During last Wednesday's regular monthly meeting, the Board of Trustees approved three items on its consent agenda:

A new study-abroad course in Rome for this summer. Topographical Studies of Ancient Rome from Primary Sources will provide students with first-hand experience comparing information from their readings on the topography of ancient Rome with the actual sites in Rome. The three-credit history class will run from May 22 to June 5.

Deletion of Human Performance and Sport certificate programs. Because of lack of student interest, staff recommended deleting six certificate programs - coaching, recreation assistant, aquatic assistant, extended day activities aide, conditioning specialist and officiating. The courses that comprise the certificates will remain if other programs require them.

Sabbaticals. The board approved sabbatical requests for the following faculty:

Tom Altherr, history - fall 2004, to prepare a manuscript-length study of the history of plow design in America. He intends to use the material for a new American studies course called Visual America.

Arthur Campa, anthropology - fall 2004, to write a case study of his sustainable development work in northern coastal Peru that he began in 2000. He intends to use the case study for his Doing Anthropology class and for general publication.

Dawn Latta Kirby, English - fall 2004, to prepare a manuscript for a new textbook titled "New Directions in Writing," which will be used in several courses.

Kishore Kulkarni, economics - spring 2005, to complete the revision of his textbook "Modern Monetary Theory," to complete two research papers and to continue working to publish the Indian Journal of Economics and Business.

Larry Worster, music - spring 2005, to work with Junge Munchner Philharmonie and Bad Tolz Singund Musikchule, to teach at the University of Heidelberg and to work with summer academies Kloster Seeon and Kloster Andechs.