February 6, 2017

HONORS COUNCIL MINUTES:   February 6, 2017

PRESENT:  Kevin Dodson, Rebekah Maxwell, Kumar Das, Jeff Palis, Nicki Michalski, Michael Saar, Anna Christensen, Clare Burns, Tilisa Thibodeaux, Randy Yoder, Gina Hale, Mike Matthis, and Andrea Karlin.

Meeting was called to order at 3:35pm by Dr. Kevin Dodson.

DEAN’S REPORT:

There was no Dean’s Report for this meeting.

BUSINESS:

October 24, 2016 minutes were reviewed and upon motion by Nicki Michalski, seconded by Gina Hale, the minutes were approved.

Dr. Dodson discussed Reasons for Removal from Reaud Honors College Policy and proposed changing the GPA from a 2.0 to a 2.5 for automatic removal from the Honors College.  Council agreed that any student with a GPA below 2.5 will be automatically removed from the Honors College.  Dr. Dodson will amend the policy and present to council at the next meeting for approval.

Dr. Dodson proposed changing the appeal process for students who have been removed from the Honors College.  Instead of removing a student automatically and then the student can appeal and possibly be reinstated, when a charge is leveled we could suspend the student and then they have 30 days to appeal the suspension.  If they do not appeal the suspension, it becomes an automatic removal.  If they appeal within the 30 days, then we have a hearing and make a final decision.  Dr. Dodson will revise the guidelines for the appeal process and present to the council at the next meeting.

Jeff Palis talked about the study abroad course for 2018.  This would be a Spring 2018 course (GEOL-4301) taught by Sarah Schwartz and the students would go abroad during Spring Break 2018 to South Africa and Swaziland. 

Summer Reading Club for 2017 was discussed and Dr. Dodson asked for volunteers.

Dr. Dodson is planning to have an Honors faculty retreat and invite honors faculty to come and talk about what they do and share their ideas.

Meeting adjourned at 4:25pm. 

Submitted by:  Kim Vizena, Executive Assistant