visual and Performing Arts will be created as a separate issue from the acquisition of the River Campus.  She announced that there is to be no vote on this creation of the School of the Visual and Performing Arts since the Board of Regents has already announced its approval of the creation of the school.  She further announced that for purposes of today’s meeting, the council would only be voting on the restructuring of Speech and Communication. Martin Jones moved for establishment of a Department of Communication Studies.  Carol Scates seconded the motion. Stephens opened the floor to comments of the guests.  Dennis Seyer and Ray Ewin presented a handout outlining student credit hour ratios in support of the creation of a Department of Communication Studies.  Concerns were expressed regarding the small number of tenure track/tenured faculty.  After extensive discussion of the council and guests, Stephens asked for a vote of the council.  The vote was 3 ayes, 14 nays.  The proposal did not pass Academic Council.
   
   
2. Proposed Revision to BS Major in Geography:  Martin Jones moved for approval of the revision to BS Major in Geography.  Sarah Cron seconded the motion.  Jones began with comments and opened the floor for questions.  Main concerns were the use of University Studies courses in the major and the lack of upper level courses in geography.  After discussion of the council and guests, it was decided that more time would be granted to the College of Liberal Arts to rework the proposal for the BS Major in Geography.  It was moved by Dean McDougall to table the motion.  Chris McGowan seconded the motion.  The vote to table was passed unanimously, and will be placed as an action item on the March 13th Academic Council’s agenda.     
   
   
3. Proposed Revision to Minor in Geography:  Martin Jones moved for approval of the revision to Minor in Geography.  Sarah Cron seconded the motion.  Jones explained that this was a simplification of the minor in geography.  The motion was approved unanimously.
   
   
4. Proposal for Interdisciplinary Option in BS in Applied Computer Science:  Chris McGowan moved for approval of the Interdisciplinary Option in BS in Applied Computer Science.  Martin Jones seconded the motion.  McGowan turned the floor over to guest, Anthony Duben.  Following discussion, it was felt by the council and guests that there was a need to change the name of the option to better clarify “interdisciplinary”.  The proposal was voted on with the name change as follows:  BS in Applied Computer Science – Applied Computer Science Option.  The motion was approved unanimously.
   
   
3. Discussion Items
   
   
1. Meeting Scheduled for March 6, 2001:  The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Academic Council, March 6th, is cancelled due to a Faculty and Staff Convocation which has been scheduled by the President.  After discussion, it was decided to hold the next meeting on Tuesday, March 13th, from 3:00 to 5:00 in the University Center’s Party Room.