RPIPC Minutes December 2, 2011

I.          Call to order/Approval of Agenda

            Call to order at 3:30

II.        Approval of Minutes

            October 7, 2011

http://minutes.gcsu.edu/resources-planning-and-institutional-policy-rpipc/rpipc-minutes-october-7-2011

Minutes approved

November 4, 2011

http://minutes.gcsu.edu/resources-planning-and-institutional-policy-rpipc/rpipc-minutes-november-4th-2011

Minutes approved

III.       Unfinished Business

IV.       New Business

A.            Carnegie Community Engagement Gap Report – attached – Judy Malachowski

Request from ECUS – Tom Miles, Chair of the Community Engagement Task Force

“I think a recommendation for the next step is the appropriate response. Given the faculty sense of "initiative fatigue" I think the Provost is looking for us to decide whether we think this deserves further consideration/vetting/surveying/ or not. Feel free to investigate, follow-up and recommend as you see fit.”

Community engagement includes involvement and time, both inside and outside the classroom. Faculty is finding ways to be creative in community engagement. The problem is that faculty is not getting credit for their community engagement. Faculty and staff are not recognized for their involvement, but students are. The Chamber of Commerce is an example of what what the learning process should encompass in learning outside the classroom.

Two ways to improve community engagement at Georgia College:

1) Recognition of faculty and staff

       -When people are recognized, they will do more

2) Marketing plan needed

       -Publications: talk about community engagement, all pieces of literature (brochures, handouts, packages etc.)

There are three offices on campus that promote community engagement: GIVE Center/Service Learning Office, Civic Engagement, and American Democracy Project. However, the university has no entity that brings all three of those offices together. The Service Learning Office had a budget of $1,000 for 2010-2011 academic year. The low institutional funding suggests that the university placed community engagement on the lower end of priorities. There is a major gap in the documentation and collection of the engagement participation among students and faculty. External grants are available to support such programs. There is support from the University President, Provost, and Vice Presidents to encourage community engagement.

Professional development, faculty and staff, user research, recruitment hiring practices should be spoken to about the process of community engagement. Tom Miles suggests that the University Senate have a governance committee to pursue this matter.  

There is no systematic process for incorporating curricular engagement within the departments or students. Available services that support community engagement are unknown. Some departments are into engagement, but the funds used for activities and where these funds are going to are unknown.

When it comes to service learning classes vs. traditional learning classes, students strongly favor service learning classes. Students hold leadership positions in community activities. Students have service learning hours recorded on their learning transcript. Community engagement would help increase the university’s relationship with the community.

Most faculty do not know what is going on within other departments, so better communication between faculty would help increase community engagement. Stephen Price suggests that C.E.T.A.L. be brought into the conversation, as he is working on training and service learning workshops.

A motion was proposed and seconded to pursue this matter further. The motion carries and will be presented at the next University Senate meeting.

B.             Smoking Policy

http://www2.gcsu.edu/policies/overall/smoking.htm

“Smoking of any material is prohibited in all enclosed areas of Georgia College, including hallways, elevators, offices, restrooms, seminar/meeting rooms, and all other spaces owned or leased by the University System of Georgia (USG). Smoking is also prohibited in any outside areas adjacent to a university facility whose configuration and/or other physical circumstances allow smoke either to enter and affect the internal environment or to adversely affect the environment of those entering or exiting the facility. It is further established that all outside constituents visiting the agency for any reason will consent to this policy as well.”

                        USG/BOR smoking policy: http://www.usg.edu/hr/manual/smoking/

Other compelling resources include those on the CDC website:

·      Smoking and Tobacco Use at http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco

·      Tobacco Use in Georgia at http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/state_data/state_highlights/2010/states/georgia/index.htm 

·      http://www.hhs.gov/news/healthbeat/2011/10/20111031a.html

            An implementation issue exists with the enforcement of the smoking policy on campus.  RPIPC has called into question the guidelines of the smoking policy and how it can be  enforced. It is suggested that Georgia College looks into how other campuses deal with  smoking on campus. The smoking policy will be included in the January meeting. RPIPC  will invite Greg Brown to speak more about this topic.

C.        Service Recognition Dates

http://www2.gcsu.edu/policies/overall/service-awards.htm

A brief review and identification of questions/issues.

New business:

Talk to Kyle Cullars about changing the opening times for the MAX from 7:30am to 7:15am. Faculty are concerned about the little amount of time students have to eat breakfast, especially if they have an 8A.M. class.

A formal request has been made to conduct a survey on how Monday, Wednesday, Friday schedules works for University business. RPIPC recommends to ECUS to revisit the common meeting time and the class schedule. RPIPC also asks SGA to investigate the effect the current common meeting time has on students.

            A question was raised about the progress of the crosswalk between Front Campus and the  Student Activities Center. SGA will report in January the progress of the crosswalk and speak to Greg Brown about the matter.

V.        Information Items

VI.       Adjournment

           Adjourned 4:45