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English Department Meeting: Apr. 19, 2023

English Department Meeting Information

  • Meeting Date: 04/19/23
    • Minutes Taker: Ken Sherwood
    • Thanks to Mike Sell for taking minutes at the last meeting
  • Zoom Meeting Link: https://iupvideo.zoom.us/my/pagnucci
  • Next Meeting: No more meetings until Fall 2023!

Big Thanks!

  • To John Marsden for his many years of service as English Assistant Chair!

Congratulations!

  • To Jean Nienkamp on her upcoming retirement
  • To Veronica Watson on her retirement and new job at Old Dominion

Party: April 26 from 4:00-6:00 p.m. @ Hilton

  • Jean will be attending as will Heather Powers
  • Veronica will closing on a new house in lovely Virginia!

Agenda Items

1. Department Elections: Call for Nominees

  • Elections COmmittee: Brian Carpenter and Tanya Heflin
  • Assistant Chair Nominee from Gian: Melanie Holm
  • Vote on Department meeting format vote for 2023-2024
  • Call for 2 APSCUF Representatives and 1 Alternate
  • Call for other committee needs
  • Additional votes as noted below

2. Discuss English Connections with College of Arts and Humanities Strategic Plan Goals

    • Goal 1: Incorporate student input into the creation and refinement of college processes and procedures. 
      • Launch English Student Advisory Groups in Fall 2023
    • Goal 2: Expand opportunities and support for experiential learning for all students.
    • Goal 3: Integrate diversity, equity, inclusion, and the exchange of ideas across all programs in the college. 
      • Potential Idea: Identify a Departmental Book for Spring 2024 (Have LSE Committee Make a Recommendation?)
    • Goal 4: Demonstrate and promote how the disciplines in the college develop marketable skills for multiple career pathways. 
    • Goal 5: Improve and develop a sense of community among students, staff, and faculty within the college.
      • English Community Events Plan (social/academic)
    • Other Ideas?

3. Review Goal Areas Suggested by Faculty in MS Teams Brainstorming Document

4. Overview of English Strategic Planning

    • Goal 1: Strengthen English Department Community
    • Goal 2: Perform Department SWOT Analysis
      • SWOT Analysis
        • Strengths
        • Weaknesses
        • Opportunities
        • Threats
      • Identify how Program addresses IUP Students-First Mission
      • Identify how program can integrate with CAH Goals
      • Identify how Program plans to recruit students
      • Create Program SWOT Analysis Documents
        • Review Curriculum Offerings
        • Each Program writes 1-2 page SWOT analysis
        • Top 3 bulleted items for each area
        • Due: Sep. 20 Wed.
      • Hold Department Retreat: Oct. 19
        • Synthesize SWOT Documents
        • Create Action Plan to Address Student-First Mission and
        • Create Action Plan to Address CAH Goals
    • Goal 3: Identify Department Priorities
      • Set Department Annual Goals for 3 year cycle
      • Create Department Action Plan
      • Identify Curricular Opportunities
      • Determine Department Hiring Priorities
    • Goal 4: Develop Student Recruitment Plan
      • Have each Program create a student recruitment plan
    • Thanks to Veronica Watson who helped give me a clearer sense of how to structure this work
      • (We will always love you more than Old Dominion!)

5. Review English Leadership Council (ELC) Structure

    • The ELC is advisory only
    • While the department has shrunk, the ELC has remained large (in 2023-2024 it will have 10 members out of 26 total department members)
    • For 2023-2024, limited meeting minutes will be taken and shared with the department ahead of department meetings
    • Current Makeup: 10 Members
      • English Leadership Positions 
        • English Chair: Gian Pagnucci
        • English Assistant Chair: John Marsden (Ex Officio)
        • English B.A. Director: Dan Weinstein 
        • English Education B.S. Director: Emily Wender 
        • CAL Director: Melanie Holm
        • L&C Director: Veronica Watson
        • Undergraduate Writing Director: Bryna Siegel Finer
      • ELC Elected Members
        • John Branscum (through 2023)
        • Ken Sherwood (through 2024)
      • ELC Appointed (by Chair) Members
        • Chauna Craig (through 2023)
        • Lingyan Yang (through 2024)
    • Potential Smaller Committee Structure: 7 members (no Assistant Chair, no English Ed., no Chair Appointees)
      • English Leadership Positions 
        • English Chair: Gian Pagnucci
        • English B.A. Director: Dan Weinstein 
        • CAL Director: Melanie Holm
        • L&C Director: Mike Williamson
        • Undergraduate Writing Director: Bryna Siegel Finer
      • ELC Elected Members
        • Ken Sherwood (through 2024)
        • To Be Elected (through 2025)
      • If there seems to be general support for changing the ELC structure, this proposal will be included in the upcoming election vote
        • The ELC discussed this proposal and was equally split on wether to recommend a change, so the idea is just being shared with the department

6. Consider Reinstating English Department Social Dues

    • In the past, the English Department collected social dues to handle special occasions; these funds were administered by the Department Social Committee
    • To avoid oversight of important events for faculty, the ELC is recommending that we return to the practice of collecting social dues
    • An annual end of semester get together would be prescheduled where all retirees would be recognized
      • May 1, 2024 Wed.: Semester Wrap Get Together 4:30 p.m.-6:00 p.m. @ Hilton
    • Re-instituting dues would be voted on in the upcoming election if there seems to be general support for this idea
    • If this change is supported, we would begin collecting dues in 2023-2024
    • Proposed amount: $30 annually
    • Dues payment would be strongly encouraged but cannot be required
    • Funds would be collected by the Assistant Chair who would also maintain simple records of the funds and their use
    • The Assistant Chair would use funds to purchase:
      • Gift and card for retiring faculty member
      • Gift and card for the birth of a child
      • Flowers and card for department member hospitalization
      • Flowers and card for department member/family member loss
      • All Tenured Faculty, Tenure Track Facutly, Temporary Faculty, and Teaching Associates would be included for gifts
    • The following events would not be covered by dues:
      • Holiday gifts for secretaries/maintenance staff/student workers
      • Gifts and card for hospitalizations/losses for college administrators/staff
      • Birthdays of faculty and family
      • These occasions would be handled individually by faculty
    • Considerations
      •  Would TAs/TFs pay dues? perhaps at a reduced rate?
      • Are there any other important events which should be listed either as covered or not covered?

Upcoming

Elections Coming

  • 2 APSCUF Reps. Needed

Announcements

  • We’ll use the last few minutes of the meeting to cover any announcements