A. Advisory Comm.
1. Unlike faculty, GTAs would love to teach at the
Edwards campus since that would allow them more 300 level classes.
However, that option will probably soon be ending as it costs the
school more to have GTAs teach there.
2. Discussing whether hard copies of dissertations
should still be required or if students should have the choice of
paying for that or not.
B. FSE
1. Still revamping 102 via textbooks
i. Texts under consideration are in Lisa King's
office, please stop by, review and take the survey.
ii. Nov. 1st is the date set for the first 102
workshop. This first workshop will be dedicated to outlining the
new goals for the course, presenting the textbook options, and
answering questions. A second workshop will be forthcoming at the
end of November/beginning of December to discuss ideas for course
planning, assignments, etc.
C. Graduate Assembly
1. Senate has filled all the graduate seats for the
first time in a long while.
2. KU/KState are struggling over the Kansas
Research Fair.
3. Treasurer training was held last week. Corey is
willing to do a makeup for those who missed.
4. Graduate school has a few new scholarships for
dissertation work. E-mail Byron Caminero-Santangelo for more
information.
5. Preparing Future Faculty is a program sponsored
by the Grad School that pairs up soon-to-be-finished grad students
with faculty from nearby institutions. There's a small scholarship
that goes along with this, in addition to the opportunity to make
good contacts, learn inside info on the job search, etc. Grad
students who think they might be going on the job market next year
or the year after should consider applying.
D. Graduate Comm.
1. Change in field exams
2. Change in when MAs pick their advisor under
discussion
3. Admissions subcommittee formed
4. Three person award committee formed to give the
department better representation
5. The standards for admission into the MA and PhD
programs are being discussed.
i. Looking at whether it is ethical to accept
this many people when there aren't jobs available.
6. Change in handbook regarding incompletes in
order to clarify policy.
7. Changes in dissertation committee must go
through Lydia Ash in order to avoid confusion on anyone's part.
8. A committee has been set up to talk about the MA
requirements. Speak to Alicia Sutliff if you would like to add
input.
E. GTA/Lecturers Comm.
1. GTAL comm. is trying to strengthen its
relationship with graduate comm. Johnson is talking with Byron on
this issue.
2. Reviewing policy in regard to GTAships for
international students. Possibly changing to a case-by-case basis
system.
3. Decided to keep the policy on hiring non-English
GTAs, which means that 2 or 3 GTAs from outside the department can
be hired. (Usually American Studies people.)
4. Looking at ways to improve morale of part-time
lecturers, particularly still working with Chair over pay issues.
i. SAGE members pointed out that the lecturer
position/benefits could be better explained beforehand.
5. Want to work on improving GTA mentoring
programs.
F. Lecturers/Readers comm.
1. Ted Kooser, US Poet Laureate, Visiting Professor
of English, University of Nebraska. Professor Kooser will be
visiting KU on 3 November 2005 as a member of the Poetry Panel
organized by Mike Johnson. He will also be giving a private reading
that evening from 8-10 in Woodruff Auditorium.
2. Ellen Cushman (Michigan State, Eberhardt
Lecturer) is coming Nov. 10th.
3. Marjorie Garber, Shakespearian scholar, is the
Gunn Memorial Lecture.
4. Professor Dolores Warwick Frese (Medievalist,
Notre Dame) has accepted our invitation to speak at some time
during the spring semester. We're still trying to work out dates,
but it looks like she may be scheduled for Monday, March 13.
5. Jane Marcus, Distinguished Professor of English,
City College of New York, British modernism/feminist theory might
be brought by anonymous benefactor
6. A visit by David Brin will be funded through
Gunn Lecturer monies.
7. Katy Conrad requested visits from two Irish
poets. We were able to fund Kevin Higgins visit in February.
8. Meal expenditures need to be limited.
9. Working on having Dana Gioia, Director of the
NEA come speak.
G. No report from Library Comm.
H. No report from New Literacies Conference
I. Supplemental Funds were recently approved
J. Social Comm
1. Louise's was awesome
2. Can't find someone to host Halloween at their
house, are considering doing it at Louisa's but think it might be
overrun, given that week being Homecoming.
3. $35 has been approved for costume contest.
4. Are trying to organize bowling night as last
event of semester
K. SAGE advice
1. Pretty much taken care of.
L. Academics Anonymous
1. One planned for Wednesday, October 12 at noon in
the conference room.
i. There will be food
ii. Shawn Thomson will present research from his
dissertation entitled: "Robinson Crusoe as a Topos of Masculinity
in Nineteenth-Century American Literature (1846-85)."
2. Doreen Fowler has agreed to do one in November,
probably the same day/time.
M. Professionalization comm.
1. Nov 2nd is first presentation
i. On conferences
ii. Katy Conrad and Susan Harris on panel so far
iii. Possibly third professor
iv. Talking about length of papers, how to be
professional, how many to do, etc.
2. The one in spring will be on scholarly
publishing.
3. If there are topics you want to see done,
contact Jen Humphries, Keri Behre or Alicia Sutliff.
5:55 - Next meeting will be November 15th at 5 pm in
the conference room
5:56 - Meeting adjourned.