MSU-BOZEMAN FACULTY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES February 6, 2002 PRESENT: Sherwood, McDermott for Engel, Kommers, Peed, Linker, Leech, Benham, Stewart, Lewandowski for Jones, Ross, Weaver, Locke, Lansverk, Henson, Jelinski, Idzerda, McKinsey for Pratt, Lynch, Fisher, Lynes-Hayes, Wojtowicz for Kempcke, Griffith. ABSENT: Young, Hatfield, Morrill, White, Anderson, Howard, Chem Engr, Nehrir, Mooney, Lefcort, McClure, Levy, Bogar, Butterfield, Carlstrom. The meeting was called to order by Chair John Sherwood at 4:10 PM. A quorum was present. The minutes of the January 30, 2002, meeting were approved as distributed. Chair's report - John Sherwood. - University Governance Council and President's Executive Council met Thursday. Topics discussed include: - University budget and planning. The President is optimistic about the planning and budget process. There will need to be a method to assess progress of the Strategic Planning Committee and the University Planning, Budget and Analysis Committee. - Benefits (health, retirement, other). The possibility of providing tuition scholarships or waivers for employees' dependents will continue to be discussed. A goal is to increase the number of sabbaticals and to provide additional professional development opportunities for staff and for women. Although it appears the turnover rate of faculty and other employees at MSU is lower than the national average, this is no reason for not trying to improve benefits. - A plan for athletics budgeting will be presented to UPBAC February 19. - During follow-up discussion by Faculty Council, it was suggested that Faculty Affairs may be an appropriate place to begin discussion of ways to improve retirement benefits. Making a university-wide policy to give raises on promotion would help salary compression. The proposal would be presented to and discussed by UPBAC. - Joyce Scott, Deputy Commissioner of Higher Education, is convening a committee to discuss course and credit transfer issues across the university system. The intent is to bring consistency and coherency to transferability of courses and credits. Nominations for the committee should be submitted to Chair Sherwood by tomorrow (February 7). - Faculty involved in curricula or departments that have contact with student athletes on a regular basis are asked to meet for a short time (less than an hour) with the academic sub-committee for the NCAA certification self study to discuss faculty/student athlete interaction. Please contact John Sherwood. - An e-mail sent by Mark Sheehan, Executive Director and CIO, ITC requests input regarding the proposed university-system IT policy. It was suggested a letter from Faculty Council or UGC Steering Committee express concern for the policy. This would be in addition to letters that will be sent by individuals. - A committee is being established to consider faculty development opportunities on campus. Co-chairs are John Sherwood and Dean of Education/Health/Human Development Greg Weisenstein. If faculty are interested in serving on the committee or know of someone who is, contact Chair Sherwood. - Sabbaticals will be announced February 11. Ten were funded this year. Faculty Affairs Committee issues. - As announced last week, Ron Larsen, Chair of the Faculty Affairs Committee, has been appointed Head of the Chemical Engineering Department and is no longer eligible to serve as Faculty Affairs Committee Chair. - Nominations for a Chair of Faculty Affairs to complete this year's term were solicited. Marvin Lansverk was nominated. As there were no further nominations, a motion was made, seconded, and carried that Marvin Lansverk be elected as Chair of the Faculty Affairs Committee for the remainder of this year. - The committee is continuing to work on a survey which will gather information about the need for an ombudsman and the kind of issues the individual might be asked to handle. As there was no further business, the meeting adjourned at 4:55. Joann Amend, Secretary John Sherwood, Chair