THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSE AT CHATTANOOGA

Exempt Staff Council Meeting

December 14, 2004

Fortwood Room, University Center

 

Members Attending: Jean Dake, Ellen Neufeldt, Nate Pinkard, Matt Pope, Charles Scott.  

 

Others in attendance: Dan Webb, Director, Office of Human Resources; Melanie Sadler, Administrative Secretary, Office of Human Resources.

 

Call to Order: Ms. Dake called the meeting to order.

 

Minutes: Minutes of the November 16, 2004 meeting were not submitted for approval due to the lack of a quorum.

 

Mission Statement Review

 

Items discussed by members were:

§         Who will read the mission statement?

§         Should the Mission Statement be a vision instead of a mission statement? (SACS requires a mission statement.)

§         Are the initiatives in rank order?

§         What does “engaged metropolitan university” mean?

§         What makes UTC unique as a “metropolitan university”?

§         What is a “national model”?

§         What are the measures for a “national model”?

§         Does the Mission Statement or the Guiding Principles define what “an engaged metropolitan university” is?

 

Changes suggested by members:

§         Guiding Principles:

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga interprets the land-grant spirit of service for the 21st century through people, partnerships, and performance:

Define “land-grant spirit of service” by footnote or reference or leave out entirely because UTC was not established by a land-grant.

§         Partnerships

§         We embrace active and collaborative learning through partnerships among students, faculty, staff (add alumni) and the community.

§         We encourage frequent, respectful, and collegial interaction among students, faculty, staff (add alumni) and the community.

 

Ms Dake stated that Student Development met to discuss the Mission Statement and a summary is being developed by Yancy Freeman and Mary Lynn Williamson.

 

The ESC will not recommend the Mission Statement at this time but request definitions of:

§         “…land-grant …”

§         “…national model…”

§         “…metropolitan university…”

 

Employee Relations Advisory Board Meeting

 

Ms Dake will attend the ERAB meeting in Memphis on December 22.

 

Admissions Standards

 

New admissions standards at UTC will require an ACT score of 17, previously set at 16. According to a report given by Dr. Gruetzemacher, retention over the past six years is on par or ahead of the national average but lagging behind

 

 

regional schools. Members expressed concern that raising the minimum ACT score would disqualify many who can do the work but do not score well on exams and also hurt diversity efforts.

 

Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned.  

 

Next meeting is January 18, 2005 in the Fortwood Room, University Center.  

 

Respectfully Submitted,

 

 

Melanie Sadler

Administrative Secretary

Office of Human Resources