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New Mexico State University URC Minutes - February 7, 2003

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Present: Kurt Anderson, Daniel Dwyer, Ida Baca (Everett Egginton), Kenneth Hacker, Stephen Horan, Nirmala Khandan, Chuck Kozel, Linda Lacey, Jim Cowie (William Ogden), Marc Pruyn, William Quintana, Rudi Schoenmackers, Edmund Scribner, Rhonda Skaggs, Rasler Smith, James Strickland, Elizabeth Titus, Karl Wood

Absent: Adams, William Gould, Michael Hites, Becky Keele-Smith, Mary Wolf

Guests: Mary Jaspers

1. Approval of Minutes - Minutes of December 6, 2002 were approved as presented.

2. Update URC Roster

The membership roster was distributed with a request to update.

3. Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) and immigration issues affecting students – Ms. Mary Jaspers

Ms. Baca introduced Ms. Jaspers, assistant director of foreign student, who distributed a handout and reported that SEVIS is the new U.S. government computer system that tracks international students, research scholars, and their families who enter the United States, register for classes, travel to another country, work off-campus, transfer to another university, etc. SEVIS requires NMSU to know the location of international students and researchers for the entire time they are in the United States. Events that NMSU must report through SEVIS were addressed. Failure to report these events to INS may result in loss of student status. In March, a joint workshop sponsored by the Center for International Programs and the Graduate School will inform faculty of potential problems. For additional information, Ms. Jaspers can be contacted at 646-3199.

4. E-prints – Dean Titus

Dean Titus distributed information about e-prints, a new method to exchange scientific knowledge. E-prints broadens the information base and publishes information that might not have high circulation; however, faculty participation is required. Dean Titus asked that URC members read the handout material and be prepared to discuss it at the next meeting. A decision should be made regarding NMSU’s participation and the mechanism to process and transfer the information. Annual membership for AISTI (including the electronic data base discount) is $10,000, paid from the Library budget.

5. Nominating Committee appointments

Drs. Strickland and Pruyn volunteered to serve on the Nominating Committee. Open positions are: Chair Elect, Faculty Representative, and Position Appointment.

6. International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) Training

Neta Fernandez will offer ITAR training to faculty on February 27. The session will provide standard wording to include in proposals and alert PIs to terms and conditions that should be avoided. Please encourage faculty in your colleges to attend.

7. Committee Status

URC Research and Creative Scholarly Activity Awards – The proposed announcement was distributed. Changes were suggested to the wording so that all research centers on campus will be included in the selection process. Individual or team award winners will receive $2,000. Dr. Dwyer suggested that medallions be presented to awardees to wear at graduation. Nomination packets are due March 14. If possible, the information will be distributed through a faculty list serve.

Research and Creative Activities Fair – Dr. Schoenmackers stated that the Alliance for Minority Participation (AMP) would be happy to co-host a joint Fair with URC on Friday, September 26, 2003. Ms. Keele-Smith and others will work with Dr. Schoenmackers to plan the Fair activities.

PI Certification – A committee has been working on a grants and contracts training manual that should be ready this Spring.

Faculty Surveys – Last Fall, URC proposed conducting a faculty survey of “hot button” issues. Since the Roles and Rewards Committee is currently working on a faculty survey, it was decided that Dr. Quintana will share the URC survey that was taken about four years ago with the Faculty Senate Chair. Perhaps URC’s survey can be incorporated into one comprehensive survey.

There being no new business, the meeting adjourned at 4:30 p.m. Committee meetings followed the general session.

Minutes by Betty Lindsey