I. Updates
A. Auditing: One of the six courses taken to complete distribution requirements may be audited (see previous posts on this subject)
B. DCE: Annan fellowship (see previous posts)
Concern about language in memo that indicates students will be restricted to two precept hours when they receive the fellowship. There is a general consensus that students should have the freedom to elect how much they will teach, regardless of available funding.
Funding Seminar: Positive feedback! Possibility for informal meeting for first-years re: summer funding applications?
C. Hiring: Americanist Search–list has been narrowed to 12 candidates, search committee meeting in near future to decrease the size of the list and begin soliciting candidates
D. Library Study: Aaron has informed us that the room is painted. Shelves will be installed within next months by a vendor, at which point we can carpet and furnish!
II. Generals
Alicia and Sonya are in the process of preparing two documents regarding the general exams. One will include revisions to the handbook sections pertaining to the exams, and another document that will informally include timelines, concerns, advice, etc. post-generals students have found helpful.
Issues to address include: Are guidelines absolute or up to the committee? (General consensus that the handbook should include language indicating that the format of exams may vary widely and students should therefore be proactive with their committee in order to determine exactly how their exam will proceed); Major Lists: time period OR genre or can it be both; Presentations?; What can students physically bring to the exam?
Lindsay agreed to work with Sonya and Alicia in creating the documents since, as a member of WGGI, she was present for prior discussions with Chair and DGS regarding these changes.
Collecting generals lists: we would like more lists to be available; also ask students submitting lists to include the different versions of their lists as well as the names of their committee members. Greg send an email asking students to turn these lists in to Pat.
III. Other
Students present at the meeting would like to have a reception to welcome the visiting professors this semester (Professors Spivak, Keilen, and Ferguson). Possibility of using GAC funds to hold some sort of reception?
