August 28, 2024 Minutes

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Faculty Senate Meeting

Harrison 123

August 28, 2024

3:15pm-4:30pm

I.            Call to Order

a.      Meeting was called to order at 3:17

II.            Approval of FS Minutes from May 1, 2024

a.      Michael Walach moves to approve. James Meyer seconds. None opposed. No abstentions. Approved.

III.            FYI Items

a.      President’s Crossing Boundaries Speakers Series

i.      Isabel Allende on Monday, September 30, 2024, 7:30pm SUB Ballrooms

ii.      Margot Lee Shetterly on Wednesday, October 30, 6:00pm SUB Ballrooms

b.      SmartBuy Update: Adding suppliers has been an issue

i.      Discussed with Brian O’Connor (Chief Procurement Officer), you can fill out new supplier request but they are putting this responsibility on UBS

ii.      Can send all pertinent information on suppliers to accountspayable.SmartBuyMSU@montana.edu

1.      Company name, website, contact info on your company representative if available

c.       MSU is providing us to access with Copilot, Microsoft’s generative AI.

i.      Login with MSU email (a12b345@msu.montana.edu) at https://copilot.microsoft.com/

d.      Need a Faculty Senate representative on the Assessment and Outcomes Committee

i.      Every other Wed (same as FS days) at 2pm

ii.      Does not have to be on Faculty Senate

iii.      https://www.montana.edu/provost/committees/aoc/members.html

iv.      Also have other faculty vacancies if you know someone who is looking for University level service opportunities!

e.      Need a Faculty Senate representative on the Grievance Committee

i.      Does not need to be on Faculty Senate

f.        CIM Trainings and info sessions (email Keely keely.holmes@montana.edu with any questions)

i.      CIM Users Training

1.      Option 1: Monday, September 9th, 2024, 2:00pm-4:00pm-SUB 233

2.      Option 2: Thursday, September 12th, 10:00am-12:00pm-SUB Ballroom B

ii.      CIM Approvers Training (Curriculum Committee Chairs, Department Heads, Deans, or those serving as a proxy.)

1.      Option 1: September 9, 10am-11am-SUB 233

2.      Option 2: September 12, 2-3pm-SUB Ballroom B

iii.      Help with specific edits/issues on CIM you are working on. Bring your laptop!

1.      Option 1: September 9, 11am-12pm-SUB 233

2.      Option 2: September 12, 3-4pm-SUB Ballroom

g.      RTP training is on September 11 or 18 for anyone involved in reviewing dossiers.

h.      Canvas transition information: https://ato.montana.edu/canvas/

i.        The Wellness Center is open and faculty passes are available

i.      https://www.montana.edu/wellness/campus-recreation/membership.html

ii.      In person purchases on weekdays only, bring your CatCard

IV.            Information Updates

a.      Welcome new members and faculty senate introductions

i.      https://www.montana.edu/facultysenate/

b.      Committee updates

i.      Joint Academic Governance meetings

ii.      Research Council

iii.      Graduate Council

iv.      Academic and University Council

c.       Provost Mokwa Comments

i.      Thank you for joining the President’s lunch.

ii.      Grateful for all of you for serving on this committee.

iii.      Shared governance: Stephanie showed you the nuts and bolts of what Faculty Senate is/does.

iv.      Thank you to Colter and Stephanie for serving last year.

v.      Reach out any time. Always willing to answer questions or find answers.

vi.      Learn a lot from these meetings.

vii.      Questions: none

V.            Undergraduate Courses and Programs

a.      Course Inactivations – First Reading

i.      M 088 : Mathematical Literacy

1.      We inactivated M088 because we are allowing all level 100 students into the M005/105Q co-req. The course supervisor for these courses felt like there was enough overlap in the two courses and that the level 100 students could still be successful in the M005/105Q while allowing them to receive college credit. After one semester of a pilot we were able to show success in this area and thus got rid any fully developmental math course on the non-STEM side.

b.      Program Inactivations – First Reading

i.      CEBR-BS : Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering - Bio-Resources Option

1.      This program was ended but never inactivated in CIM.

VI.            Graduate Courses and Programs 

a.      Courses—First Reading 

i.      EIND 525 : Multi-Criteria Decision Making and Optimization

1.      Title changed from Multi-Attribute Analysis

2.      Updating the course title to be more contemporary and recognizable.

VII.            Senators’ Open Conversation

a.      Read today that we are no longer allowed to include DEI language into our syllabi or job descriptions. Worry that we will end up like Florida and Texas. Chris Posbergh agrees.

i.      Others hear that you CAN include it, but it is discouraged.

ii.      No one knows who has initiated this request or mandate.

iii.      Disturbing to hear.

iv.      Can we pull Ariel Donohue into this conversation?

1.      Supposed to speak at next meeting.

v.      Which departments have heard this?

1.      Microbiology

2.      College of Ag

3.      Chem/Biochem

b.      Gym and parking prioritize students over faculty. People have lost their parking pass and do not get a break on gym memberships.

i.      Have gotten rid of the retiree memberships.

ii.      Struggle to find parking. Propose, as faculty, we have reserved spots.

iii.      Took half of the parking garage for paid public parking and pushed faculty up to the top two floors, one of which is open to the elements.  

c.       How do we get a say in events like the political rally that was held here?

i.      Anyone can rent the field house for about $3,000. It is separate from the university.

1.      Extra security-paid for by? We are not sure.

a.      Can look into that.

b.      Secret Service works with the County Sheriff to organize security.

IX.            Public Comment

a.      Provost Mokwa: DEI statement:

i.      HR has a template for job descriptions that talks about equality. The template is changing from “diversity” to “EEOC” statement.

ii.      We are not allowed to ask for diversity statements from candidates.

iii.      Do not know where the syllabi information is coming from. Look forward to Ariel coming to the next meeting.

X.            Adjourn

a.      Marg Hammersla moves to adjourn. Karie Orendorff seconds. Meeting adjourned at 4:18