March 20, 2024 Minutes

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Slide Presentation

Faculty Senate Meeting

SUB Ballroom B

March 20, 2024

3:15pm-4:30pm

I.            Call to Order 

a.      Meeting called to order at 3:15pm

II.            Approval of FS Minutes from March 6, 2024

a.      Michael Walach moves to approve. Chris Posbergh seconds. None opposed. Approved. 

III.            FYI Items 

a.      Dr. Cara Neumann lecture: Grassroots to Global: The Power of Public Health (today, 6:30-7:30 in NAH Inspiration Hall

b.      Keely Holmes will provide walk-in help sessions for the CIM system:

i.      Walk-In Help Session 1: Monday, March 25th, 10:00am-12:00pm in Montana Hall 116

ii.      Walk-In Help Session 2: Thursday, March 28th, 1:00pm-3:00pm in Montana Hall 116

c.       Call for First Generation Service Excellence Award nominations (deadline April 2, 2024). This award is                meant to honor a faculty or staff member that is working towards advocacy and support of first-                        generation college students on campus as well as modeling excellence in first-generation leadership.                Nominations close on April 2, 2024, at 11:59pm. 

i.      https://www.montana.edu/firstgen/First-GenerationServiceExcellenceAward.html 

IV.            Information Updates 

a.      Distance learning policy: Tracy Dougher

i.      https://www.montana.edu/universitycouncil/proposed-policies/drafts/2024-.0215%20MSU%20Distance%20Education%20Policy%20draft%20v1.pdf

ii.      Accreditors want this policy. We have a visit October 9-11

A.      Faculty forum on the 9th. More info to come. 

iii.      See slide presentation

iv.      Questions

A.      Does this change anything for instructors? No.

B.      Is the link to a new document, or the modified document?

a.      We have not had a policy before, so this is new. 

C.      Why does Faculty Senate not have a vote on this policy?

a.      Provost: Because it impacts the entire campus, including students. We want it to stand as a university policy. Bringing it through academic council gets it more exposer. Wider exposer. Chair of Faculty Senate sits on Academic Council.

b.      If you do have comments, please get it to Colter or Stephanie right away. 

D.     Is this about online courses, or online programs?

a.      It is about both. 

E.      Would one-offs fall under this? Yes. 

a.      You can’t change the modality of the class without permission.

F.       For a current online program, some definitions may change, and you will want to make sure you are in compliance with the policy when finalized. 

G.     Any program who offers a teaching option is technically remote. 

H.     Would like to see the definitions somewhere that the faculty could access them. 

v.      The Department of Education is driving this. Yes, it is sudden. At the same time, OCHE is trying to figure out what they it to look like. 

V.            Old Business

a.      Changes to the Graduate Catalog (Second Reading) 

i.      Eligibility for Assistantships

A.      Questions:

a.      Faculty have an issue with the wording about tuition waivers. What is the “limit”? The “limit” is referenced in other parts of the policy. Will track down the information. 

b.      Faculty want a definition of “academic notice.” 

i.      Good Standing, Academic Notice (still in good standing), Academic Warning, Suspension. 

ii.      Academic Notice: TERM GPA drops below 3.0, CUM is above 3.0

B.      Scott McCalla moves to table. Devon Orme seconds. Eight opposed. Tabled. 

ii.      Graduate Academic Standing

A.      Table is in the policy

B.      Committee determination factors

a.      Holistic review

b.      See slide presentation

C.      Questions/Discussion:

a.      There is still a mechanism to release a student who, for example, does fine in course work, but doesn’t finish their thesis? Yes.

b.      Is there a time limit? No

i.      Research, classroom, and testing could be more than five years difference from doing their dissertation. Should we be concerned?

1.      There are other policies on this that have deadlines. 

a.      10 years of course work, 5 years from your comprehensive exam. 

c.       What is permitted as a comprehensive exam under this policy?

i.      Why was the comp exam spelled out in the policy? Doesn’t seem necessary.

d.      Appeals process clarification is needed. 

i.      Proposed appeals policy hasn’t made it to FS yet. It was kicked back and will be worked on. We will see it eventually. 

e.      Concern that the departments are being limited. 

D.     Scott McCalla moves to table. Brian D’Urso seconds. None opposed. Tabled. 

VI.            Undergraduate Courses and Programs 

a.      Courses – Second Reading 

i.      ANSC 106: Careers in Animal Agriculture

ii.       CULA 106: Kitchen and Food Production Fundamentals

iii.       CULA 108: Station Cookery

iv.      CULA 112: Fundamentals of Protein Cookery

v.       ECNS 433: Economics of the Environment

b.      Course Inactivations – Second Reading

i.      SPNS 341: Warriors and Damsels in Spanish Literature

c.     New Programs – Second Reading

i.      -C : Certificate in Special Education

d.      Program Inactivations – Second Reading

i.      CARB-CBL: Certificate in Arabic

A.      We no longer offer second year Arabic courses. The enrollment in those courses was consistently low, so they were cancelled

VII.            Graduate Courses and Programs 

a.      Courses – Second Reading

i.      BIOH 585: Human Dissection for Teachers

VIII.            Senators’ Open Conversation 

a.      Rob Maher: 5 years between comp exam and valid defense. Comps are usually a couple of years into program. 

b.      Erick Johnson: Can we see the entire graduate school policy? Seeing the placement may be helpful. 

i.      Will work on getting that.

IX.            Public Comment 

a.      Provost: Cats are playing in 30 minutes. Watch party at the field house. Everyone is invited. GO CATS!!!!

X.            Adjourn 

a.      Chris Posbergh moves to adjourn. Karie Orendorff seconds. Meeting adjourned at 4:03.