April 4, 2003

Present: Tom Gieryn (chair), Alex Dzierba, Katy Fraser, Roy Gardner, Susan Gubar, Kevin Hunt (recorder)

1. The meeting began at 2:30 with a discussion of the proposed move of Computer Science to the School of Informatics. Computer Science chair Dennis Gannon joined the meeting to discuss issues surrounding the move. Gannon noted that of the top 10 computer science departments, only one is found solely in a college of arts and sciences. Top departments, he further noted, are large, averaging 40 FTE positions, and whereas Computer Science is unlikely to grow in the College, it may in Informatics. Among the concerns expressed by committee members regarding the move were that there could be financial harm to the College, that College students may lose access to computer classes, in particular the popular A110 class, that the loss of a College computer science degree will disadvantage the College, and the possibility that some computer science faculty may not be best served by a move. Gannon felt that each of these issues could be addressed or negotiated individually to the satisfaction of the College and the individual faculty. College student access to A110, he noted, would not be limited by the move unless it was no longer taught, and that is not being considered. Gannon asserted that most collaborative relationships between Computer Science faculty and other College faculty would not be weakened by a move.

2. March 28, 2003 minutes were amended and passed.

3. The Committee considered nominations for vacated positions in the Bloomington Faculty Council.

4. The Committee discussed comments members had received from College faculty responding to proposed new policy on banked courses. The policy is titled "Expectations of Faculty When on Release Time from Teaching". Some changes were approved. The Committee will continue to review comments and suggestions at next week's meeting.

5. The committee briefly discussed this year's performance review of Dean Subbaswamy.

6. The committee heard a report on the Linguistics planning meeting.

The meeting concluded at 4:00 PM.

Questions or comments regarding the minutes and actions of the Policy Committee may be addressed to Tom Gieryn, 5-2950, Dept. of Sociology, Ballantine 754, gieryn@indiana.edu.