Sage Minutes
March 14, 2006
5:00 p.m., 3132 Wescoe

5:05 Call to Order.

Attendance: Lisa King, Kristin Bovaird-Abbo, Jenny Noyce, John Wiehl, Katie Egging, Daryl Lynn Dance, Nathanial Williams, Jen Humphrey, Brian Harries, Joe Sommers, Angela Glover, Keri Behre, Catherine Betz, Richard Noggle, Leslee Friedman

5:06 Approval of Minutes.

5:07 Officer Reports.

a. Presidents’ Report.

a. Course-list suggestions

i. Byron has pointed out that the course offerings for next fall are not yet set in stone and that he would like it if people could suggest either faculty members who have not taught grad level in a while that they would like to work with (preferred) or their dream classes. Emails should be sent to Kristin, John or Byron.

ii. John and Kristin would like to know if anybody feels it necessary to create a poll about this.

b. Report on and follow-up from Dept. meeting about future of department (tenure vs. non-tenure, voting rights, etc.)

i. Plan to create a roundtable with graduate students and key faculty

ii. Please show, we need to make it clear how important an issue this is to us

iii. We will invite lecturers as well.

b. Secretary’s Report.

c. Treasurer’s Report.

a. In absentia: Please get your travel apps into Heather Bastian by April 1st if you wish to be considered.

d. FY Liaison Report.

5:19 Committee Reports.

a. Academics Anonymous.

i. Dick Hardin will be giving an AA 1/7 from 1-2pm in 3132 Wescoe

ii. Emily Wicktor will give hers 4/25 from 12-1 in 3132 Wescoe

b. Advisory Committee.

i. The department government subcommittee issue is ongoing

ii. Questions need to be cleared up around the Stiefel Professorship

c. FSE Committee.

i. The Honor's Placement Exam is under review, there is an idea of changing it to more of an application process in the hopes of keeping up the need for self-motivation but getting a better notion of the student's actual writing abilities.

ii. Departmental awards are due 4/12, the awards ceremony wherein they are awarded is held 5/13.

d. Graduate Assembly.

i. In absentia: applications for the financial director position are due Friday.  Matt also says that he's on the committee reviewing apps and would look with a friendly eye on a qualified applicant from the English department. They're checking into whether this position can be held simultaneously with a teaching appointment, which means it's not categorically impossible. At any rate, there's no harm to applying.

e. Graduate Committee.

i. Is having trouble scheduling meetings

f. GTA/Lecturers Committee.

i. Coordination between Tom and Byron in regard to GTAs from MFA program was discussed

ii. Committee for GTA awards was established

iii. Trying to figure out a way to keep 801 from continuing in split sections. There is an idea about trying a different supervisory system with lecturers paid as they would be for a class to supervise instead.

iv. Solid feedback is needed from GTAs to change mentoring system. Lisa and Sonya are making up a survey, PLEASE PLEASE participate.

v. Also looking to better define mentor's role.

g. Lecturers/Readers Committee.

i. Dolores Frese spoke yesterday.

ii. Attempting to schedule a meeting to start looking at next year's speakers.

h. Library Committee.

i. Sarah Blythe will attend the first meeting for the Dean hiring process.

ii. She will also send out reminders for anyone who wants to attend candidate talks.

i. New Literacies Conference Committee.

j. Professionalization Workshops Committee.

i. Katy Conrad, Susan Harris and a third faculty member will be speaking about conferences on 4/13 at 6:30 in the Courtside Room.

ii. Another workshop on publishing will be held at the Burge on 4/25, also at 6:30.

k. SAGE Advice.

l. Social Committee.

i. Two Saturdays ago, meetup at Henry's went well

ii. There will be an end of the year BBQ, further specifics TBA.

m. Supplemental Funds Committee.

5:32 Old Business.

a. Booksale will be held 4/5 and 4/6 pending approval by the University. Several professors have been very generous with their books.

b. Mabel Fry nominations are due 4/1, see SAGE website for examples of past winners and a previous letter.

5:35 New Business.

5:37 Next Meeting Time will be 4/18 at 5pm in 3132 Wescoe.

5:38 Meeting Adjourned.

Minutes submitted by Leslee Friedman, Secretary.