Summary of 10/10/07 Meeting

Announcements:

Schwartz: NEASIS&T & Simmons chapter of ASIS&T both tied for chapters of the year with Los Angeles & UCLA chapters respectively.

Committee Reports:

Rank & Tenure: there is much competition for new faculty from other GSLIS programs across country, so encourage faculty to put out a call to their acquaintances in field. There is a special focus on recruiting ALANA faculty.
Rank & Tenure: committee will start holding class visits soon, beginning with visits to classes taught by 4-year review candidates. These will not be surprise visits- faculty will be receiving advance notice.
Web Site/IA: more surveys coming out soon

Unfinished Business from Last Meeting: Motions (all passed)

Bastian: Appointment of Ad hoc committee to advise on core courses
Bastian: Current 5 core courses to be re-conceptualized in two groups:
- Core courses: specific to LIS (reference & information organization)
- Core areas: more general (management, technology, evaluation & research) with a menu of courses for each area.
Bastian: Pilot study to test model of re-conceptualized core courses/areas for Fall 2008 (for example: offer a menu of approved courses for management, including Public Libraries, Corporate Libraries, etc.)
Denn: Creation of a new LIS foundation course
Pattee: “Special Topics in Children’s Literature & Library Science” for Summer 2008: The Unspeakable in Literature for Children & Young Adults. Audience: dual degree (MA/MS) students, GSLIS, children’s lit program
Smith: “Intro to Competitive Intelligence” course

New Business: Changing wording of description for Rank & Tenure Committee

Currently only full professors allowed, with rare exception (when urgently needed) of allowing associate professors
After a lengthy discussion it was agreed that associate professors would be allowed on committee so long as they are not up for tenure review.
The pros:
- For equal distribution of labor it is fair that associates also participate.
- A great plus is that allowing associate professors to participate in this committee will help to develop them toward full professorship responsibilities.
The cons:
- Possible conflict of interest, whether members are deciding for selves or for peers (whom they may see as competition)