The Letters and Science Committee on Committees scheduled four meetings but met three times during the 1998-99 academic year: September 25, 1998; December 11, 1998; and March 2, 1999.

September 25

The Committee elected Stacey Oliker as chair, recommended David Mulroy as Parliamentarian, reviewed the charter, and agreed to meet on November 20 and December 11. The charter of the Course and Curriculum Committee also was reviewed, and both committees agreed that no changes were needed. The committee recommended, and it was approved, that the Admission Policy Committee and the Academic Standing and Appeals Committees be combined as the Academic Policies and Appeals Committee and begin service for the 1998-99 academic year. Sub-committees to review the three faculty committees that had not been reviewed the past two years were appointed: Affirmative Action Advisory Committee (Downing, Wheatley), Committee on Committees (Collins, Espinosa), and Honors Program Committee (Hutz, Oliker).

The Committee recommended to the Faculty that a review of the new degree requirements be conducted in the year 2002, after the first class of four-year-students graduates. A committee will be appointed to begin gathering data and information from sub-committees and departments for the review. The Committee asked Dean Goodman for an update on L&S links with the Graduate School. Forms used in the nomination process last year were reviewed and approved with the addition of the web site address for the committee charters.

November 20 - Meeting cancelled.

December 11

Reports were heard from the subcommittees reviewing the Affirmative Action Advisory Committee, the Committee on Committees, and the Honors Program Committee. Kathleen Wheatley reported that there was little information available about the AAA committee because it had not met in some time. The committee identified individuals who have shown an interest in matters of affirmative action in the past, and Kathleen agreed to contact and to coordinate a meeting with them. Mary Lynne Collins introduced a draft of proposed changes in the Committee on Committees' charter. The Committee approved the changes, to be forwarded to the Faculty. Stacey Oliker reported that the Honors Program Committee is active and meets regularly. The language of the Honors Program Committee charter will be reviewed, and a revision drafted to conform to the approved boilerplate language suggested by the Committee on Committees. The Proposal for Review of New Degree Requirements in 2002 was approved for forwarding to the Faculty. The Committee agreed that a Faculty meeting should be held on April 9. A proposal will be drafted by the Secretary to the L&S Faculty that will recommend changes for Faculty meeting dates so that they do not conflict with University Faculty Senate meetings. The Committee agreed to conduct three meetings in the Spring, including a late January meeting. Associate Dean Jaffe of the Graduate School requested that a representative either be elected or appointed for the Graduate School Scholastic Appeals Committee.

January - Meeting deferred.

March 3

The Committee's review of the Affirmative Action Advisory Committee was discussed. It was agreed that the newly elected AAA members be asked to meet with the Committee on Committees early in the new academic year to discuss the future of the AAA. They will be asked to assess the role of the committee and redefine it, if appropriate. They also will be urged to propose three-year terms of membership. The Committee approved the revisions of the Honors Program Committee Charter that incorporates "boilerplate" language for vacancies and subcommittees and asked that they be considered in time for inclusion on the agenda of the next faculty meeting. The Committee reviewed a proposal to set a specific day for faculty meetings but agreed that a formal policy would be too restrictive. The matter will be brought up at the next faculty meeting. The April faculty meeting agenda was approved with the deletion of the proposal to set a specific meeting day, tentative addition of the Honors Program Committee charter, and the addition of a Committee of the Whole discussion of the problem with securing a quorum for faculty meetings. Nominations for L&S committees were conducted, and the nomination report was approved.

Respectfully submitted,

1998-99 Committee on Committees
Mary Lynne Collins
Pamela Downing
Kristin Espinosa
Connie Horstman, ex officio
Edith Moravcsik (on leave)
Stacey Oliker, Chair
Kathleen Wheatley