March 29, 1999
1. The minutes of March 8, 1999 were approved as corrected.
2. The recommendations of the Subcouncil on Courses and Program for approval of HST
118, HST 114, MTH 53, BIO 64 and ACC 011 were discussed and approved for course credit.
GMI 200 will be discussed by the AAC with the Acting Director of GMI.
3. The AAC will set up meetings for discussions of the calendar outline with students
and faculty and then proceed with drafting a proposal for “a semester plan” and
a time line for the consideration of the proposal.
4. Next week the meeting will be on Friday, April 9. The chair of Anthropology will
present the departmental external review.
April 9, 1999
1. The minutes of March 29, 1999 were approved.
2. Professor George Gmelch, Chair of Anthropology, presented the departmental external
review done in May, 1998. He responded to the points raised by the reviewers, including
some problems with adjuncts, course offerings that due to staffing are narrower than
students desire, the desirability of offering more theory, and students' request for
a yearly field program. The review proposed increasing the teaching load for the second
tenure line to 9 courses. The review also noted the increasing number of majors (34 at
present).
Gmelch pointed out that there are several models of anthropology programs and the Union
anthropology department has chosen a model that emphasizes field experience. He also noted
the limitation placed on offerings by the size of the faculty.
3. Bill Thomas, director of International Programs, came to discuss a term abroad that
would be done in conjunction with Hobart William Smith College. Funds from the Mellon
Foundation have supported the planning. The first term abroad under this consortial
relationship will be in San Cristobal in Mexico. It is an established program at Hobart
and William Smith and will be led by a Union professor, William Garcia.
If this consortial arrangement continues, the AAC must address the issue of granting
graded course credit for courses offered by another school. In any case, however, the
departments would maintain the right to accept courses for the major (as currently
applies).