Name Department Present Rank Effective Date Dr. Christopher P. Thron Mathematics Assistant Professor 09/01/15 Ph.D., Physics (1997) University of Kentucky, Lexington
Ph.D., Mathematics (1985) University of Wisconsin, Madison
Fa 2009–Present Texas A&M University-Central Texas Assistant Professor
Dr. Christopher P. Thron’s areas of expertise include math modeling, system simulation, optimization, numerical analysis, and statistical analysis. He is a proven problem solver and innovator with nine patents and another patent under review. Dr. Thron has been awarded two Fulbright scholarships; serving first at the University of Maroua and University of N’Gaoundéré in Cameroon, Africa, and most recently at the University of N’Djaména in Chad, Africa. He served as a foreign expert in English and Mathematics in the People’s Republic of China at Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and Southern Yangtze University. Dr. Thron co-authored eight journal articles over the past six years.
Dr. Thron is a founding member of the A&M-Central Texas Mathematics Department and played a key role in developing the graduate program in mathematics. Dr. Thron taught 29 different undergraduate and graduate courses at A&M-Central Texas in the areas of statistics, differential equations, algebra, discrete mathematics, geometry, and actuarial mathematics. Dr. Thron’s graduate students have been very successful with three graduate students having conference presentations, two having published journal articles, and three having passed the actuarial certification examination. Dr. Thron has a special interest in improving math education in secondary education. He developed an open source textbook on Abstract Algebra to provide additional assistance for secondary math teacher education students. His student evaluations have received an average score of 4.0 with 5.0 being the highest score.
COLLEGE OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
Name Department Present Rank Effective Date Dr. Bradley A. Almond Management Assistant Professor 09/01/15 Ph.D. (2008) Wallace E. Carroll School of Management
Fa 2009–Present Texas A&M University-Central Texas Assistant Professor
Dr. Bradley A. Almond’s expertise is in business strategy, organizational development, organizational behavior and interdisciplinary business and psychology. Dr. Almond has an active research agenda with three peer-reviewed publications (a fourth publication is in press) and 15 refereed conference presentations. Dr. Almond is a member of the graduate faculty and received several awards and recognitions for his service including the Texas A&M University-Central
Page 3 of 3
COLLEGE OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (Continued) Dr. Bradley A. Almond (continued)
Texas Student Organization Advisor of the Year and as a finalist for the Outstanding Graduate Faculty Community Development Award. Dr. Almond is very active in service at the university and serves as a mentor for new faculty.
Dr. Almond is an excellent teacher and received The Texas A&M University System Chancellor’s Teaching Excellence Award and was a finalist for the Outstanding Graduate Faculty Teaching Award at A&M-Central Texas. He effectively uses technology in the classroom and online to improve student learning. His student evaluations of instruction are excellent with scores averaging 4.4 out of 5.0. He advises over 130 students in the business program.
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
Name Department Present Rank Effective Date Dr. Deborah C. Davis Professional
Curriculum & Instruction
Assistant Professor 09/01/15
Ph.D. (2009) Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi
Fa 2008-Sp 2009 Tarleton State University-Central Texas Assistant Professor Fa 2009-Present Texas A&M University-Central Texas Assistant Professor
Dr. Deborah C. Davis’ areas of expertise are curriculum and instruction, teacher educator preparation, neuro-education, and literacy. She is actively involved in the dialog between public education P-12, higher education, and the workforce commission and serves as a collaborative voice in the education of principals and superintendents by co-chairing the Certificate Area Practitioner Sub-Council and Strategic Partners Education Advisory Council. Dr. Davis co- authored five papers in refereed journals, published two book chapters and has two children’s books in press. Dr. Davis serves as the Department Chair for Professional Education and Policy Studies at A&M-Central Texas and consistently teaches a full load of course assignments to ensure the success of all programs. She holds certifications in the Professional Development and Appraisal System, Online Course Development with Quality Matters through A&M-Central Texas, Instructional Leadership Development through Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, and teacher certifications for Early Childhood through Eighth Grade. Dr. Davis is very active in university service.
