ACADEMIC SENATE MINUTES

 

 

DATE:            October 21, 2004

 

PRESENT:     Alan Davis                                                   Lorrie Steerey

                        Sandie Rietz                                                 Paul Bauer

                        Audrey ConnerRosberg                               Keith Edgerton

                        Randall Gloege                                            Noreen Lee

                        Connie Landis                                              Matt Redinger

                        Carl Hanson (ex-officio)                               Tasneem Khaleel (ex-officio)

                        Emily Valenzuela (ex-officio)                        Kevin Majewski (ex-officio)

 

ABSENT:       Mark Hardt – excused                                Bruce Brumley – excused

                        Mary Susan Fishbaugh – excused

                        Joe Michels (ex-officio)                                George White (ex-officio)

                        John Cech (ex-officio)                                  Randy Rhine (ex-officio)

                        Janie Park (ex-officio)                                  Terrie Iverson (ex-officio)

                        Curt Kochner (ex-officio)

 

PRESIDING: Keith Edgerton, Chair

 

 

Keith Edgerton called the meeting to order at 3:35 p.m. in the Missouri room of the SUB.

 

The minutes of October 7 were accepted as presented.

It was noted that department chairs should be notified of the change in the audit policy.

 

I.          DISCUSSION/ACTION ITEMS

 

Dr. Edgerton noted that he and Mary Susan Fishbaugh met with the Chancellor this week to discuss the hiring situation that Dr. Park explained at the last Senate meeting.  They did convince Chancellor Sexton to allow the faculty searches to remain active and all positions are to be advertised as contingent on funding.  This way, we will be poised to hire if enrollments come up.  Dr. Edgerton noted that Dr. Park is out right now, but he will speak to her about which searches will be opened, or if all of them will be.

 

A.  Resolution:  Curricular Changes

 

Dr. Edgerton noted that this resolution helps to reaffirm the faculty position and keep faculty in the loop.

 

Ž Motion by Lorrie Steerey, seconded by Matt Redinger to approve the resolution as it reads below.

 

Be It Resolved:

 

That the responsibility for new course and programmatic creation or alteration at Montana State University-Billings rests solely with the faculty.

 

That the Academic Senate, representing the faculty, is generally supportive of new or innovative courses and programs that will serve our students and that have the potential to attract new FTE and generate favorable publicity for the institution.

 

That this support is predicated upon all members of the institution—administration, staff, and faculty—following certain prescribed guidelines and processes mandated by our accrediting bodies and by the State of Montana Board of Regents, for curricular development and implementation that must be adhered to in all cases.  These guidelines are outlined generally in the Board of Regents policy manual and specifically in the “Academic Senate Manual for the Preparation of Curricular Materials” adopted by the Academic Senate on October 21, 2004, attached to this document and also located at http://www.msubillings.edu/senate/RevisedManual10-2004.doc

 

That during the deliberative process on new curricular development or change to existing curricula, a faculty member may appeal a negative ruling to the Academic Senate if the faculty member feels that there was prejudice or gross misunderstanding involved or if there is new information that was not available during earlier departmental or committee deliberations.   However, this appeal should not be viewed as an attempt to circumvent any departmental, college, graduate committee, or undergraduate curriculum committee deliberation on curriculum.    

 

It was noted that the Senate should not rehash everything the UCC has already discussed.  We must trust our colleagues.  However, the Senate still has an oversight function, should the need arise to discuss Items.

 

Ž Motion carried, 1 abstention

 

Ž Motion by Matt Redinger, seconded by Lorrie Steerey to waive second reading of the Resolution.

 

Ž Motion carried.

 

Item 31  Manual for the Preparation of Curricular Materials for Consideration by the Academic Senate.  Revised.

 

Ž Motion by Matt Redinger, seconded by Lorrie Steerey to approve Item 31.

 

Ž Motion carried.

 

Ž Motion by Matt Redinger, seconded by Lorrie Steerey to waive second reading of Item 31.

 

Ž Motion carried.

 

 

II.         ITEMS FOR INFORMATION

 

Approved by the UCC October 13

Item 20  CTCM 102 Principles of Communication.  Change rubric and title.

Item 20.a  CTCM 202 Business Communication.  Change rubric, course number, and title.

Item 20.b  CTCM 203 Technical Communication.  Change rubric and course number.

Item 20.c  CTCM 109 Human Relations.  Change rubric.

Item 20.d  CTCM 130 Introduction to Public Speaking.  Change rubric.

 

Item 23  AAS in Application Development.  Modification of a program (including changing title to Computer Application Development).

Item 23.a  CST 115 Introduction to Game Programming.  Change credits.

Item 23.b  CST 130 Introduction to Scripting for the Windows Environment.  New course.

 

Ž Motion by Lorrie Steerey, seconded by Audrey ConnerRosberg to accept Items 20, 20.a, 20.b, 20.c, 20.d, 23, 23.a, and 23.b for information.

 

It was noted that Item 20.a has three changes.  Our rule states that if there are three or more changes to a course, a new course must be submitted.  It was cited that Item 20.a really isn’t a new course—we should follow the spirit of the law and accept the Item.

 

Ž Motion carried, 1 abstention

 

It was noted that the Items above change the rubrics of COT courses to be in line with main campus general education courses (ENGL and COMT).  We have to trust that the COT will hire qualified instructors to teach these courses.  We are one faculty, not us and them.

 

It was observed that Academic Foundations have still not been settled.  The Senate has not heard answers to the issues of double counting, electives, a capstone, and the Minor in Liberal Studies.

 

 

The meeting adjourned at 4:53 p.m.

 

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