Present:	Jasmine Alinder, Larry Baldassaro (ex officio), Lee Ann Garrison (Chair), Dusty Kopecky, John Lynch, Jonathan Marks, Donovan Miyasaki, Pam Penza, Alan Singer, Scott Spiker, Chaoyang Zeng, Robin Weigert (ex officio), Jessica Wilcox
Absent:	Margaret Atherton, Marcus Bullock, Reinhold Hutz, Linda Krause, John Schroeder
Guest:	Kate Coffaro

1. Chair Lee Garrison called the meeting to order at 8:31 a.m. Committee members introduced themselves.
   
   
2. Honors College Advisory Committee (HCAC) meeting minutes from April 12, 2006 were unanimously approved.
   
   
3. Directors Report:
   
   Larry Baldassaro reported on scholarship activity since the last meeting. A grant of $200,000 established the George and Julie Mosher Honors College Scholarship Fund at $50,000 per year for four years. In August, $3,000 was added to the scholarships already granted to the three students who were the winners of the competition. In addition, $3,000 was awarded to each of the eight other candidates, for a total of $33,000 awarded from the Mosher Fund for scholarships.
   
   The Robert W. Baird Foundation granted the Honors College $100,000 ($20,000 a year for five years - $10,000 per year for scholarships and $10,000 discretionary spending).
   
   An anonymous donor who had previously given $6,000 per year for scholarships has increased the amount given to $12,000 per year. This donor was also instrumental in procuring the Mosher Fund award. The $12,000 will be expended on study abroad opportunities for Honors College students.
   
   Funds from the Office of the Provost and from the College of Letters and Science were used to recruit faculty in the natural sciences, either by providing a summer stipend for course development or for a buy-out of faculty teaching time from the respective departments. Carol Hirschmugl from Physics will teach "Energy and the Environment, and Michael Reddy from Chemistry will teach "Viruses that Kill Homo sapiens" in the spring 2007 semester.
   
   Robin Weigert, Interim Assistant Director of the Honors College, reported that the HC Orientation was held on August 31st, with 145 new students in attendance. A workshop on applying for scholarships was conducted by Kate Coffaro on September 21st, and 16 students attended, the largest number ever. Lydia Equitz, HC Writing Specialist, will conduct a workshop on September 29th for freshmen on the expectations that HC instructors have of them for their papers. The HC Student Association has a very strong group of officers this year. They have conducted a pizza party for more than 70 students, have signed up a large group of students to participate in the AIDS Walk, and have successfully promoted student involvement in social and service activities.
   
   
4. Personnel Changes in the Honors College
   
   Kim Romenesko has accepted a position as Assistant to the Assistant Dean of Letters & Science after six years of outstanding service to the Honors College. Robin Weigert is serving as Interim Assistant Director until a permanent AD is named. The Search for a new Bradley Professor in Literature will get underway soon.
   
   
5. Course Review
   
   Robin Weigert reported that HC submitted six courses to L&S for approval as designated International credit courses.
   
   
6. Reports on Freshman Admission and Honors Enrollment
   
   HC enrollment is about 50% from L&S and 50% from all other schools and colleges, and this year is about 59% female and 41% male as of the start of classes for an enrollment of 477 students. Professor Zeng inquired as to how this compared to gender percentages of students invited to apply for HC for this school year. The total number receiving an informational packet was 1506, of whom 775 (51%) were male and 731 (49%) were female. The reason for the discrepancy in enrollment vs. starting numbers is not clear.
   
   

The meeting adjourned at 9:00 a.m.

Submitted by Laura Murphy, Program Assistant