ACADEMIC SENATE MINUTES

 

 

DATE:            October 5, 2006

 

PRESENT:     Agnes Samples                                            Mark Hardt

                        Sandie Rietz                                                 Audrey ConnerRosberg

                        Johanna Mitchell                                          Keith Edgerton

                        Noreen Lee                                                 Matt Redinger

                        Janii Pedersen (student)                                Alicia Esteves (student)

                        Tasneem Khaleel (ex-officio)

                       

ABSENT:       Gershon Bulgatz – excused                          Rakesh Sah – excused

                        Bruce Brumley – excused                            Lorrie Steerey – excused

                        Craig McKenzie – excused

                        David Garloff (ex-officio)                             Mary McNally (ex-officio)

                        John Cech (ex-officio)                                  Stacy Klippenstein (ex-officio)

                        Mary Susan Fishbaugh (ex-officio)               Bob Carr (ex-officio)

                        George White (ex-officio)                            Terrie Iverson (ex-officio)

 

GUEST:          Ron Sexton

                       

PRESIDING: Audrey ConnerRosberg, Chair

 

 

Audrey ConnerRosberg called the meeting to order at 3:44 p.m. in the Missouri room of the SUB.

 

The minutes of September 21 were accepted as presented. 

 

I.          ITEM FOR INFORMATION

 

Item 89  BSED Broadfield Major in Elementary Education.  Modification of an existing program.

 

Þ Motion by Keith Edgerton, seconded by Matt Redinger to accept Item 89 for information.

 

Þ Motion carried.

 

II.         Discussion with Chancellor Sexton

 

A.  Funding Model

 

Dr. Sexton noted that the CUPA comparisons that the Board of Regents is using are in two categories:  Missoula and Bozeman are in one, and all the other units are in another.  They are making different kinds of comparisons.  Under this model, salaries at MSU-Billings will be 80% to 85% of Bozeman’s.  The big question is, will those increases be funded by the state and not on the backs of students in the form of tuition increases.  If the increases are not funded from tuition, it would be very positive for us.

 

Governor Schweitzer’s model would give the MUS an additional $50 million over the next biennium, but he has made it clear he can’t make a commitment beyond two years.  We are moving away from an FTE-driven model, but will we go back to it after those two years are up?

 

MSU-Billings’ student-faculty ratio is currently the highest in the MUS at 20.4 or so.  Missoula and Bozeman are around 15 to 16.  If we do get the Governor’s $50 million, we need to get more tenure-track faculty lines.  However, if we lose that additional money after two years, we will have those new tenure-track faculty lines with no funding.

 

Dr. Sexton noted that the BOR is moving toward more and more control by Bozeman (and Missoula).  More of our proposals of all kinds have to be approved by Bozeman.  Our speech pathology proposal didn’t have a prayer.  The proposal for the Long Range Building Program to add a new science and technology building will not be passed in the Chancellor’s lifetime.  If we do any project through the Foundation, Bozeman and the BOR have no control over it.

 

There is going to be a different business model for public universities.  Also, in the next three years we are going to have to ask the City of Billings for a mill levy to support the COT.  There is so much equipment, technology, and faculty we have to get, a mill levy will be our best chance.

 

B.  Faculty Salary Inequities

 

Dr. Sexton observed that the pools of available faculty are smaller and the salaries are higher than what we budget for.  In the College of Business, the Foundation raised (as part of the Capital Campaign) money for an endowment to fund the rest of the faculty salaries that the state funds cannot.  It’s a good solution for Business, but the same idea is a stretch for other departments because there are not as many interested private parties.  The funding model for the new associate dean at the COT may be a possible model for faculty lines, with some modification.  The associate dean position is funded entirely by private donations for the first three years, after which we hope to have funding from the state for the position.

 

Dr. Sexton noted that the BOR has agreed to give up all the campus initiatives in order to get the Governor’s budget.  This may lead the legislature to try to lock the MUS into the state pay plan, which will further hinder our ability to offer competitive faculty salaries.  As part of the agreement with the Governor, the BOR has also agreed not to raise tuition.  If the legislature decides to give us only $25 million instead of $50 million over the next biennium, we will have no way to make up the difference except tuition.  A tuition increase at that point will look very bad politically for the MUS.

 

C.  Shared Identity

 

Dr. Sexton noted that Bozeman has changed their logo and marketing because they don’t want anything to do with us and Northern because we impede their recruiting.  What we need to do is brand for ourselves, separate from Bozeman, which we have not been allowed to do in the past.

 

D.  Compensation for Grants

 

Dr. Sexton cited that our grant compensation rules were made by a faculty and professional group.  The 20% rule is based on very vague language in the BOR Policy & Procedures Manual (not necessarily state law).  Through an agreement with the BOR and the legislature, the benchmark is that 20% of your time on campus you can use how you want, such as consulting.  However, when this rule gets translated into a grant situation, it is interpreted as 20% of your salary.

 

 

The meeting adjourned at 5:00 p.m.

 

rjrm