Faculty Senate Meeting Minutes

August 29, 2005

Derek Mason called the meeting to order at 3:03 pm.

Minutes

Approval of Minutes May 7, 2005 moved by approve by Dallas Holmes, seconded by Bruce Miller, passed unanimous.

Announcements

John Kras is to keep time.

Eden Summers new Faculty Senate Secretary.

Introduced the Faculty Senate Executive Committee Members.

Faculty E-News will be a monthly newsletter, 120 seconds of reading.

Presidential Inauguration Events: Week of October 10

Inauguration: October 14 at 10:30 am

University Business

Stan Albrecht Presented University Business. Presidential Inauguration week will focus on celebrating Utah State University and the way it has transformed lives for over a century. C. Peter Magrath will be the first what will be an annual Presidential Lecture Series. He will talk about the future of the Land-Grant University. A ribbon cutting ceremony for the new library will take place that week, along with other student activities.

College of Natural Resources Deans position has been filled by Nat Fraser effective January 1, 2006.

Three Provost candidates will be at USU throughout the month of September. They will be doing a number of public presentations. The candidates and their schedules are as follows: 1) “Gus” Plumb, Dean of Engineering, University of Wyoming will be here September 8-9; 2) Raymond D. Coward, Dean of the College of Health and Human Development, Penn State University will be here September 20-21; 3) Belinda McCarthy, Dean of the College of Health and Public Affairs, University of Central Florida will be here September 28-29.

Legislative Agenda for USU: The University’s first priority is compensation. Last year we received 2.5% state funds and 1.5% from Tier Two Tuition. The state’s economy is doing better than expected. This year USU is going forward with a request for a 4% salary increase plus additional support for benefits.

A second priority will be retention money. Last year USU’s share was $421,000. The Dean’s are developing a formula for distributing these funds. Actual distribution will occur January 1, 2005. Retention money will remain a priority funding request for the next three years.

Next, USU is again dealing with the tuition waiver issue. Student enrollments are down, in part, because of House Bill 331. USU has a waiver bill that passed the House and was on the floor of the Senate, but was not passed. The president has talked to Jeff Alexander, the initial author of House Bill 331, and has agreed to co-sponsor legislation that will help mitigate the impact of HB 331 had on USU. Prior to HB 331, enrollment numbers of Southeast Idaho and Eastern Wyoming compared to post House Bill 331 are dramatic (example 30 to 2). USU must be aggressive getting the waiver bill through and increase its recruiting efforts.. Instead of doing the Roads Scholar, we will be doing a tour of these schools involving students and staff. Time will be spend time talking to counselors and students and holding alumni events in the communities. The tuition waiver bill is meant to assist students with the out-of-state portion of tuition.

Fourth, USU still needs $5 million for the relocation of the north agriculture area to the South Farm area. Last year USU received $5 million for funding this initiative on their visit to Cache Valley, some legislators had difficulty understanding the need for the additional funds.

Fifth, the USTAR economic development initiative is an important priority for USU, and the outlook for its being funded is good.

Attention also needs to be given to other initiatives such as improving student access, retention, student advising and mentoring.

Finally, the Board of Regents proposes funding initiatives developed by all schools in the state’s higher education system. Interim Provost Noelle Cockett asked Deans to come forward with one or two initiatives that may be submitted for this funding.

The major capital development project will be the new classroom building that will be built where the Merrill Library now stands.

Some major challenges we face this year will be mentioned during the Inauguration address. Top priority will be stabilizing student enrollment numbers and revenue. Issues also need to be addressed regarding Continuing Education. The President stated that more details on the Comprehensive Campaign will be forthcoming. He also reported that the Lilly White gift of $4.5 million will fund an endowed chair and scholarships. At the reception for students from the Dominican Republic, one couple committed to provide another million dollars towards scholarships.

The President also commented that the improvement of Romney Stadium’s south entrance is completed with funding from students and private donors. The next phase in construction will be the North End Zone Complex.

Information Items for Consent
The EPC Report and EPC Business were presented by Joyce Kinkead. The School of Graduate Studies Update was presented by Shelley Lindauer. Stephen Bialkowski moved to approve the consent agenda, Kim Openshaw seconded, passed unanimously.

Key Issues and Action Items

The progress of the Academic Rights and Responsibilities Committee was presented by Lynn Dudley. The ARRC was charged with reviewing and enhancing policy that protects the academic rights of the faculty, while at the same time, providing students with a means of resolving course content and their strongly held personal beliefs. The Committee members are Karen Beard, Brock Dethier, Lynn Dudley, Julie Gast, Dennis Hassen, Dallas Holmes, Judy Johnson, Jennifer MacAdam, Quinn Millet, Peter Ruben, Steve Simms, Gilberto Urroz, and Spencer Watts. The Advisory Members are Juan Franco, Norm Jones, Gary Kiger, and Craig Simper.

The committee has reviewed USU Student and Faculty Code sections pertaining to academic rights and responsibilities and the University of Utah Accommodation Policy. The University of Utah Policy is a good template. The students on the committee are reasonably supportive, but their main concern is disclosure, and request disclosure on syllabi.

Procedure Schedule: A first draft will be completed by October or November for presentation to department heads and students, after this, it will go to FSEC and then to the full senate by February..

Benefits Advisory Model

Renee Payne described the Benefits Advisory Board. Composition of the board is proportionate to the numbers of faculty, classified and professional employees campus-wide. Employees at Space Dynamic Labs will have one representative to the Board. She requested faculty support for the implementation of the Benefits Advisory Board.

Stephen Bialkowski, chair of Budget and Faculty Welfare Committee, has been attending the meetings. He stated that the new system seems to be working well. He commented that in the past, faculty senate would get a plan, give input, and the inputs never seem to be taken into account. The new plan gives employees the more direct input into the benefits decision-making. .

Bruce Miller moved that Faculty Senate support the Benefits Advisory Model and delegate the appointment BFW committee members to serve on the Board. The motion was seconded by Pat Lambert, and it passed unanimously.

Caucus

Derek Mason opened the floor to meet with caucus leaders. Caucus leaders will be reporting at the next FSEC meeting.

The meeting was adjourned at 4:20 pm.