Dr. Davis is recognized as both outstanding faculty and student advisor. She received the CREATE Exemplary Faculty Practice Designation in 2014 and the Graduate Teaching Excellence Award in 2012. She holds graduate faculty status and actively mentors graduate students in their research projects. Her student evaluations are outstanding with scores averaging 4.8 with 5.0 being the highest.
Agenda Item No. AGENDA ITEM BRIEFING Submitted by: Marc A. Nigliazzo, Ph.D., President
Texas A&M University-Central Texas
Subject: Granting of Faculty Development Leave for FY 2016, Texas A&M University-Central Texas
Proposed Board Action:
Authorize faculty development leave for FY 2016 at Texas A&M University-Central Texas (A&M-Central Texas).
Background Information:
System Policy 31.03, Leaves of Absence, and System Regulation 12.99.01, Faculty Development Leave, require that a recommendation for faculty development leave be submitted by the university president to the chancellor for recommendation to the Board of Regents for approval. At A&M-Central Texas, the application is submitted with support of the academic department, college dean, university faculty development leave committee (elected by Faculty Senate), provost and vice president for academic and student affairs, and president.
As shown in the exhibit, A&M-Central Texas requests approval for faculty development leave for two faculty members for FY 2016.
A&M-Central Texas is in compliance with the statutory requirement that no more than six percent of eligible faculty be on development leave at any time.
A&M System Funding or Other Financial Implications:
No additional funding is required. Department faculty members are assuming the recommended faculty members’ teaching loads by adjusting course offerings the next academic year.
C-28
Agenda Item No.
TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY-CENTRAL TEXAS Office of the President
February 24, 2015 Members, Board of Regents
The Texas A&M University System
Subject: Granting of Faculty Development Leave for FY 2016, Texas A&M University-Central Texas
I recommend adoption of the following minute order:
“The Board of Regents of The Texas A&M University System, in accordance with System Policy 31.03, System Regulation 12.99.01 and Sections 51.101-108 of the Texas Education Code, authorizes faculty development leave to the faculty members as shown in Exhibit , Faculty Development Leave List FY 2016, Texas A&M University-Central Texas.”
Respectfully submitted,
Marc A. Nigliazzo, Ph.D. President
Approval Recommended: Approved for Legal Sufficiency:
John Sharp Ray Bonilla
Chancellor General Counsel
Billy Hamilton
Executive Vice Chancellor and Chief Financial Officer
James R. Hallmark, Ph.D.
Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs
C-28
[ORIGINAL SIGNED BY]
[ORIGINAL SIGNED BY]
[ORIGINAL SIGNED BY]
[ORIGINAL SIGNED BY]
Page 1 of 2
FACULTY DEVELOPMENT LEAVE LIST FY 2016
TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY-CENTRAL TEXAS
Name/ Title/ Department Years of A&M - Central Texas Tenured, Tenure-
Track Service Semester of Leave Location and Brief Description of Leave COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES
Jeffrey Dixon Associate Professor Political Science
9 Fall 2015 Dr. Jeffrey Dixon will spend his leave updating the Correlates of War Project’s Civil War Dataset to version 5.0 (COW 5.0 dataset). COW 5.0 dataset is the primary dataset for Civil War research. Completion of the COW 5.0 dataset requires collaboration with Dr. Meredith Sarkees at American University in Washington D.C. and travel to Fondren Library at Rice University. The COW 5.0 dataset will be used for four journal publications on historical trends in intra-state war, the effects of different types of military intervention on civil war termination, intercommunal war termination and spatio-temporal variance in civil war outcomes. Time spent on this project will establish Dr. Dixon as a top scholar in his research field. A&M-Central Texas students will benefit from the integration of his research findings into graduate and undergraduate courses on Civil Wars and Military Intervention, and Conflict Studies. This activity is consistent with the university strategic plan and will help increase the visibility and reputation of the college and the university.
