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Managing Editor The Assembly of the University of Arkansas – Monticello met Oct. 11 in the Spencer Gallery of the Fine Arts Center to oversee the development and revision of policies and programs on campus. Chairperson E. Kate Stewart, professor of English, conducted the meeting and led the Assembly in four votes. Eight committee reports and six administrative reports were given as well as reports of new business. Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs David Ray reported a high enrollment of 2, 959 students as well. "We've got activities on this campus that bring in many students," Chancellor Jack Lassiter said. The Assembly gave passing votes on all four proposals submitted by the Curriculum and Standards committee which will further offer new programs for students. One of these is the addition of a department of Military Science under a non-host agreement with the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. The department will only offer a minor in military science, but eight courses will eventually be taught. The classes will be available in both a four-year and two-year program format with one class being taken per semester in a series. Since the department exists as an Army Reserve Officer Training Corps program, the faculty salary will be entirely paid by the United States Army. According to Curriculum and Standards Committee chair Robert Stark, professor of Agriculture, the faculty at UAPB will become adjunct faculty of UAM. Currently 11 students are enrolled in the courses offered on the UAM campus as a UAPB course. Students of UAM can also benefit from this program by being allowed to use this minor with any existing major. Another change in the minor, and one more issue proposed, will be in the reduction of the minimum number of hours required from 24 credit hours to 18 credit hours. A stipulation exists however in that individual academic units may continue to require more that 18 hours if desired. Two more passed proposals concerned a current major, minor and one course. The English major for prospective teachers and the English minor for prospective teachers will both be deleted from the Arts and Humanities Department due to a lack of certification. Also a new course, ENGL 3XX3 Foliate Oak Practicum, will be added to the curriculum. The lecture/laboratory course will be worth three credits and cover readings in contemporary literary/arts magazines and a practicum in editing and producing the UAM literary/arts magazine online and/or in print. Many more changes will also be affecting the campus when Phase I of the Master Plan goes into action. "The Master Plan has been adopted," Lassiter said. "It is a vision, it is not in stone, but we've got a vision for what we can do on this campus." The plan consists of 10 projects with the first being road work. Two possibilities, currently being considered, include road closings for either the road between the baseball and softball fields or a section of the road in front of the Gibson University Center. Linking the drives south of the Science Center to alleviate traffic north of the building for pedestrian safety exists as the third option. Another project on the agenda will be to create athletic/band practice facilities. Currently the Steelman Fieldhouse needs work, including upgrading basic facilities for training rooms, locker areas and equipment storage. A new indoor practice facility is planned with offices and training facilities as well as possible new locker rooms. A renovation of the press box at Willis "Convoy" Leslie Cotton Boll Stadium including the addition of stair access, the creation of camera positions and the placement of a Donor's Box are covered under this project. Weevil Pond will also be dredged to increase the depth of the pond in the third project. This, with the addition of aeration and a fountain, will improve the quality and clarity of the water according to Lassiter. Walking/ jogging trails may also be added along with traditional lamp post lighting and extra landscaping. Project four consists of the renovation of both Wells and Sorrels Halls because they currently lack central heating and cooling systems among other deficiencies. A new connecting walkway stair and elevator are planned to go between the two buildings. These structures should aid architecturally and economically to rehabilitation issues. Proposed projects five and six concern the additions of classrooms and facilities, remodeling and road work to be done on the campuses of the Colleges of Technology at Crossett and McGehee. Also another change will come to the UAM campus in the form of a new entrance sign covered under project seven. This project will design and construct a marquee sign to include a large video message board. Minor landscaping will also be done to the entrance of the campus. Another project in the plan is the renovation of the Science Center to involve heating, cooling and ventilation systems. A major step in the renovation will ultimately be to improve the thermal performance of the exterior and to upgrade the heating ventilation and air conditioning systems. Through project nine an elevator will also be added to the Babin Business Center for better access to all three floors and the improvement of space utilization within the building. The 10th project under Phase I will be a relocation of the Agriculture Barn. A new facility will be constructed to the southwest of the current location and will be used for equipment storage, hay storage and cattle handling. It will also provide field experience opportunities for students with some classroom space in the building. Lassiter also covered other issues in his administrative report to the Assembly including: • Progress of the search for a new Vice Chancellor. Chairperson Stewart also addressed the new business of the Salary Parity committee, an Ad Hoc Administrative/ Assembly committee. "This is a serious study," Lassiter said. "It disturbs me to hear people say that value is measured by salary because that's not true." The purpose of the committee will be to evaluate the salary structure of the campus and look at the reason for the difference in those salaries, classified and otherwise. According to Lassiter, no one should be fearful of their salary being reduced though. John Annulis, professor of Mathematics, will chair this committee of less than seven members. "Hopefully this work will be done by Feb. 15, 2006, to become a part of the
budget process," Stewart said. • Suspended students.
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