University Theme Committee

1995-1996 Annual Report

Submitted 5/7/96 by Joel B. Piperberg, Chair

1995-1996 Members	Department	Term Expires
J. Piperberg, Chair, elected from Faculty Senate	Biology	1997
D. Denenberg	Educ. Foundations	1997
S. Lotlikar	Library	1998
B. Nakhai	Business Administration	1997
B. Schneller	English	1998
D. Schultz	Mathematics	1998
S. Little	Student Affairs (ex officio)
Joseph Choi	Student
Matt Huber	Student
Jon Dale	Student

Meetings:
2 meetings during the academic year. Nor formal minutes were taken at any of the meetings. Average attendance was 5 members.

Motions Forwarded to Senate:
5/7/96
Recommendation to select as the 1999-2000 academic theme "Achievements Throughout the 20th Century". Motion to be approved by Faculty Senate.

Other Deliberations and Actions:
The Committee solicited from Faculty, Staff and students suggestions for the 1999-2000 Academic Theme. Five suggestions were received. The titles listed below and copies of the original proposals are attached to this report:

Theme					Proposer
1. Leadership for the 21st Century					Nancy Smith (Educational Foundations
2. Technology--Everything Is the Result of Manufacturing					John Hibberd (Industry & Technology)
3. ARTS 2000: a community of pARTnerships					Micheal Houlahan (Music)
4. World Cultures and the Global Village					Micheal Houlahan (Music)
5. Achievements Throughout the 20th Century					Sondra Groves--student (President, American Society for Safety Engineering). To be headed by Paul Specht (Industry & Technology) and Robert Coley (Library).

The Committee met or conferred with the proposers of all five themes to hear their ideas about the intended focus of and events related to their themes. After a lengthy deliberation, the Committee decided that despite five solid themes, we would select only one theme this year. Since the "Achievements Throughout the 20th Century" theme originally had a student proposer who would not be here in 1999-2000, it was necessary to assemble a faculty steering committee to preside over the theme. Paul Specht (Industry & Technology) and Robert Coley (Library) have agreed to head the theme. The proposers of the other themes may also participate on the steering committee of this theme.

Joel Piperberg has met a few times with the Steering Committee (co-chairs Marvin Margolis and Beverly Schneller) of the 1996-1997 Academic Theme (Preparing for the 21st Century) and serves on that Committee in an advisory capacity.

Matters Currently in Committee:
There has been some discussion during Committee meetings about the possibility of release time for the chairs/co-chairs of annual theme committees due to the immense time commitment required for overseeing such a lengthy and complex program. No formal action has yet been taken on this matter and discussion will continue next year.

Future Plans:
Next year, the Committee will solicit suggestions for the 2000-2001 Academic Theme and monitor the progress of other themes presently in preparation. As mentioned above, discussions about the possibility of release time for annual theme co-chairs will be discussed further.

Additional Information Comments:
None.

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