Luke A. Nichter Associate Professor History
7 Spring 2016 Dr. Luke Nichter will spend his leave developing a major research monograph entitled Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr. and the Decline of the Eastern Establishment, to be published by Yale University Press. This will be the first major biography ever written on this 20th century American diplomat. This follows the publication of Dr. Nichter’s research monograph – Richard Nixon and Europe: The Reshaping of the Postwar Atlantic World and the New York Times bestseller, The Nixon Tapes: 1971- 1972, with co-author Douglas Brinkley. This research requires travel to examine archives housed in British National Archives, Massachusetts Historical Society, Herbert Hoover Presidential Library, Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library, Dwight Eisenhower Presidential Library, John F. Kennedy Presidential Library, Lyndon Johnson Presidential Library, Richard Nixon Presidential Library, Gerald Ford Presidential Library, Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, National Archives
ITEM EXHIBIT
Page 2 of 2
and Records Administration, French Presidential Papers of Charles de Gaulle, French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Vietnamese Archives. Time spent on this project will cement Dr. Nichter’s position as a top presidential scholar. A&M-Central Texas students will benefit from the integration of his research findings into several graduate and undergraduate courses in U.S. Foreign Policy, the Vietnam War, and the American Presidency. This activity is consistent with the university strategic plan and will help increase the visibility and reputation of the university.
Texas A&M University-Commerce
C-29. Approval of a New Bachelor of Science in Public Health Degree Program, and Authorization to Request Approval from the THECB
C-30. Approval of Academic Tenure, April 2015
C-31. Granting of Faculty Development Leave for FY 2016
Agenda Item No. AGENDA ITEM BRIEFING Submitted by: Dan R. Jones, President
Texas A&M University-Commerce
Subject: Approval of a New Bachelor of Science in Public Health Degree Program, and Authorization to Request Approval from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
Proposed Board Action:
Approve the establishment of a new degree program at Texas A&M University-Commerce (A&M-Commerce) leading to a Bachelor of Science in Public Health (B.S.P.H.), authorize the submission of this degree program to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) for approval, and certify that all applicable THECB criteria have been met.
Background Information:
In 2011, the Council on Education for Public Health, the accrediting agency for schools of public health and public health programs outside schools of public health, revised its criteria for public health schools and programs, creating a new criterion that explicitly addressed the curriculum of baccalaureate public health degrees affiliated with its existing accredited units. Based on this action, A&M-Commerce proposes to modify its current Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Health Promotion and offer a B.S.P.H.
Public health professionals with a B.S.P.H. are prepared to assess factors influencing health in individuals, communities and populations, plan effective programs and interventions, design evaluations for those interventions, and successfully manage the implementation of those programs.
There is currently a scarcity of formally trained public health professionals in the state of Texas. This program seeks to fill that need.
A&M System Funding or Other Financial Implications:
Three faculty members currently teaching in the B.S. in Health Promotion program will continue in the new program. It is estimated that a new faculty position will be required in the third year in order to meet the increase in enrollment. Enrollment growth will also require three additional graduate assistants and two additional adjunct faculty positions.
C-29
Agenda Item No.
TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY-COMMERCE Office of the President
February 25, 2015 Members, Board of Regents
The Texas A&M University System
Subject: Approval of a New Bachelor of Science in Public Health Degree Program, and Authorization to Request Approval from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
I recommend adoption of the following minute order:
“The Board of Regents of The Texas A&M University System approves the establishment of a new degree program at Texas A&M University-Commerce leading to a Bachelor of Science in Public Health.
The Board also authorizes submission of Texas A&M University– Commerce’s new degree program request to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board for approval and hereby certifies that all applicable criteria of the Coordinating Board have been met.”
Respectfully submitted,
Dan R. Jones President
Approval Recommended: Approved for Legal Sufficiency:
John Sharp Ray Bonilla
Chancellor General Counsel
Billy Hamilton
Executive Vice Chancellor and Chief Financial Officer
James R. Hallmark, Ph.D.
Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs
C-29
[ORIGINAL SIGNED BY]
[ORIGINAL SIGNED BY] [ORIGINAL SIGNED BY]
[ORIGINAL SIGNED BY]
Page 1 of 4
Texas A&M University-Commerce Bachelor of Science in Public Health
(CIP 51.2201.00) Program Review Outline
BACKGROUND & PROGRAM DESCRIPTION Administrative Unit: Department of Health & Human Performance
The Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) is the accrediting agency for schools of public health and public health programs outside schools of public health. Baccalaureate degrees housed in schools of public health have been accredited for over 10 years. In 2008, CEPH began accrediting baccalaureate programs affiliated with Master of Public Health programs located outside of schools of public health.
