Faculty Senate Executive Committee Minutes
17 October 2005
Present: Stan Albrecht, Stephen Bialkowski, Noelle Cockett, Lynn Dudley, John Kras, Pat Lambert, David Luthy, Jennifer MacAdam, Derek Mason, Bruce Miller, Rob Morrison, Shawn Olsen, Doug Ramsey,
Excused: Gary Merkley
Presenters: Stacie Gomm, Joyce Kinkead, Mike Lyons, Quinn Millet, Dale Phillips, Spencer Watts
Derek Mason called the meeting to order at 3:02 pm.
John Kras moved to accept the 6 September 2005 and 19 September 2005 minutes as written, seconded by Shawn Olsen, passed unanimously.
Stacie Gomm presented information on the Academic Calendar. The Calendar Committee requested that a motion be placed on the consent agenda because they have proposed a new schedule for the 2006 summer semester. The proposal is to eliminate the workshop week and move the extra week immediately after the spring semester. Thus, allowing faculty a week to prepare before summer semester starts. Currently there is no break between spring semester and the first summer session. They also requested that the 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 academic calendars be approved without the workshop week. John Kras motioned that the Academic Calendar be placed on the Consent Agenda, seconded by David Luthy, carried unanimously.
University Business
Stan Albrecht presented University Business.
USTAR
Brent Miller gave an update on USTAR.
In January, the Senate Bill 192 appropriated $7.35 million to start the Utah Science, Technology, and Research Initiative (USTAR). Three million dollars was designated to equipment for University of Utah, and $4 million was targeted for recruiting new senior faculty who would contribute to economic development. The funding is split 60/40 between University of Utah and Utah State University; USU will receive $1.6 million. Utah State University identified 6 senior faculty members in various departments, who then identified the top 10 micro researchers in the country and recommended to the President that the university recruit from this pool. USU has visited two faculty at their current institutions, and they are coming for an on-campus visit in November and December. Lab space for the new faculty will be established at the Innovation Campus. The other $350,000 was designated for developing a detailed USTAR plan that will be presented at upcoming legislative session. That plan is complete, and will be presented tomorrow to legislatures by President Albrecht. The presentation focuses on how Utah State University and University of Utah are prepared to work toward research that has commercial value, creates new business opportunities, leads to economic development, and stimulates high-tech industry. On October 18, 2005, the executive committee of the state’s Appropriations Committee will meet to hear a progress report on the initiative.
Higher Education Enrollments
Utah State University enrollment is down, and this has budget implications. When comparing third-week enrollments for Fall 2004 and Fall 2005, it is clear enrollments have declined across all institutions, and not just at Utah State University. Only two institutions show an increase, and this is modest; the University of Utah’s enrollment is up 1.14%, and Southern Utah University’s increased 1.83%. Utah State University is down 3.19%, Utah Valley State College 6.22%, and College of Eastern Utah 11.62%.
Roads Tour to Idaho
The Idaho effort went extremely well. We were received with open arms in
every community. We had large groups of students at every evening event. We
had some students who had driven 90 mile to be with us. In Idaho Falls, we had
bus loads of students from Rigby, Rexburg, Shelley, and Mud Lake. The message clearly was that their preference would be to attend Utah State University if out of state tuition was waived. The waiver bill has already been filed.
The President met with Craig Butters last week on this issue, and Rhonda Menlove
will work closely with Craig as well. We are very optimistic that this will
move forward. We would like this to move forward in the early stages of the
session, so we have time to recruit some of theses students. If it happens in
the end of the session, many of the students will have already made decisions
on where they are going. From the turnout of events, the President and Interim
Provost believe they can each recruit 800 new Idaho students if we could get
help from the legislature on the out of state portion of tuition.
Enrollment Territorial Manager
Joyce Kinkead gave an update on a new territorial manager who works out of Salt Lake, who has responsibility for the Wasatch Range.
Budget
The state is projecting $310 million of one-time money, which will be a big help on the revenue side. Ongoing funding will be in the range of $200 million, but requests for ongoing funding are already in the $336 to $371 million range. “Fixed” expenditures are about $38 million for enrollment growth in public education and $40-$50 million for Medicaid. There is $125 million for state employee compensation if the legislature gives 3.5% for salary and 1.5% in benefits. Other funding demands must also be considered: corrections, roads, retirement system, etc.
ASTE students
Robert Peterson has been released from the hospital on Friday October 14, showed up on Saturday, October 15 at the Ag Tech workday which was a wonderful event.
Jared Nelson’s progress has been really slow. There has been some eye movement. He is from Oregon and his father wants to get him home as soon as possible. The university is going to work very hard to provide transportation for Jared to go to a hospital in Oregon near to his home.
