ACADEMIC SENATE MINUTES

DATE: February 9, 2012

PRESENT: Scott Murray Stephen Eliason

Don Larsen Sandie Rietz

Paul Bauer Susan Gilbertz

Craig McKenzie David Gurchiek

Doug Brown Mark Hardt

Bruce Brumley Patricia Vettel-Becker

ReAnna Kero (student) Diane Duin (ex-officio)

Tasneem Khaleel (ex-officio) Mary Susan Fishbaugh (ex-officio)

Marsha Riley (ex-officio) Mark Pagano (ex-officio)

ABSENT: Keith Edgerton* Tim Wilkinson (ex-officio)*

Stacy Klippenstein (ex-officio) Terrie Iverson (ex-officio)

* excused

GUEST: Sarah Keller

PRESIDING: Bruce Brumley, Chair

Bruce Brumley called the meeting to order at 3:40 p.m. in the Chancellor’s Conference Room.

The minutes of January 26 were accepted as presented.

I. ITEMS – SECOND READING

Item 20 HHP 500 Research in Exercise and Sport Science. New course.

Item 20.a HHP 501 Survey of Exercise and Sport Science. New course.

Þ Motion by Mark Hardt, seconded by Susan Gilbertz to approve Items 20 and 20.a on second reading.

It was noted that the Senate has not been informed if all issues have been settled with the COE and these courses.

Motion and second were withdrawn.

II. ITEM FOR INFORMATION

Item 29 Emeritus Nomination: Neil Jussila, Department of Art, College of Arts and Sciences. For information.

Þ Motion by Sandie Rietz, seconded by Mark Hardt to accept Item 29.

Þ Motion carried.

III. COMMITTEE REPORTS

Dr. Rietz reported that Provost Council discussed the late drop policy as well as the issue of late adds and what problems they cause for faculty.

Mr. Brumley reported that the Chancellor’s Executive Budget Committee has moved from discussing the equipment fee requests to one-time-only funding.

Mr. Brumley also reported that the tobacco free policy was presented at Cabinet. It will be posted across campus so faculty, staff, and students may give additional input before the policy becomes effective in August. It is not a matter of if but when; however, we still have a chance to modify the policy and especially the enforcement component.

IV. PROVOST REPORT

Dr. Pagano distributed the new process OCHE has prescribed for proposing new courses in the Common Course Numbering/Transferability system. We have no choice in the matter. This will be the procedure.

Updates:

· The Commissioner of Higher Education will be here February 23 for a listening session.

· Next Tuesday, February 14, will be the program prioritization summit in Bozeman. We should know a lot more after that meeting.

· The administrative review process will move to the 360 tool instead of using a committee doing multiple interviews. They are also working on a schedule of review for administrators.

· MSU-Northern has a proposal for a Native American Studies program. We will be consulting with them to see if they want to offer a joint degree with us. We have until June to complete that work.

· At the CAOs conference call, the Gen Ed Certificate proposed by MSU Great Falls and Gallatin College (Bozeman) passed with no problems whatsoever.

· The Faculty Excellence Committee met and awards will be given at the dinner March 22.

· Dr. Pagano is enjoying hearing about the many things faculty do in both the Faculty Excellence applications and the tenure and promotion applications.

The Provost’s Office is working on a document for MSUB Extended Campus. The things we do away from campus are not necessarily downtown, so the MSUB Downtown offices would be renamed, and the Extended Campus would assist faculty in doing anything away from the campus. Cabinet will be commenting on it for the next couple weeks and then will be out for everyone’s review later this semester.

V. DISCUSSION/ACTION ITEMS

A. IRB Bylaw Changes

Mark Hardt is now the chairperson. The biggest change to the bylaws that the chair is now a tenured faculty member. There is also release time in the form of three credits per semester for the chair. Dr. Hardt agreed to address with the IRB the fact that there is no mention of summer coverage.

B. Library Survey

Sarah Keller stated that she is here for Brent Roberts, who experienced a death in his family. The survey begins February 20 and lasts for three weeks. There will be an email invitation and two follow-up emails sent to the campus. All participants can register for a Kindle Fire as the prize. The survey will be campus only, not the community.

C. Discrimination Training/Discussion: Expert Advice

It was agreed that a group should talk with Human Resources about what kind of additional training should be offered. Sandie Rietz and Susan Gilbertz stated they would join Provost Pagano in meeting with HR to discuss further training.

D. Faculty Body to Discuss Online Education

The biggest issue is who is really taking the course. Anecdotal evidence suggests many students pay others, or work with other students, to take classes for them. One often-used solution is to require at least one proctored test for every single online class, but this isn’t really feasible for MSUB. We have had task forces to review our online education and the policies affecting it, but a comprehensive look is sorely needed.

It was agreed that this will be a big issue to tackle in the Fall, with the sponsorship of the Provost’s Office, and with research possibilities for faculty.

E. Review of MSUB Course Late Drop Policy

This item will likely require a meeting all to itself. Reports of how many drops take place and when will be requested.

VI. OLD BUSINESS

Mr. Brumley is attempting to get President Cruzado here this semester, but her schedule is very full. If we can get her here, we can talk about her “One University” initiative, as well as the confidentiality of the MSUB faculty evaluations now to be processed by MSU-Bozeman.

The meeting adjourned at 5:02 p.m.

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