MSU FACULTY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES April 23, 2003 Members Present: Marlow for Gipp, Sherwood for Giroux, Kommers, Schlotzhauer, Leech, Taylor, Seymour, Jones, Yoo, Nehrir, Conant, Weaver, Levy, Bogar, Jelinski, Pratt, Fisher, Lynes-Hayes, Prawdzienski, Knight. Members Absent: Young, Morrill, McDermott, White, Anderson, Linker, Howard, Stewart, Lefcort/Bradley, Amend, Locke, English, Bond, Idzerda, Lynch, Kempcke, Hoffman. Others Present: Bandyopadhay, Dooley, Fedock. The regularly-scheduled meeting was called to order by Chair Elect Warren Jones at 4:10 PM. A quorum was present. The minutes of the April 16, 2003, meeting were approved as distributed. Chair's report - Warren Jones. - As of Monday, there were 235 responses to the survey of MSU employees regarding tuition scholarships for their children. The data gathered will be used to help make a decision about the scholarships. - The University Planning, Budget and Analysis Committee (UPBAC) met yesterday for a macro-analysis of the FY04 budget. - The budget base and fixed costs increases, in addition to amendments for market equity and promotion and tenure adjustments, were included in the proposed budget. - Close to $2 million in quality improvements is included for the biennium. - The proposed budget will require a tuition increase of about 12.25% each of the next two years. However, since the current tuition surcharge will not carry into next year, the actual increase for FY 04 will be small. When ASMSU Senate meets April 24, they will discuss the proposed increase and the structuring of it over the biennium. Tuition increases must be approved by the Board of Regents, but the President and Provost will make a strong case for MSU's increase, based upon available data and the intent of the university to maintain quality and access. - A public forum to discuss the budget if scheduled for May 6, 1:30 PM, in SUB Ballroom B. - During discussion by the Council, the issue of faculty salary increases was raised. Although the Bozeman Daily Chronicle may have indicated otherwise, the university administration has not in the past and still does not have a philosophy of limiting faculty raises to state employee raises. However, in this biennium, because of the economics within the state and the substantial tuition increase needed to offset decreases in funding from the state, across-the-board raises have not been included in the budget. Faculty Affairs Committee report. - In the absence of the Faculty Affairs Committee Chair, Chair Jones reported that all of the Faculty Handbook amendments forwarded to President Gamble have been approved by him and will be included in the Faculty Handbook as of July 1, 2003. - There are two amendments (The Role of Faculty Serving as Department Heads and Role, Scope, Criteria, Standards, and Procedures Documents) which cannot be approved by the end of this semester because of time limitations. However, they can be established, with the approval of Faculty Council, as interim policies. University Governance Council Nominating Committee report. - Chair Jones distributed the ballot for nominations of faculty for university-wide committees and for Faculty Council positions. The election will take place at the April 30 Faculty Council meeting. - Shannon Taylor was nominated as Chair Elect. Professor Taylor outlined his extensive experience on the campus and throughout the state, working on or chairing various commissions and other groups. Through these groups and other associations, he has become acquainted with a cross-section of people on campus and around Montana. As there was no further business, the meeting adjourned at 4:50 PM. Joann Amend, Secretary Warren Jones, Chair of the April 23 meeting