In response to national discussions on the expansion of baccalaureate public health education and to requests from baccalaureate programs in community health education, the CEPH undertook a multi-year process, involving public comment and meetings with key stakeholders, to consider accreditation of standalone baccalaureate public health programs. In 2011, CEPH revised its criteria for public health schools and programs, creating a new criterion that explicitly addressed the curriculum of baccalaureate public health degrees affiliated with its existing accredited units. Based on this action, Texas A&M University-Commerce (A&M-Commerce) proposes to modify its current Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Health Promotion and offer a B.S. in Public Health (B.S.P.H.). The B.S.P.H. will prepare public health professionals to assess factors influencing health in individuals, communities and populations, plan effective programs and interventions, design evaluations for those interventions, and successfully manage the implementation of those programs. This academic program will be based on a philosophy of health promotion and disease prevention to improve the quality of life of individuals, families, and communities. There is currently a scarcity of formally trained public health professionals in the state of Texas. This program seeks to help fill that need.
The B.S.P.H. degree program will focus on four areas: 1) the multiple determinants of health, including biological, environmental, sociocultural, health service, and economical factors; 2) identification of scientific data, tools of informatics, and other information for identifying indicators of health status and health disparities and assessing the well-being of a community; 3) major local, national, and global health challenges; and 4) public health approaches and interventions that improve health outcomes, population health and well-being.
The program will require 120 semester credit hours (SCH). Thirty six SCH will be required in the major field of study, 21 SCH will be selected from a prescribed set of electives and nine SCH will be chosen from a set of support courses. Four new courses will be developed based on requirements of the CEPH and will be included in the required major field of study courses. In addition to serving as a degree program to educate students to become part of the public health workforce, exposing other undergraduate students to public health produces a broader base of graduates with improved health literacy; students of law, business, architecture, and public affairs, for example, will bring a broader population health perspective to their work.
The proposed implementation date is fall 2015.
Page 2 of 4
A&M-Commerce certifies that the proposed new degree program meets the criteria under 19 Texas Administrative Code, Section 5.45, in regards to need, quality, financial and faculty resources, standards and costs. New costs during the first five years will not exceed $2 million. I. NEED
A. Employment Opportunities
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2012), “employment of health educators and community health workers is projected to grow 21% by 2022.” The B.S.P.H. degree program is more than a means to produce ready public health practitioners. It can complement or enrich a traditional biology-based pre-health degree plan for students intending professional education in medicine, nursing, allied health or other health professions. The program will also establish a specific entry-level baccalaureate degree in the public health academic pathway which, until recently, has started with a master's degree.
In Texas, Federally Qualified Health Centers, local health departments, and state health and human service agencies completed a survey in 2009. The results found vacancy rates as high as 8% for epidemiologists and environmental health workers, 10% for health educators, and 22% for public health technicians. The agencies desired an additional 134 FTEs over their vacancies for those four categories alone. The B.S.P.H. will meet this need by preparing students for work in entry-level positions in a variety of settings including health-related agencies, hospitals, local and state public health departments, academic research centers and institutes, corporate disease management and wellness programs, non-profit agencies, and healthcare businesses and industries.
Even without the current workforce shortfall, there has been a long-term demand for public health workers with appropriate levels of training. The estimation that four out of five current public health workers have not had formal training for their specific job functions has become a rallying point for workforce development initiatives.
Projected Enrollment
Enrollment projections are based on current enrollment in the B.S. in Health Promotion and the popularity of public health programs at other universities.
Year Change of
Major/Transfers Students New Attrition Graduation Cumulative Headcount Cumulative FTEs New only 1 5 20 0 0 25 20 2 10 30 6 0 59 44 3 10 30 15 12 84 59 4 10 25 21 19 98 63
Page 3 of 4 B. Existing State Programs
Five institutions in Texas now offer a bachelor’s in Public Health. Three are in their first year.
Enrollment in current undergraduate programs in public health.
Fall
2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009
Institution
SAM HOUSTON STATE UNIVERSITY 798
TARLETON STATE UNIVERSITY 4
TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY 18
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN 245 289 255 143 47
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT SAN ANTONIO 385 201 24
TOTAL for CIP Code 51220100 1,450 490 279 143 47 0