March 22, 2023 Minutes

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Power Point Presentation

Faculty Senate Meeting (Leon Johnson 346)

03.22.2023

3:15 pm – 4:30 pm

I.            Call to Order

a.       Meeting was called to order at 3:15pm

II.            Approval of FS Minutes from March 8, 2023

a.       Tomas Gedeon moves to approve. Tim McDermott seconds. None opposed. Approved. 

III.            FYI items

a.       The Bobcat Culture of Mentoring Symposium with Keynote by Denise Juneau. March 28th from 1 pm to 4 pm. 

b.       MSU’s Annual Sustainability Summit – April 10-11  https://www.montana.edu/sustainability/summit/ 

c.       Outreach Seed Grant Proposals – Deadline April 14, 2023. 

The program goal is to promote engagement activities that involve faculty, students, and staff in partnership with local and regional constituents to address the needs of citizens in Montana and beyond.  https://www.montana.edu/outreachengagementcouncil/ 

d.       VPRED Celebrating Research May 2, 2023- Nominate Everyday Heroes Due Mar 31 https://www.montana.edu/research/celebrating_research_2023.html 

e.       Save the Date: 100th Day of Student Recognition May 5, 2023

f.        Updates and revisions to the   Relationships with Students Policy 2023 Edits.docx Please reach out to Jennifer Glad at University Legal with any feedback (jenniferglad@montana.edu)

IV.            Information Items

a.       Sustainability Update- Kristen Blackler – Director, Office of Sustainability

i.      See slide presentation for information

ii.      Sustainability Summit-April 10-11, 2023

A.      Can see agenda on their website

iii.      kristin.blackler@montana.edu

iv.      Questions

A.      Zero waste. What kind of waste?

1.       Glass, paper, plastic, etc. Includes composting.

B.      Geothermal wells in front of Romney. Energy exchange. 

b.       Mentoring Symposium – Dr. Stephanie Santorico

i.      See slide presentation for information

ii.      stephanie.santorico@montana.edu 

iii.      Questions

A.      Besides advising, what type of mentoring are you thinking of?

1.       Peer

2.       Group

3.       Best Practices for mentor/mentee

4.       Remote mentoring

V.            New Business

a.       Hate Speech Resolution

The faculty of Montana State University (MSU) recognize recent threats towards the Queer Straight Alliance (QSA) and Young Americans for Liberty (YAL) student organizations at MSU. The themes and rhetoric used in these threats endanger the safety and well-being of our MSU community by inciting hatred, and potential violence, against members of our community.

The faculty of MSU reaffirm our commitment to “a learning and working environment that emphasizes the dignity and worth of every member of its community that is free from discrimination, harassment, and retaliation based upon race, color, religion, national origin, creed, service in the uniformed services (as defined in state and federal law), veteran status, sex, gender, age, political ideas, marital or family status, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, genetic information, gender identity, gender expression, or sexual orientation.”

(https://www.montana.edu/equity/policies/index.htm). 

The existence of such speech should not be ignored, as ignoring the presence of this type of speech on campus 1) could be seen as a tacit endorsement of hateful rhetoric, 2) isolates those experiencing these threats, 3) slows down the passing of critical information between targeted groups, and 4) is detrimental to the mental health of targeted members of our community.

The Faculty Senate of Montana State University, speaking on behalf of faculty at MSU, denounces threatening and hateful speech in all its forms. We resolve to confront this speech on campus by 1) supporting efforts to increase communication between administration, faculty, and other groups on campus about acts of hate speech at MSU, 2) continuing to support members of targeted groups by connecting them to campus and community resources, and 3) working to ensure the safety of all members of the MSU community in the face of violence and threats of violence 4) reaffirming our commitment to equity and justice. We uphold the ideals set forth in MSU’s Strategic Plan (Transformational Learning, Goal 1.1: Broaden access for underrepresented populations and increase academic success for all students through excellence in undergraduate education) and Diversity and Inclusion Framework (Campus Climate and Intergroup Relations). We stand in solidarity with all groups targeted by hate speech and aim to cultivate an inclusive learning community for all people.

b.       Doug Downs moves to adopt. Chris Posbergh seconds. Adopted.

c.       Questions

i.      What is the reason for the changes made most recently?

