Approval of minutes. The minutes for the meetings of January 5 and January 19, 2005 were approved as amended. The minutes of February 2, 2005 were approved as submitted.

Remarks by the Secretary. Professor Hobbs thanked Professor Poland for his service as Secretary and for substituting for him the last couple of weeks. Professor Hobbs reminded Council members to turn in their Departmental Review summaries. The deadline was today, February 16. The Provost reminded Council members of their decision to review all of the summaries at one meeting when President Brody could be in attendance.

Professor Hobbs reported on the February 8 dinner meeting at which the main topic of discussion was possible changes to the structure of the Council - the length of term and the balance and composition of Council. A number of ideas were brought forward and these were referred to the Committee on Administration and Budget chaired by Professor Poland which will present a concrete proposal to the Council. The idea of soliciting input from department chairs was also suggested.

Professor Hobbs reported that there have been some concerns about the recent changes in grade change policy. The discussion focused on time limitations for converting an incomplete (I) to a passing grade. In some departments the I in graduate courses is treated as a place holder until the work is done. It was suggested that there should be another category that serves as a place holder and Provost Knapp suggested that the Graduate Board or the Deans take a look at this issue. A council member noted that many departments build in a deadline at the graduate level since there is some merit to putting pressure on students to complete their work. The Provost summarized the discussion by saying that there could be a rule like an IP grade that could only be assigned for two semesters and no more. Dean Falk suggested that graduate education is idiosyncratic to departments and that Deans Lattman and Douglas work on this issue with the Graduate Board and then bring a concrete proposal back to Council.

Open Discussion. Professor Poland reminded Council of the upcoming lunches with junior faculty on Wednesday, February 23, and Tuesday, March 1.

The Council discussed the 2005/06 departmental reviews. The Provost said that the Deans suggested moving up the schedule a little bit for choosing the departments for review next year. Dean Falk suggested that the Departments of Earth and Planetary Science, Economics, Near Eastern Studies, and Political Science be reviewed in 2005/06. Dean Jones suggested the Departments of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Computer Science for review. After some discussion Council unanimously approved the departments suggested by the Deans for review in 2005/06.

The Provost asked Council to glance at the letters to the chairs requesting self-studies. A Council member said that last year he had expressed concern about unsubstantiated data submitted by departments and so a sentence was added to the letter. It was noted that this year two departments' self-studies included unsubstantiated data. The Provost suggested being proactive when the self-study arrives and to immediately return it and request additional information.

Professor Rugh, Chair of the Appointments and Promotions subcommittee reported that the following appointments have been approved: 1) Dr. John Tovar as Assistant Professor in Chemistry effective 7/1/05. 2) Dr. Silvia Kurlat Ares as Lecturer in Romance Languages and Literatures for Spring 2005.

Dean Douglas commented that the issue of double counting of credits has gone to the President's office.

Remarks by the Chair. Provost Knapp announced that on Tuesday, March 1 the Faculty Assembly will meet in the Clipper Room at 3:30 p.m.

Remarks by the Deans. Dean Falk reported that that President Bush will award a National Medal of Science to Professor Riccardo Giacconi of the Department of Physics and Astronomy. This is the nation's highest award for scientific achievement.

Dean Jones announced that Willard Hackerman has just given an unrestricted gift of $5 million to the Whiting School with a goal of supporting at least three graduates of the Polytechnic Institute of Baltimore as Hackerman scholars for the next 25 years. Mr. Hackerman was a graduate of Poly as well as of the Whiting School and this is a nice way to acknowledge his relationship with the two schools.

The meeting adjourned at 5:07 p.m.

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