Faculty Senate Meeting
April 4, 2005
Call to Order
Janis Boettinger called the meeting to order at 3:06 pm
Minutes
Kim Openshaw moved to accept the minutes of March 7, 2005 as written. The
motion, 2nd by Rhonda Callister passed unanimously.
Announcements
Janis Boettinger announced that there are four sessions of Self-Service Banner
Training. For more information go to
http://www.usu.edu/registrar/images/Demo_student.pdf.
University Business
President Albrecht talked briefly about the Health Benefits. He will accept the
recommendations from the Health Benefits Committee, but will move to
reconstitute this committee to add expertise.
The Selective Investment Committee top recommendations for funding were Graduate Assistantships, the Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) Initiative, and Technology Enhanced Classrooms.
There will be a formal announcement of the Department Teaching Award. There are two recipients this year. The departments will be featured at Commencement.
A steering committee will be assembled for the self-study phase of the upcoming Comprehensive Accreditation visit. The committee will include Craig Petersen, Director of Analysis, Accreditation, and Assessment, senior administrators, and Dennis Welker (faculty member and former faculty senator).
Consent Agenda
Dallas Holmes 2nd the motion to approve the consent agenda, the motion passed
unanimously.
Information Item
Honorary Degrees and Commencement Speaker
Kim Openshaw presented the Honorary Degrees and Commencement report. There will
be four honorary degree recipients: Bernice H. McCowin, David G. Sant, George
R. Wanlass, and Niranjan R. Gandhi. The Commencement Speaker for Spring 2005
will be Merlin Olsen.
Library Update
Linda Wolcott updated the senate on the new library. Club Sci-Tech will be out
of commission in the next couple of weeks to accommodate the remodeling of the
existing building. There will be an announcement in the Statesman as well as on
the website regarding Club Sci-Tech. The moving date is scheduled for August.
Please plan ahead and work with your library liaison in working through fall
semester. The FACT Center will be moving in July. Some of the key features of
the new library include the Automated Retrieval System, information commons
desk, a faculty seminar room, and classrooms equipped with technology. The new
library will serve a variety of uses and will have a welcoming and inviting
feel to it.
Faculty Library Endowment Drive
Janis Boettinger encouraged the senate to give to the Faculty Library
Endowment; contributions show that there is commitment from faculty for
supporting the intellectual and academic center of Utah State University.
Parking Update
Lisa Leishman gave an update on parking. There will be a 4% increase in parking
permit fees every year until 2012 to help pay off the bond for constructing the
new parking structure on the west side of campus. Parking fees may be paid
through payroll deduction and spread throughout the whole year. The Parking
Office has added a Frequently Asked Questions page to their website
www.usu.edu/parking. The Parking Committee will be presenting these figures to
ASUSU on April 5. The new Living Learning Center will provide 612 new parking
spaces: 300 residents, 100 Faculty/staff, 100 commuter students, and 112 other.
Spring Faculty Forum on Benefits
Janis Boettinger reported that there were 250 people that attended the forum on
benefits. She has received positive feedback; most appreciated the opportunity
to participate in discussing benefits at USU. It was suggested that the forum
be an annual event, but that it be scheduled earlier so that feedback could be
provided to the Health Benefits Committee. Richard Sherlock suggested that the
forum needed to be more of an open debate on the Domestic Partners Benefits
proposals and that both proponents and opponents needed more time to be heard.
Please forward your comments regarding discussion of Domestic Partners Benefits
to Kevin Doyle at kdoyle@hass.usu.edu.
Health Benefits Committee Business
Caryn Beck-Dudley reported on the recommendations of the Health Benefits
Committee forwarded to the President. She commented that the final budget
figures for health benefits are not available until after the legislative
session. She added that the issue of health benefits is difficult because it
can become very political and very complicated. The Health and Benefits
Committee recommended the following: 1) not to cover gastric bypass surgery at
this time, 2) remove the $500 limit on covered screening, 3) add a fourth
(lower) salary tier to the premium structure (<$22,000 annual salary), 4)
raise the salary tiers of the existing premium structure by $2000, 5) keep the
$7 copay for a 90-day supply for generic prescription drugs while going back to
a percentage copay for a monthly supply of 30% for brand drugs without a
generic equivalent and 35% on brand drugs with a generic equivalent, 7) 6%
increase in premiums for the dental plan, and 8) 11.8% increase to premiums for
the Blue and White medical plans (except for the <$22,000 salary tier).
Employees should pick a plan that is best for them.
Proposed Policy Amendments to Trustees
Reported that the proposed policy amendments on 1) adding patents and other
intellectual property as criteria for tenure and promotion, and 2) codifying
the ombudsperson in tenure, promotion, and review policy and procedures have
been forwarded by the President to the Board of Trustees for approval. The
President has remanded the proposed policy amendment on promotion advisory
committee back to the senate. Although the proposal was supported, minor
revisions were needed to allow for the first meeting with the promotion
advisory committee to be evaluative if the candidate so desires.
Key Issues and Action Items
Senate Election Results
Janis Boettinger presented the names of the newly elected senators and
committee members for the Colleges, Extension, and the Libraries. An email will
be sent asking senators to take a survey indicating their interest in serving
on various senate and university committees. Please respond with your
preferences.
Janis Boettinger called for nominations for President-Elect. This individual would serve 05-06 as President-Elect and 06-07 as President of Faculty Senate, and must have at least one year remaining on their term or have been re-electe to an additional successive term. Chuck Johnson nominated Richard Sherlock. David Goetze seconded the nomination. Larry Hipps nominated Lynn Dudley. Pat Lambert seconded the nomination. Janis Hall moved to close nominations. Tom Schroeder seconded the motion.
The meeting adjourned by acclimation at 4:18 p.m.