17³Ô¹Ï

Attendees: James Marquart,  Arne Almquist, Katrina Brent, Dan French, Derina Holtzhausen, Lynn Maurer, Brenda Nichols, Joe Nordgren, Bob Spina, and Victor Zaloom.

I. Approval of Dean’s Council Minutes dated January 29, 2019            

The minutes of the Academic Dean meeting, dated January 29, 2019, were approved as written.

II. GUESTS: David Short, Summer Rather, Dr. Ken Evans

      RE: Proposed Commencement Changes

A proposal was presented to the deans which would reduce the number of fall and spring commencement ceremonies from five to three. The proposal combines the Colleges of Business, Engineering, and Fine Arts and Communication in to one ceremony.  Summer Rather shared attendance data from last 5 years and went over the advantages to making these changes.  The visual impact from a marketing sense was discussed.  The numbers for the separate ceremonies are too small and need to be combined for one larger event. Three options were presented of how the combined ceremony would precede based on a trial three year period.   The Deans were given the material to review, along with a sample fall commencement program.  The choice of options is up to the deans.  Feedback should be sent to David Short, Summer Rather, and/or Dr. Evans.  

III. GUEST: Carly Broussard – Exec. Director of Scholarships and Financial Aid

      RE: Scholarship Dinner, Implications of Degree Audit, Financial Aid

• The Scholarship dinner is scheduled for April 23^rd in the Montagne Center.
• Invitations will go out in early March via email. Donors and student invitations will be mailed. RSVP’s are requested.
• Update on Top Scholar Scholarship offers and acceptances were given.
• Effective fall 2018 financial aid stopped paying for courses not on a student’s degree plan. Carly continues to meet with Department Chairs to verify degree plans, as course program of study is based on Degree Works.
• Scholarship/Financial Aid Trainings are held quarterly. The next two are scheduled for April 17^th and July 17^th in CICE. See links below: