The minutes for the meeting of November 3, and November 17, 2004 were approved as amended.

The Secretary reported that Dr. John Bader from Academic Advising had attended the evening meeting on December 7, that this was the third meeting on undergraduate education, previous guests being Dr. Paula Burger and Dean Douglas, and that the Council's concentration on undergraduate education this semester had resulted in useful discussion.

There was discussion of a new grading system that was currently being used by Organic Chemistry.

There was a wide-ranging discussion of the Graduate Board, and it was proposed that the Administration and Budget subcommittee of the Academic Council meet with the members of the Board. Dean Weiss announced that Professor Bruce Barnett will be the next Chairman of the Board.

The issue of double counting of credits for a BS/MS program in Materials Science was discussed and it was decided that the Academic Affairs subcommittee of the Council would look into it.

The appointment of Dr. Douglas Fambrough as Professor Emeritus in the Department of Biology effective July 1, 2005 was approved.

A modification to the Appointments and Promotions Procedures document was proposed and approved.

The discussion of Academic Council composition at previous Council meetings was taken up, and Council agreed that the Administration and Budget subcommittee would discuss this issue and prepare a set of proposals for further discussion.

There was discussion of a request from the Board of Review for clarification of Academic Council's intent for appointments in the Research Professor line.

It was reported that the following appointments have been approved by the Board of Review: 1) Dr. Robert Allen appointment as Associate Research Professor in Biomedical Engineering effective 7/1/04. 2) Dr. Aniruddha Thakar promotion to Research Scientist in CAS in Physics and Astronomy effective 10/1/04. 3) Dr. John Blakeslee promotion to Research Scientist in CAS in Physics and Astronomy effective 7/1/04. 4) Dr. Caroline Fohlin promotion to Associate Research Professor in Economics for 7/1/04 - 6/30/05. 5) Dr. Linda Hinnov promotion to Associate Research Professor in EPS. 6) Dr. Wei Zheng promotion to Prinicipal Research Scientist in CAS/P&A retroactive to 7/1/04. 7) Dr. Michael McCormick as Visiting Research Professor in Civil Engineering for 12/1/04 - 12/31/05.

It was reported that the following appointments have been approved by the Appointments and Promotions subcommittee: 1) Dr. Junping Wang as Adjunct Professor in AMS. 2) Dr. Elliot Wolfson as Visiting Professor in the Humanities for 1/1/05 - 5/31/05. 2) Dr. Aaron Goodfellow as Adjunct Assistant Professor in Anthropology for 1/1/05 - 5/31/05. 3) Pat Palmer as Lecturer, part-time, in the Language Teaching Center for 12/1/04 - 6/30/05. 4) Dr. Chris Pierson appointment as Hinkley Visiting Professor in Political Science for 7/1/05 - 12/31/05. 5) Dr. L. David Pye appointment as Visiting Professor Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering for 12/1/04 - 11/30/05. 6) Dr. Jack Abecassis appointment as Visiting Professor in Romance Languages & Lit. for 1/31/05 - 5/19/05. 7) Dr. Horacio Legras appointment as Adjunct Assistant Professor in Romance Languages & Lit. for 1/31/05 - 5/19/05. 8) Dr. Adam Simon as Lecturer in EPS for 1/15/05 - 5/31/05.

Provost Knapp reminded Council that Dean Falk has been named Interim Dean, and that Dean Weiss will be partnering with Dean Falk during this transition. President Brody intended that there be a national search for the next permanent Dean of Arts and Sciences. The Provost added that they are grateful to Dean Falk for stepping into the role of Interim Dean.

The Provost reported on the faculty response and involvement in the tsunami disaster. One of the concerns and unknown in this situation is how many members of the Hopkins community may have family members who reside in the affected regions or were traveling at the time, and the Provost invited those with concerns to get in touch him or with the Deans. He said that President Brody will also be sending out a number of announcements and giving contact information.

The Provost announced that the departmental review meeting will be held on Saturday, January 29th because there was a change in President Brody's schedule and that is a better date for the guests. Dean Falk reported that Professor Ge´rard Defaux, a member of the Department of Romance Languages and Literatures for about twenty years, passed away on December 31 after an illness of about a year. There will be a commemorative event organized by his Department in the Spring.

The meeting adjourned at 4:39 p.m.

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