Jared had only been married 36 days at the time of the accident.
New Executive Vice President and Provost
Dr. Raymond T. Coward from Penn State will join us at Utah State University on January 2, 2006. He will be a great addition. Stan spent a fair amount of time talking with his President and Provost before coming to a final decision on this. He has great experience with Land-Grant Universities and great experience with research ones. He will bring a lot of excitement and skill to the position. He will be here on November 7 -8 and will be meeting with several groups and a small reception to introduce him to campus community.
Interim Provost
The President expressed his great appreciation to Noelle Cockett, Interim Provost, for doing a fantastic job. It has been a great working relationship and he cannot image anyone giving more or serving more effectively than Noelle.
Derek Mason also praised Provost Cockett.
Consent Agenda
EPC Business
Joyce Kinkead presented EPC business and update on the recent EPC Charge. David Luthy moved to accept the EPC business on the consent agenda, seconded by Pat Lambert, carried unanimously.
The action items include: approval of the BS/BA in International Business within the Department of Business Administration; approval of the Agricultural Communication and Journalism Major in the Agricultural Systems Technology and Education Department and the Journalism and Communication Department leading to a Bachelor of Science degree; a proposal to offer a General Studies Major (BA or BS) degree; a proposal to restructure the PhD Program in Disability Disciplines in the Department of Special Education and Rehabilitation; a proposal to move the Training and Development Emphasis from the Business Information Technology and Education Major and the marketing Education Major to the Business Information Systems Major; a proposal to change the GPA admission standards for pre-nursing students at Utah State University.
Faculty Evaluations Report
Mike Lyons presented Faculty Evaluations Report and Survey. There was a discussion on how to disseminate the survey. The committee agreed to look into the use of Survey Monkey as an on-line mechanism for conducting the survey. The survey will be distributed next semester. Brent Miller moved to accept the Faculty Evaluations Report on the consent agenda, seconded by Stephen Bialkowski, carried unanimously.
Information Items
Student Code
Spencer Watts and Dale Phillips presented information on some desired
amendments to the Student Code. They would like to co-ordinate the Student
Code and Faculty Code in regards to appeals; their desire is that both are
worded and written in the same format and have the same meaning. John Kras
moved to charge the EPC’s Academic Subcommittee to cooperate with Spencer on
resolving the policy inconsistency, seconded by Brent Miller, passed unanimously.
One Semester Lag on Textbooks
Quinn Millet presented One Semester Lag on Textbooks. Quinn informed FSEC on legislation the Student Senate will soon be writing on textbooks to lessen the burden on students and would like input. The legislation would require faculty to wait one semester from the time a textbook is initially printed before requiring a student to purchase the textbook, thus allowing student to purchase textbooks online at 66%-70% off. Rob Morrison motioned to move place One Semester Lag on Textbooks as an action item, seconded by Shawn Olsen, passed unanimously.
Key Issues and Action Items
Petition
Barry Franklin petitioned Faculty Senate Executive to place Domestic Partner Benefits Discussion on the 5 December 2005 Faculty Senate Agenda as an action item.
Derek Mason ceded the chair to Lynn Dudley in order to present Barry’s petition, which had been sent to him. A motion to discuss the DPB plan was placed on the Senate’s agenda as an action item.
Charge to AFT Committee
Derek Mason presented the Charge to AFT. Kim Openshaw, AFT chair, is concerned about the under representation of ethnic minority faculty when there is a grievance herd that there be a better balance on the committee. Derek would like to charge the AFT Committee to work with the Provost Office and PRPC to resolve. Pat Lambert moved to accept the charge to AFT Committee, seconded by John Kras, carried unanimously.
Faculty Forum
Derek Mason presented the agenda ideas for the Faculty Forum for Monday, November 7, 2005. Agenda items include the following: introduction of the new Executive Vice President and Provost, Dr. Raymond T. Coward; presentation from Academic Rights and Responsibilities Committee; presentation from the Budget and Faculty Welfare Committee and to ask for faculty input to report back to the Employee Benefits Advisory Board; have a Q & A with the President Stan Albrecht, Interim Provost Noelle Cockett, and Provost Ray Coward; possibility of satellite broadcast to all extension sites. John Kras motioned for Derek to proceed in this fashion, seconded by David Luthy, passed unanimously.
New Business
Committee on Committees
Derek Mason and Doug Ramsey presented the idea redirecting the Handbook Committee to also oversee the content of the Faculty Senate Website and Faculty Newsletter and rename it as a Communication Committee. The other idea was to change the Budget and Faculty Welfare Committee to Faculty Welfare Committee and also work on development issues and fundraising. Ideas are still under consideration.
Meeting adjourned at 4:35 pm