Faculty Senate Executive Committee Minutes

19 September 2005

Present: Stephen Bialkowski, Rob Gillies (for Doug Ramsey), John Kras, Pat Lambert, Derek Mason, Gary Merkley, Bruce Miller, Rob Morrison, Shawn Olsen, David Paper (for David Luthy)

Excused: Stan Albrecht, Noelle Cockett, Lynn Dudley, Brent Miller, Doug Ramsey

Presenters: Joyce Kinkead, Lindsey Lovell, Gary Straquadine

Guests: Jennifer MacAdam

Derek Mason called the meeting to order at 3:05 pm.

John Kras moved to accept the 15 August 2005 minutes as written. The motion seconded by Bruce Miller, passed unanimously.

Lindsey Lovell presented information about the Wellness Center at Utah State University. This is a health service for faculty and staff located in the HPER. For employees, it costs $130 per year, and Human Resources will pay $65 dollars of this. Rob Morrison moved to put this on the Faculty Senate agenda as an announcement, John Kras seconded, passed unanimously.

University Business

Joyce Kinkead presented University Business.

Provost Candidates

Ray Coward, the second of three provost candidates, is on campus today. Please encourage all faculty to attend the open forum.

Enrollment

Today is “day fifteen” and the official enrollment count will be taken tonight. The university will know on Friday what the official enrollment is for the fall term.

Regents

The Board of Regents was on campus last Thursday and Friday. The Religious Studies/Interdisciplinary Program was approved. Approval of the proposed PhD in Business is was not forthcoming at this time.

Legislative Request

University was asked to develop mission-based initiatives to be submitted to the Board of Regents as part of its legislative request. One or two initiatives from each college were forwarded to the Provost’s office totaling $1.7 million.

The second initiative the University was asked to address was access, retention, diversity, and financial aid. Utah State University chose to focus on advising because we continue to have such a high student to advisor ratio. Our request was for 10 or 11 advisors to be added to the University. This is about $.5 million.

All Majors Meeting

On September 23, there will be an all majors meeting in Salt Lake City. Every Department is sending a representative, often a faculty decision maker and an advisor. They are finishing up common course numbering which has to be in place by Fall 2006. They will also discuss quality factors on concurrent enrollment and how the current system ensures that quality instructors and curriculum are offered.

Recruitment and Retention of Multicultural Students

This morning Vice-Provost Kinkead saw a rehearsal of the recruitment and retention of multicultural students done by the Admissions and Multicultural Student Services. It will be presented to the Deans on October 10. It is an important topic given the growth in Hispanic student population.

Information Items for Consent Agenda

EPC Business

Joyce Kinkead presented two action items for EPC Business. One is a new major in International Business in Business Administration and a proposal to offer an Agriculture Communications and Journalism Major in the Agriculture Systems Technology and Education Department leading to a BS. Bruce Miller moved to place EPC Business on the agenda, John Kras seconded, Stephen Bialkowski abstained because the BFW committee has not had the chance to look at the second action item totally, motioned carried, 11 in favor, and 1 abstention.

EPC Calendar: The deadline for Fall 2006 items is January 12, 2006. All items for the Curriculum Subcommittee must be submitted by that date or they will not be included in the Fall 2006 Course Bulletin.

Placing New Degrees on Regents Calendar: The Regents have two matrices, one is “I am going to put this degree forward in the next year” and the other is “I will put this degree forward within a three year time frame.” The regent’s process is very complex, with a CAO comment period, followed by a program review period. Programs can go back and forth. Then a 401 is required, and then the proposal is sent back to the CAOs for comment, and then back to Regents through the Council of Presidents and Commissioners’ Office. It then gets placed on the agenda. This means that something decided at Utah State University a year ago could be on the Regents agenda in December.

Faculty Evaluation Committee

Mike Lyons compiled the Faculty Evaluations Report and Survey. Bruce Miller motioned to withdraw from the consent agenda, seconded by Shawn Olsen, passed unanimously. Derek Mason encourages all to look at the survey and he will work with Mike and his committee before it comes before FSEC again.

Library Advisory Council

Lisa Berreau compiled the Library Advisory Council Report. Rob Morrison moved to place it on the consent agenda, seconded by John Kras, passed unanimously.

ASUSU
Spencer Watts compiled the ASUSU Report. Bruce Miller moved to place it on the consent agenda so long as Spencer Watts or ASUSU is at Faculty Senate to answer questions, seconded by Pat Lambert, passed unanimously.

Graduate Council
Larry Smith compiled the Graduate Council Report. John Kras moved to place it on the consent agenda, seconded by Gary Merkley, passed unanimously.

Honorary Degrees and Commencement Speaker

Dr. Gary Straquadine presented Honorary Degrees and Commencement Speaker. Dr. Straquadine distributed a letter explaining the Honorary Degree and Commencement Speaker processes. Kim Openshaw chairs this committee. Dr. Straquadine is the Provost’s Office representative. The committee will select Honorary Degree recipients for the Spring 2006 Commencement and a Commencement Speaker for the Spring 2007 Commencement. Names stay on the lists for three years. Stephen Bialkowski moved to place it as an information item, seconded by John Kras, passed unanimously.

Key Issues and Action Items

Derek Mason turns the chair to Rob Morrison, because Faculty Senate’s President-Elect is not in attendance.

Resolution Supporting Inauguration

Derek Mason presented two resolutions. One recognizes the president and congratulates him on his inauguration. The second one offers Faculty Senate’s support of the inauguration as a celebration of the University. Stephen Bialkowski moved to place the resolution on the key issues and action items agenda and combine the two resolutions and word-smithing, seconded by Shawn Olsen, passed unanimously.

Faculty Senate Curriculum Task Force

Derek Mason proposed that FSEC charge the Faculty Senate’s EPC with reviewing all curriculum policy and policy practices at USU. John Kras moved to charge EPC and all of its subcommittees to evaluate and review these processes with a specific charge and timeline, seconded by Shawn Olsen, motioned carried. Derek Mason will formulate the charge and timeline with the help of Faculty Senate Executive Committee.

Faculty Senate input on Provost Search

Derek Mason withdrew Faculty Senate input on Provost Search from the agenda.

Rob Morrison turned the chair to Derek Mason.

New Business

Derek Mason requests caucus leaders to submit an email summary of the themes/topics raised in the caucus. He will distribute them at the October 17 meeting.

John Kras noted that he has 4 out of 9 senators. Others also noted low representation of senators. Derek will send out a letter reminding all senators of the importance of attending Faculty Senate.

Meeting adjourned at 4:34 pm.