Faculty Senate Minutes
November 18, 2010
Call to Order: Chair-elect Kimberlee Sharp called the meeting to order at 4:12 pm; Riggle Room; ADUC.
Senators Absent: Ali Ahmadi, Ray Bailey, Donna Baker, Cynthia Faulkner, Braden Frieder, Rebecca Katz, Stephen Lange, Beverly McCormick, Rebecca Miculinich, Biswajit Panja, Ann Rathbun, Pam Ryan
Visitors: Dr. Karla Hughes, Dr. Charlie Patrick
Minutes: Senator Rogers moved to approve the minutes of November 4, 2010 as submitted. Senator McCoy seconded the motion. Motion passed.
Committee Reports:
Academic Issues: Will present UAR 131.01 – Excused Absence Policy for first reading
Evaluation: Will have a report
Faculty Welfare and Concerns: Continuing to incorporate suggestions into PAc 7, PAc 27 and PAc 29
Governance: Appointment to propose for Faculty Promotion Committee
Senate Committee on Issues:
Faculty 180 Subcommittee: Met with Scott Wymer, L.K. Williams and Charlie Patrick
People First Subcommittee: Will discuss survey for faculty and ombudsperson
Reports:
Chair’s Report:
Executive Council met on November 15th, with Dr. Karla Hughes, Dr. Dayna Seelig, Beth Patrick, and Dr. Gerald DeMoss in order to gain a better understanding of Data Strategies.
President’s forums were held on November 17th. The President addressed questions and concerns from faculty and staff.
Chair-elect Sharp reiterated to Senators that it is their responsibility as representatives of the faculty, to “communicate to our constituents the initiatives and issues that face all of us.” Chair-elect Sharp charged the Senators to: “1. Be proactive in emailing your constituents all correspondence from administration and from our Communications Officer, Senator Royal Berglee; and 2. Be available to answer your constituents’ questions, lead them to additional resources, and encourage them to participate in the Chair’s Open Segment.”
Senator Carlson spoke about the sabbatical situation in the Open Chair Segment. The suggestion was made that the Administration determine whether or not any sabbaticals will be approved before accepting applications and notify the faculty of any backlog that there is for sabbatical leaves. The Provost stated that she had asked the committee that reviews sabbaticals to draft a set of guidelines for the process and make them available to faculty. Since this has evidently not been completed, she will ask again. Three faculty members were approved by the Board of Regents, subject to budgetary constraints, for sabbaticals for this academic year, none were allowed due to the budget. Seven additional faculty members have been approved by the Faculty Development Committee for sabbaticals to be taken next year. Dr. Carlson inquired as to when these faculty members would receive their sabbaticals and would the three approved from last year move to the top of the list. Provost Hughes indicated that she believes the three from last year would be in front of the order for sabbaticals, if and when the budget situation provides for them. She indicated that it may be possible that the budget may allow 3-5 sabbaticals, but couldn't verify that at this time. She confirmed that all sabbaticals are budget dependent.
Provost’s Report:
· The Board of Regents reviewed the enrollment model for recruitment during the work session today.
· The University was notified that it will receive $200,000 in funding to support Senate Bill 1 training and implementation.
Provost Hughes asked Dr. Patrick to present a report on Moodle and SACS.
Dr. Patrick indicated that five faculty members -- one from each college and one at large – have been identified and will be conducting a trial run of Moodle and providing feedback. The five faculty members are - Dr. Robert Royar (Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences), Dr. Michelle Kunz (Business and Public Affairs), Dr. Lesia Lennex (Education), Dr. Joyce Stubbs (Science and Technology), and Dr. Tim Miller (at large - Education). Next semester Blackboard and MoodleRooms shells will be created for all faculty classes. Dr. Patrick encouraged faculty to try MoodleRooms and provide input. Students are being recruited to assist faculty with training. Please contact Dr. Patrick for more information regarding the MoodleRooms initiative. A final decision must be made by July 1, 2011 on Blackboard or MoodleRooms. A question and answer session followed. Dr. Patrick reassured the Senate that a decision to switch from Blackboard to Moodle has not been made at this time. The five faculty members conducting the initial trial and other faculty will help determine the decision.
Regent’s Report:
· Thanked everyone for attending the President’s forums
· Campus will be tobacco free on July 1, 2011
· Nine Regents attended the financial audit meeting held before the work session
· Regents reviewed the University’s enrollment management plan at the BOR work session November 18th
· Regent Morrison talked about the web re-design
Regent Morrison and the Provost answered questions from Senators.
General Education Report:
Dr. Patrick stated that the Gen Ed Council is reviewing distribution courses. Three subcommittees are reviewing proposals to bring to the full Council. The Gen Ed Council is scheduled to distribute a course proposal form for Capstone classes by the end of January 2011. The Council will receive additional First-Year Seminar proposals in the spring.
Senate Actions:
Academic Issues:
Presented revisions to UAR 131.01 – Excused Absence Policy for a first reading. Questions were taken and clarifications made. Senator Hypes encouraged all Senators to distribute the draft revised UAR 131.01 to their constituents for review.
Evaluation:
The committee reviewed evaluation forms for Academic Administrators from all state universities. Revisions have been made to the form used by Murray State. The revised form has been sent to the Vice President, Administration & Fiscal Services for review and suggestions.
The Evaluation Committee is also looking at forms for evaluation of faculty by their students. A work group of faculty and administrators, chaired by Regina Beach, Testing Center, recommended changing from the IDEA form to SIR II for tenure-track faculty. The SIR II form will be reviewed prior to bringing before the full Senate. The work group recommended that local instruments be used for tenured faculty. Senator LaFleur requested that all Senators send a copy of their departmental faculty evaluation instrument to the committee to review.
Faculty Welfare and Concerns:
Senator Craig thanked the Senators and the faculty for their concerns and revisions to the PAc’s that were presented at the previous meeting. Additional comments will be accepted until Friday, November 19th.
Governance:
On behalf of the Governance Committee, Senator Chatham moved that Dr. Ric Caric be approved to fill a vacancy on the Faculty Promotion Committee for a term ending in August, 2012. A Senator had a request from a constituent for a vote by secret ballot. Dr. Caric was approved to serve on the Faculty Promotion Committee by a secret ballot vote.
Senator Chatham moved that Gary Mesa-Gaido be approved to fill a Humanities position on the General Education Council. Motion passed.
Senate Committee on Issues:
The Faculty 180 subcommittee heard a presentation on the new features being implemented. Senator Lennex would like to share some of those features with the Senate in the future. Faculty 180 has been revised to allow better faculty workload reporting. Faculty members are to contact Dr. Charlie Patrick if they have any problems, questions or suggestions. Senator Lennex reminded the Senate to inform their constituents of the Faculty 180 deadline to input data for this semester.
The subcommittee on People First/Morale will be conducting a faculty survey in January, 2011. They will be looking for positive suggestions for improving faculty morale. They are also researching other institutions that have an Ombudsman.
Old Business:
Dr. Patrick reported that the off-site review has been received for SACS. QEP design team should have a report by the end of November.
New Business:
Senator LaFleur asked the Senators to consider taking greater leadership on issues that affect the “health of the University as a whole”.
Adjournment: 5:50 pm
