College of Education
Leadership Council
September 3, 2020
9:00 – 10:30 am
Agenda
Zoom
Attendees: David Hough, Russ Brock, Jef Cornelius-White, Denise Cunningham, Kim Dubree, Janice Duncan, Karen Engler, Deanna Hallgren, Rachel Heinz, Stephanie Huffman, Travis Marler, Juli Panza, Barri Tinkler, Ximena Uribe-Zarain, Rose Lee, Sharon Lopinot
Dean Hough welcomed everyone. Department heads are working on the Spring 2021 class schedules. They have options for traditional, blended and online. The university would like to provide as many traditional as possible, but it depends on the COVID-19 situation. Also, the Registrar’s Office has requested departments specify differences among blended courses. This has caused some confusion among deans, so they have invited representatives to meet with them during ALC on September 9, 2020. Dean Hough invited Barri Tinkler to attend with him and report back to department heads at their meeting on September 15, 2020.
Hill 447 and 449 are Zoom computer classrooms. Dean Hough is in discussions with the provost and president to determine whether COE can use these open computer labs as classrooms during the pandemic. The rooms would still be open labs when not in use as classrooms. This would go into effect beginning with the spring 2021 semester.
Kelly Wood sent an email to deans and department heads who have faculty teaching a GEP101 class. The classes are taught in traditional, seated formats, so she will make arrangements for a substitute if a faculty member is unable to teach the class due to COVID or feels uncomfortable doing so for a week or two. Dean Hough reminded department heads that they should make faculty and student safety their top priority in tandem with robust instruction.
The Dean is still approving a number of PAFS coming in for per course faculty, supervisors, and mileage for student teacher supervision even though funds in those lines are waning. He reminded the group that budgets have been cut, funding is very tight, and the COE one-time and on-going salary funds have been swept by the University to cover the State shortfall and withholdings from the Governor. He urged the group to explore other options during this time of funding difficulties.
Juli asked if the format for spring semester classes (and classes in the future) could be noted. This would help tremendously as far as working with students. Department heads will send her information prior to having the schedule go live. Students will be reminded to contact their instructor if they need a different option for attending.
Some faculty do not have full teaching loads and this leads to needing to hire more per course. Department heads suggested they work together to see if they have any faculty who can teach courses in one of the other departments. Regarding program coordinators, some choose a reduced workload rather than the stipend. Department heads noted that it is their call as to whether any given program needs a coordinator as well as whether any given program coordinator is either compensated or provided release time for 1 to 3 hours’ work. Department heads will meet together to discuss how they might make program coordination more equitable in terms of workloads. They were reminded to read the COE Extra Compensation Policy prior to their meeting.
Dean Hough reminded department heads they should provide assistance to any faculty who need assistance with virtual learning modalities. Regarding staff workloads, telecommuting is an option as long as their work can be completed at home. Supervisors should keep a daily log of telecommuting work much as the ATLL does via the system developed by DESE.
Juli reminded the group that DESE waived MoGEA and MoVECHS finger printing for the fall 2020 semester. She asked if DESE is doing that for spring. Karen will bring it up for discussion at the EPP Executive meeting today. Juli asked her if things go back to the way they were could there be exceptions for students if they have a health concern. Karen will write up something for the Hough Post.
Russ is attending the SWMASA meeting next Friday and the Ozarks Superintendent meeting today. The State Board of Education meetings have been virtual this summer.
The next Hough Post will go out Friday. Send him anything noteworthy.
- Rachel will update Bear POWER. They submitted a grant to Abilities First for $20,000 and it was approved. They also submitted a federal grant and will hear back on it soon.
- Barri attended the Greenwood Parent Task Force meeting and said it went well.
- CLSE is getting a lot of inquiries about their counseling program. Jef will write something up.
Around the Zoom Room
Ximena Uribe-Zarain
She is working on a diversity and inclusion instrument that will be sent to all students in introductory courses and student teaching. The information gathered will provide programs with detailed information. This will be written up for the Post.
Kim Dubree
Starting October 1, they are going to ask students who will be student teaching Spring 2021 for placement requests. They will be placing 290 students. Students will be placed with the understanding that they will follow what their specific school district is following. They can request virtual if it is not being offered. Department heads and Karen Engler all agreed to this process.
Travis Marler
He is helping with CAECREP. The Dean asked him if it was possible for our college to create our own “Task Stream/Digital Measures”. Barri, Ximena and Travis are going to talk to IT staff to see if they (IT staff) could develop something and work with them. This is a possibility and would probably take a couple of years to complete. Dean Hough will be advised before anyone would start the process.
Russ Brock
They are having some in-person professional development sessions with school districts. Everything is going well. All of the professional developers enter their work they are doing in a log for DESE. He has also asked them to do that for him. He is talking to students in some of our COE education classes regarding how ATLL can help support them after graduating. At some point they may have a video that can be shown. Armando Johnson, Springfield School District, is now a finalist for the State Teacher of the Year. Russ is not sure if he graduated from MSU or not.
Deanna Hallgren
Currently they have 16 staff out with 11 coming back on Tuesday and 18 children out with 17 coming back on Tuesday. They are making things work.
Denise Cunningham
Her department is nominating their graduate assistant for the Citizen Scholar Award.
Juli Panza
This is the best start they have had for the advisement center. They are getting some inquiries about schools wanting to bring groups of students for a campus/Hill Hall tour. Dean Hough agreed this would be good as long as they limit it to small groups and follow our guidelines.
Barri Tinkler
They had their first department last week and it went well. It was a great turnout.
Karen Engler
The CIS meeting was outstanding. There are some interdepartmental collaborations going on with secondary faculty. Education for the Hard of Hearing (EDHH) is working with Tami Arthaud on a course proposal.
Meeting adjourned at 10:30 a.m.
Submitted by Sharon Lopinot, Executive Assistant II