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MSU Home >> Faculty Senate Minutes >> 2007-04-05 Minutes

 

Faculty Senate Minutes
April 5, 2007 

Call to Order: 

Call to order: 4:12 pm; Riggle Room; ADUC.  In the absence of the chair and vice chair, Regent Irons conducted the meeting. 

Senators Absent:  Eric Jerde, Karen Lafferty, Calvin Lindell, Monica Magner, Granuaile O’Flanagan, Greg Penner, Brenda Wilburn 

Minutes:  Senator Breschel moved to approve the minutes of March 15, 2007 as submitted.   Motion passed. 

Reports:

 Provost’s Report:  

• The Council on Postsecondary Education approved the proposal for the Center for Regional Engagement.  The University will receive $200,000 to set up the infrastructure.  Two staff people will be hired.  At least one faculty member from each college will work with the Center for Regional Engagement on a reassigned time basis.  The University will receive another $200,000 on July 1, 2007.
• The Provost encouraged the members to attend the Honors Convocation on April 29, 2007. 

The Provost was asked if there had been a response to the Senate motion to delay the implementation of the New Faculty Institute.  Based on the feedback from the Senate at the March 15, 2007 meeting, the Provost asked that a memo be drafted recommending that the implementation of the New Faculty Institute be postponed until the fall of 2008 in order to obtain more feedback from the Senate and the faculty.  The President approved the delay of the implementation of the New Faculty Institute. 

The Provost was asked about an article in the Trail Blazer that implied that faculty online teaching courses would be evaluated.  The Provost explained that the University is participating in a voluntary program, Maryland on Line, whereby faculty may ask for an evaluation of the technical aspects of their online courses.  The course will receive a Quality Matters label if it meets certain criteria for an effective online course.  The faculty member will also receive a certification.  A member requested a Senate committee review this program.

 Senate Actions: 

Governance:

• The committee presented the Attendance Policy for University Standing and Advisory Committees for a second reading.  Senator Chatham submitted a friendly amendment to the Attendance Policy.  The committee accepted the friendly amendment.  Senator Harford moved to end discussion and vote.  Senator Wallace seconded the motion.  Motion passed.
• The committee presented a revised Planning Committee Description for a first reading.  The members identified several items that need clarification.  The Governance committee will ask the chair of the Planning Committee to attend the next Senate meeting to clarify the items in question. 
• The committee is working on Standing and Advisory Committee appointments for the coming year. 

Academic Policies:

• The committee presented a revision to the Academic Withdrawal Policy for a first reading.  The members discussed whether the policy would be implemented by a Standing and Advisory Committee or the Associate Provost for Graduate and Undergraduate Programs.  Senator Schroeder will contact the chair of the Academic Standards and Appeals Committee to determine if it is feasible for that committee to manage this policy.  The Provost will consult with the Registrar to clarify the issue of student withdrawals.
• The survey regarding the laptop initiative will be sent out soon.  In order for the laptop initiative to move forward it is imperative that faculty respond with their input. 

Communication:  No Report 

Evaluation:

• The committee is working on Tenure and Promotion policies with the Professional Policies Committee.

The President will be conducting forums with the faculty to discuss the results of the senior administration survey conducted last year.  The dates are:
April 9, 2007, 3:00 p.m., Crager Room
April 19, 2007, 8:00 a.m., Button Drill Room
April 24, 2007, 3:00 p.m., Commonwealth Room 

A Senator asked that the results of the survey be disaggregated to separate faculty and staff data.  Senator Thomas will request the specific faculty data results. 

Fiscal Affairs:

• The committee presented a Resolution on Parking.  After discussion, Senator Wallace moved to table the resolution.  Senator Isham seconded the motion.  Motion passed.  Resolution tabled.

Professional Policies:  No Report

New Business:

• Regent Irons asked the Academic Policies committee to communicate with the Provost regarding “Quality Matters.”  Motion passed to end New Business.        

Adjournment:  5:20 pm.