Summary of PRESIDENT'S EXECUTIVE COUNCIL (PEC) RESOLUTIONS
Covering Meetings held on 28 March, 4, 10, 18, and 21 April
Issued on 25 April 2000
00.16 RTG GENERAL SUPPORT / LUMP SUM GRANT
Several proposals were put forward for the use of the RTG General Support / Lump Sum Grant (79.8 million Baht for FY 2000-2001), including: (i) to top up the partial scholarships in the form of fellowships, thus enhancing the revenue without increasing expenditures, and with the additional revenue compensating for the lost income tax reimbursement. The SCE Dean was requested to prepare a concept paper, with the Treasurer to provide calculations. (ii) to support student research dealing on Thailand; and (iii) to be partly used to defray personal income taxes. Tax reductions will be scheduled over a period of three years until it redresses the personal income tax balance.
It was confirmed that the P&P; Statements on Tax and Duty-Reimbursable Privilege for Car and Household Goods would be revoked for new employees. New projects, effective 1 July 2000, should also include tax provisions for their employees in their budgets. This would, thus, require revision of the P&P; on Salary Scale, to separate the basic salary and the income tax structure, as well as rates for sponsored research projects (Forms A, B, and C).
00.17 REVIEW OF STUDENTS' APPEALS FOR FEE WAIVER
There were 11 appeals received from those affected by the new policy on non-tuition fee-paying students. On the basis of the students' financial capability to pay the fees, as well as their academic performance, the appeals of three students were endorsed - full tuition fee waiver for two students, and a 75% tuition fee waiver for one student. The remaining eight of the appealing students have to comply with the new regulation/policy.
00.18 DR GUNNER KJER HANSEN MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
A Dr Gunner Kjer Hansen Memorial Scholarship (partial Ph.D. scholarship/fund) has been established in the Agricultural Systems Field of Study / Integrated Watershed Development and Management (IWDM) Area of Specialization. This scholarship is intended to support doctoral students in the research area of the late Dr Hansen, as well as to reflect Dr Hansen's aspirations and contribute to the academic interests and quality of the ongoing research issues in the field of upland agricultural systems within the IWDM Area of Specialization.
The Hansen family will have a total maximum annual contribution of US$5,000, equivalent to one-term tuition fees, to this Institute scholarship/fellowship. The tuition fees for the other two terms will be the Institute's corresponding contribution.
00.19 TASK FORCE ON URBAN ISSUES
A Task Force on Urban Issues, to be chaired by the Provost, was established to look into the wide range of urban issues and to make a recommendation on the Institute's response to urban needs. Two outsiders were invited to serve in the Task Force: (i) Mr. Yodyiam Theptharanonda, President of the International Project Administration Co, Ltd, and former President of the Siam Architects Association, and (ii) Dr Nopanant Tapananont, an AIT alumnus and Lecturer of the Department of Urban and Regional Planning in the Faculty of Architecture of Chulalongkorn University. Another outsider may be recommended by the AIT Board Chair Emeritus. There are also representatives from the four Schools (SAT: Dr Kanchana Kanchanasut; SCE: Prof Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai, Dr Noppadol Phien-wej, and Dr Pannapa Herabat; SERD: Prof Walter Jamieson, Dr Nguyen Kim Oanh, and Dr Seisuke Watanabe; and SOM: Dr Truong Quang), with particular interests in urban planning, environmental management, information technology infrastructure, transportation and infrastructure engineering, public policy, and public finance.
00.20 AIT PROSPECTUS
Recently reviewed SCE and SERD curricula are ready for incorporation in the new AIT Prospectus. The SAT curriculum, especially for STAR Program and Microelectronics Field of Study, currently under review by the School Forum, will consequently be submitted to the ADRC and Academic Senate, for approval. The CRO, in consultation with the Deans, will be requested to ensure that all entries, such as courses, units, centers, are official and as approved by the Academic Senate.
00.21 CENTER FOR LANGUAGE AND EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY
It will be suggested to the Academic Senate to form a small Working Group to review the Terms of Reference of CLET Faculty, and define alternative renewal/promotion criteria for CLET Faculty, while considering the Center's two main activities: as a service unit, and as an outreach unit.
00.22 OFFICIAL INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL
All official international travel of faculty and staff, irrespective of ranks, will be by most economical direct route. This policy replaces the existing Policy & Procedure Statement TL-1, item II-C.3. Memorandum from Provost issued to all the Unit Heads.
00.23 SHORT-TERM FACULTY UNITS-POLICY, ELIGIBILITY, ALLOCATION AND CHARGING
PEC approved the P&P; statement available at
http://www.asdu.ait.ac.th/housing/pandp.cfm
00.24 ASSOCIATED FACULTY RECRUITMENT
The 60 year-old age limit to all Institute employees also applies to Associated Faculty appointees. The revised Policy & Procedure Statement for Associated Faculty is available at
http://https://oldweb.ait.ac.th/AIT/administration/PandP/pa.html
00.25 FELLOWSHIPS
It was agreed to rephrase and implement a 'fellowship' scheme instead of the present partial scholarships. The fellowships could be an award for a fixed amount equivalent to a certain number of terms based on the merit of the candidate.
00.26 MICROELECTRONICS PROGRAM
The financial plan and use of Associated Faculty for the Microelectronics Masters Program which is to be launched from the May 2000 Term was approved.