MSU FACULTY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES February 5, 2003 MEMBERS PRESENT: Sherwood for Giroux, McDermott, Schlotzhauer, Linker, Leech Taylor, Howard, Jones, Yoo, Nehrir, Conant, Amend, Locke, Bandopadhyay for Levy, Bogar, Bond, Jelinski, Pratt, Lynes-Hayes, Prawdzienski, Kempcke. MEMBERS ABSENT: Young, Gipp, Morrill, White, Anderson, Kommers, Stewart, Chem Engr, Lefcort, Weaver, Engl, Idzerda, Lynch, Fisher, Knight, Hoffman. OTHERS PRESENT: Fedock. The meeting was called to order by Chair Rich Howard at 4:10 PM. A quorum was present. The minutes of the January 29, 2003, meeting were approved as distributed. Chair's report - Rich Howard. - There was an AP article in today's Bozeman Daily Chronicle regarding statements made by Regent Mercer that the Board of Regents is not managing higher education appropriately. - There was also an article in today's Chronicle regarding a letter sent to Governor Martz by Montana Associated Students (MAS) President Dan Geelan. Geelan wrote that MAS should have been consulted before naming Christian Hur to a third year on the Board of Regents. He asked that Martz reconsider the decision and solicit involvement from the student leaders. According to Geelan, students are to nominate three candidates for the student regent's seat, and this did not occur. - It was suggested ASMSU President Trevor Blyth be invited to Faculty Council to discuss issues of concern to students. - University Governance Council has invited Professor Doug Young to present information about Montana taxation issues at the February 12 meeting. President Gamble suggested that the event be opened to the entire university community, as well as the Bozeman community. The President has asked Rolf Groseth to make arrangements for the event. Faculty Affairs Committee report - None. Review of administrators - Discussion. - In the past, Faculty Council has conducted an administrative review, usually every two years. How should the Council proceed this year? - It was suggested some measurable effect be demonstrated before proceeding with the review. - Many academic colleges now conduct reviews of department heads, and the President and Provost are conducting "360" reviews. The "360s" will continue on about a five-year cycle. - There appeared to be agreement by Council members that co-ordination of administrative review should be discussed with the deans before proceeding. - Questions that provide worthwhile information need to be agreed upon, and the upper administration needs to buy into the usefulness of the review. - The administrators faculty will review through the Faculty Council instrument must be determined. This list may differ from previous Council reviews. - It was suggested that the review might be done by position, not individual. Follow-up on last week's discussion with Dean of Graduate Studies McLeod. - Dean McLeod will meet with Graduate Council to discuss a more formal relationship with Faculty Council, as discussed at the January 29 Faculty Council meeting. - He will then bring a proposal to Faculty Council. New biosafety regulations - Cliff Bond. - A brief history of biosafety regulation at MSU was presented. - In December, 2002, legislation made substantial changes to the responsibilities of individual investigators and of the entity for which they work Substantial penalties for the violation of these regulations have been instituted. - The latest DHHS Interim Final Rule and the USDA Interim Final Rule cover not only the use of certain infectious agents of plants and animals and of biological toxins, but also the possession of these agents. - The result is that there will need to be very tight security in labs possessing or using the agents on campus. Anyone with access to a room where the agents are present will need security clearance. It appears that this includes researchers, department heads, custodians, Facilities Services staff, campus and Bozeman police and the Bozeman Fire Department, and any other individuals entering the space. - It is not yet known exactly how security clearance will be managed, but under current rules, the clearance is to be applied for by the principal investigator and the entity (MSU) by March 12. - The security clearance process will be large issue for the university to address. As there was no further business, the meeting adjourned at 5:00 PM. Joann Amend, Secretary Richard Howard, Chair