Faculty Senate Minutes
May 6, 2010
Call to Order:
Call to order: 4:16 pm, Riggle Room, ADUC
Senators Absent: Marshall Chapman, Teresa Ferguson, Braden Frieder, Stephanie Johnson, Barbara Lyons, Steven Parkansky
Visitors: Wayne D. Andrews, President; Dayna Seelig, Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs and Academic Programs; Beth Patrick, Chief of Staff and Vice President for Planning and Budgets
Minutes: The minutes of April 15, 2010 were approved as submitted.
Committee Review:
Academic Policies: No Report
Communications: No Report
Evaluation: No Report
Fiscal Affairs: Will present a resolution on domestic partner benefits for second reading
Governance: Will present proposal to change General Education Council Description for second reading; Will present a resolution to dissolve or remove University Standing Committees from the Faculty Senate for first reading; Appointments to Standing Committees for approval
Professional Policies: No Report
Discussion:
President Andrews thanked the Senators for their work this year. President Andrews provided the members with an update of the state budget situation. A question and answer session followed. President Andrews encouraged the Senators to contact the members of the General Assembly and voice their concerns regarding the budget. Chair Berglee thanked the President for his continued effort for the University regarding budget issues.
Reports:
Provost’s Report:
· Data Strategies Report will be distributed to faculty on Friday via mass email
· Provost office will be working with deans and chairs on the academic program productivity review process
· Questions and answers from the college meetings are available on the Provost’s Web site
· Job descriptions and/or postings being finalized for the following positions:
- Assistant Vice President for University College
- General Education Director
- Coordinator for Developmental Education
- Assessment Coordinator
- Professional Development Director
· Dr. Hughes thanked the Senators for their work during the year.
A question and answer session followed.
Regent’s Report:
· BOR Work Session – May 20, 2010, Heritage Room, 9 a.m.
· BOR Meeting – June 10, 2010
Chair’s Report: The revised Faculty Senate Constitution has been approved by the faculty-at-large and forwarded to the Board of Regents through the President
General Education Council:
· A second First-Year Seminar workshop will be held May 12, 2010, 8:00 am to noon
· Capstone can be in the discipline and in general education – Must meet the Student Learner Objectives
· MSU 499C is only for Bachelor of University Studies students
Smoking Policy: Senator Irons presented a report from the task force reviewing the smoking policy on campus. Based on the results of a survey, preliminary recommendation to the Presidents’ Council will be:
· Academic year 2010-2011 there will be 9 to 10 designated smoking areas on campus. Smoking will not be allowed at any other place on campus. Results of the surveys indicated two major concerns: 1) Removing smoking from pedestrian walkways and 2) buildings where there is ventilation intake.
· Smoking cessation programs will be offered to faculty, staff and students during the transition year.
· Academic year 2011-2012 Morehead State University will go tobacco free.
Enforcement of the policy has also been discussed by the task force.
Senate Actions:
Governance:
· Presented General Education Council Committee Description for a second reading. The Senators discussed the changes to the General Education Council Committee Description. Senator McCormick moved to delete: Item 2. Page 1, Membership: “Vice Chair of the General Education Council (voting member with 3 hour course reduction)” and add on Page 4, Officers: “Vice Chair will be elected from the faculty members on the Council”. Senator Gibbs seconded the motion. Motion passed. An editorial correction will be made to change “College of Business” to “College of Business and Public Affairs” and “College of Humanities” to “Caudill College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences”. Senator Irons moved “that the language about no more than one person from the department be changed to no more than one person from the program”. Motion failed for lack of a second. After no further discussion, the Senate voted to approve the General Education Council Committee Description as amended.
· Presented a slate of nominees for appointments to some of the Standing Committees. An editorial change was made to the slate by Governance to change “Ann Rathbun from EDU to S&T” under the General Education Council. Hearing no motion to sever the slate, Chair Berglee called for a vote on the slate of nominees. The slate of nominees was approved by the Senate.
· After considerable review of the functionality of University Standing Committees by this Governance Committee and the Governance Committees of the previous two years, a resolution was presented to dissolve or remove specific University Standing Committees from the Faculty Senate. Senator Irons moved to suspend the rules and move to a second reading to allow debate and a vote on the resolution. Senator Katz seconded the motion.
Motion passed. Following is a list of University Committees in the resolution needing some type of action:
1. Committees no longer functioning and absorbed by other programs:
· HONORS COMMITTEE
· INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE
· TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES COMMITTEE
Action: Dissolve these standing committees
2. Committees not controlled by Faculty Senate but governed by Federal regulations:
· INSTITUTIONAL ANIMAL CARE & USE COMMITTEE
· IRB FOR PROTECTION OF HUMAN SUBJECTS IN RESEARCH COMMITTEE
· RADIATION SAFETY COMMITTEE
Action: Place these standing committees under Research and Sponsored Programs
3. Committee members are not appointed by Faculty Senate:
· TEACHER EDUCATION COMMITTEE (Council)
Action: Place this standing committee under the College of Education
4. Committee does not directly address faculty issues or with faculty representation
· JOB CLASSIFICATION REVIEW COMMITTEE
Action: Place under Vice President for Administration and Fiscal Services
After discussion regarding #3. Teacher Education Committee (Council), Senator Irons moved to sever the Teacher Education Committee (Council) from the resolution. Senator Rogers seconded the motion. After further discussion, motion passed to sever the Teacher Education Committee (Council) from the resolution. Chair Berglee called for a vote on the resolution as revised. Motion passed on Items 1., 2., and 4.
Fiscal Affairs:
· Presented a resolution on Domestic Partner Benefits for a second reading. Fiscal Affairs provided via email prior to and at the meeting a report containing background information from the University of Kentucky regarding domestic partner benefits. The Senators discussed the resolution.
Senator Chatham moved to suspend the rules to not adjourn until 6:15 pm. Regent Morrison seconded the motion. Motion passed.
Fiscal Affairs encouraged the members to forward to them any suggestions or comments they might have on the definition of domestic partners.
After discussion, Chair Berglee called for a vote of the resolution by paper ballot. Senator Chatham moved to not adjourn until the results of the vote were tallied. Motion was seconded and passed.
The ballot vote on the Domestic Partner Benefits Resolution passed with - 29 yes votes and 9 no votes.
Announcement: A Faculty Senate Retreat is scheduled for August 19, 2010. This will be the first meeting of the Senate for the 2010-2011 academic year. Senators will receive notification of the time and venue for the retreat.
Chair Berglee expressed his appreciation to the membership of the Senator for their work and support over the past year.
Adjournment: 6:25 p.m.
