Minutes
John Kras moved to accept the January 24, 2005 minutes. The motion, seconded by Rob Morrison, passed.

Announcements
Kevin Reeve, Supervisor of FACT Center, is looking for ideas for the new FACT seminar room for faculty in the new library. Send suggestions to Derek Mason at dmason@hass.usu.edu.

Faculty Senate elections are underway. The results will be announced at the next Faculty Senate meeting.

Information Items for Consent Agenda
EPC Business
Joyce Kinkead presented the EPC business, which included the following action items: 1) Request to establish a School of the Arts as a new administrative structure within the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences. The proposal passed unanimously by the EPC. 2) Simultaneous Awarding of Multiple Bachelor’s Degrees. The policy states “Students who simultaneously complete the requirements for two bachelor’s degree programs shall be awarded two diplomas.” The effect of these actions would be to leave the second bachelor’s degree and composite degree unchanged with respect to awarding of diplomas and provide for separate diplomas for each degree earned simultaneously in a dual major program without regard to whether those degrees were the same or different. Joyce commented that the Provost’s office is still addressing FERPA issues and that some syllabi are not referencing the grievance policy. Bruce Miller suggested posted the information on a one-page PDF file that faculty can print off and include with their syllabus. Bruce Miller moved to place the EPC business on the consent agenda. The motion, seconded by Shawn Olsen, passed.

BFW Committee
John Kras presented the BFW Committee report. Derek Mason moved to place only the BFW Committee report on the consent agenda without the appendices. The motion, seconded by Dale Blahna, passed. Derek Mason moved to table the Domestic Partners Benefits proposals (appendices to the BFW report) and recommended they be held back for further study. The motion, seconded by David Luthy, passed. Shawn Olsen moved to forward the Domestic Partners Benefits proposals to the Professional Employees Association and Classified Employees Association to get feedback. The motion, seconded by Dale Blahna, passed. Janis Boettinger suggested that a Spring Forum AdHoc committee be formed to set the agenda for the meeting. The committee consists of Janis Boettinger, Derek Mason, Stephen Bialkowski, and Kevin Doyle. There was some discussion about how to handle rebuttals and counter-rebuttals.

AFT Committee
Dale Blahna moved to place the AFT Committee report on the consent agenda. The motion, seconded by Derek Mason, passed.

University Business
President Stan Albrecht gave a legislative update. There will be a 2.5% cost of living increase plus 2% benefits, for a total of 4.5% on the compensation side. They will propose to the student leaders a 1.5% Tier II contribution to the salary compensation for a total of 4% benefits package plus 2% benefits. Interim Provost, Noelle Cockett, mentioned that she will be working with the Deans in implementing the Faculty Senate resolution on merit distribution based on the past three years of performance. Other legislative areas of importance to Utah State include $2.65 million for faculty and staff retention for the system. The system was allocated $900,000 one time dollars for O&M costs. We were allocated $5 million one time $5 million ongoing for Fuel & Power. The Engineering Initiative was funded $500,000 one-time money and $1.5 million ongoing. The Agriculture activities move was allocated $5 million. This will allow expansion activities of the Innovation Campus. The Economic Development Initiative received start up money of $4 million which will be split between Utah State and the University of Utah plus some planning money. The Vet Diagnostic Laboratory received full funding. They are waiting on the non-resident tuition issue; they have worked with Craig Buttars on House Bill 381 which would remove the sunset clause from House Bill 75. Overall President Albrecht feels very optimistic about the legislative session.

Key Issues & Action Items
Special Development Leave for Lecturers
Jeff Johnson updated the committee on the Special Development Leave for Lecturers proposal. It is his recommendation to drop the request because it is in section 300, which is not under the faculty section of the code.

Policy 405.2 & 405.3 - Patents
Bruce Miller moved to place the proposed changes to Policy 405.2 & 405.3 as an action item. The motion, seconded by Brent Miller, passed.

Promotion Advisory Committee 3 yrs After Tenure
Ronda Callister presented the minor revisions to the Promotion Advisory Committee 3 years After Tenure proposal for policy changes (see attached). The changes are represented in gray. The Deans are requesting that they meet with the candidates by September 15 of the year before consideration for promotion, but discussion indicated this may be too early. Derek Mason moved that the policy with the minor revisions be placed as an action item. The motion, seconded by David Luthy, passed.

Ombudsperson on P&T Advisory Committee
Christine Hult presented the proposed minor revisions based on feedback to the Ombudsperson on P&T Advisory Committee. Noelle Cockett verified that the Provost office would coordinate the ombudsperson training. Dale Blahna moved that the policy with the minor revisions be placed as an action item. The motion, seconded by David Luthy, passed unanimously.

Discussion Items
DEED Subcommittee
Rob Morrison presented a draft copy of the new charge for the DEED Subcommittee. Please submit feedback and input to Rob Morrison. David Luthy moved that Rob Morrison update the FSEC at the next meeting on the new charge for the DEED Subcommittee. The motion, seconded by Dale Blahna, passed.

Spring Faculty Forum – AdHoc Committee
If you or someone you know is interested in serving on the AdHoc Spring Faculty Forum Committee, please forward names to Christina Palmer at Christina.palmer@usu.edu.

Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 4:50 p.m.