A.      Some of the information was not correct.

ii.      Maybe it should it be a violation of policy.

iii.      Hate speech is protected under the first amendment.

A.      Some of that speech is not okay for certain situations. I think it’s acceptable to tell a student that language is not okay.

1.       You can set what is acceptable in your own classroom. 

B.      Are there other universities that have policies we can look at?

1.       Time and context matters. Defining what is hate speech is one of the key problems. 

C.      Is hate speech different from threats? Yes. They are not the same. 

D.      Why can’t BOR regulate what is hate speech is on campus. 

1.       If we can limit the second amendment, why can’t we limit the first?

E.       We need to separate threats from hate speech.  

F.       Can we have Kellie Peterson come speak to Senate? Yes.

G.      The response to hateful speech should not be silence. Silencing the hateful speech hides it away. I’d rather know it’s happening so I can call it out. 

H.      Can we add “implied” threats?

1.       Send all suggestions to Jennifer and Colter. 

VI.            Undergraduate Courses – New Courses – Second Reading

a.       AHMT 154 : Research and Regulatory Aspects of Medical Labs

b.       ECIV 457 : MDT Highway Design

c.       HDFS 451 : Trauma and Recovery: A Lifespan Perspective

d.       HONR 203 : Finding Balance: A Climber's Journey

 VII.            Undergraduate Courses-New Courses – First Read

a.       AHMT 202 : Medical Lab Clinical Procedures I

b.       AHMT 204 : Medical Lab Clinical Procedures II

c.       AHMT 298 : Medical Lab Externship

d.       SPNS 301 : Oral and Written Expression in cultural Contexts

e.       SPNS 303 : Spanish Oral & Written Expression II

VIII.            Undergraduate Programs/Certificates – First Read 

a.       ITCS-AAS : Information Technology Cybersecurity

b.       ITNT-AAS : Information Technology Network Technology

IX.            Graduate Courses- New Courses– Second Reading

a.       HDFP 565 : Military Personal Finance

b.       PHSX 584 : Physics by Inquiry: Light & Color for Teachers

X.            Graduate Courses- Course Changes – Second Reading

a.       FILM 598 : Professional Internship

i.      Change of credits from, 1-12 to 1-6

b.       KIN 506 : Exercise and Chronic Disease

i.      Rubric changed from HEE

c.       NUTR 527 : Critical Thinking, Research & Evidence Informed Nutrition Practice 

i.      Title change from Critical Thinking, Research & Evidence Informed Practice- Current Issues in Obesity

d.       PHSX 574 : World of Motion & Force for Elem/MS Teachers

i.      Title change from World of Motion for Teachers, Credit change from 1 to 2

e.       PHSX 586 : Physics by Inquiry: Heat & Temperature for Teachers

i.      Title change from Physics by Inquiry: Heat & Temperature

ii.      Credit change from 3 to 2

f.        PHSX 587 : Physics by Inquiry: Geometric Optics for Teachers

i.      Title change from Physic by Inquiry: Optics, Credit change from 3 to 2

XI.            Updates

a.       Sustainability Initiative – Progress Report

i.            If you haven’t done this yet, please do. 

XII.            Senators’ Open Conversation

a.       Asked facilities services to come clean floors over Spring Break. They did at great job!

b.       Received a document from my college that if you ask someone to come speak on campus, they have to fill out a pages long legal form. It’s imposing. 

i.      Approved by the Dean two weeks prior to appearance. 

ii.      Seems like a huge overreach. 

iii.      Has anyone else seen this? No.

c.       Teach-in on Friday for LGTBQ+ and BIPOC. Can faculty take part as MSU faculty? 

i.      It is a student organization event and faculty can participate. Has been taken over by ASMSU. 

XIII.            Public Comment

a.       “Montana and beyond…” What is beyond?

i.      Jennifer will ask the group and will get back to Senate. 

XIV.            Adjourn

a.       Tomas Gedeon moves to approve. Kevin McPhee seconds. Meeting adjourned at 4:17pm.