Faculty Senate Minutes
October 18, 2012
Call to Order: Chair Chatham called the meeting to order at 4:15 pm; 301 ADUC
Senators Absent: Ignacio Birriel, Cyndi Gibbs, Janelle Hare, Nilesh Joshi, Lesia Lennex, Christine McMichael, Lee Nabb, Sarah Morrison attended for Robert Royar
Visitors: Provost Hughes; Jane Fitzpatrick, General Counsel; Steve Richmond, Interim Assistant Vice President for Technology; Aaron Gay, Chair Staff Congress
Special Report on the Kentucky Supreme Court Ruling on Deadly Weapons on Campus:
MSU General Counsel Jane Fitzpatrick presented an informative session on the Kentucky Supreme Court decision with respect to university policies limiting or restricting a person from bringing deadly weapons on a university campus. The court’s decision impacts MSU's position on this particular issue. Jane Fitzpatrick outlined the revisions of PG 62 which embody the requirements under Kentucky's statutes regarding carrying a deadly weapon on campus. The University is seeking the comments and suggestions of the Faculty Senate before the draft policy is reviewed and approved by the Cabinet and submitted to the Board of Regents for its approval in December. If you have any comments or information regarding bringing deadly weapons on campus, please share them with the Senate Committee on Issues who will bring them to the next meeting.
Senator Berglee reported that Jane Fitzpatrick, MSU Police Department, Director of Risk and Compliance Harry Gunn, and others within the University will be reviewing the policies that address how faculty are to proceed when deadly weapons are present or evident on campus or in their classroom. Once this review is completed it will be made available to the Faculty Senate.
Special Report on Information Technology by Mr. Steve Richmond:
The Faculty Senate welcomed Mr. Steve Richmond, Interim Assistant Vice President for Technology, to provide a brief report on the status of information technology on campus. Mr. Richmond indicated he is aware that campus users cannot personally install software on their campus desktop computers. He indicated that the restriction has been imposed to address the increased incidences of malware, which have been taking up support time and energy. The policy at MSU is similar to other universities in our region. He did indicate that he was reviewing the policy and possible options that may be available. There are currently only eight staff members to service the 4,800 PCs on campus.
Mr. Richmond also indicated that he understood the need for improved communication with faculty regarding policies that affect IT users. Faculty is concerned that their input is not being sought in many of the decisions about IT even though the IT decisions affect faculty. He also shared his understanding of the need to update infrastructure and wiring on various parts of campus to provide the type of information technology services needed for the future at MSU.
The University hired technology consultants, BerryDunn to undertake a University-wide IT assessment and strategic planning project. The current initiative to address IT issues stems from the BerryDunn Report. The MSU Core Team was established to develop a strategic technology plan and articulate the information to the university. A draft of the Strategic Technology Plan will be going to the president by October 30th, which will be made available to faculty and staff for their review and input. The core members of the team included:
1. Bill Redwine - Assistant VP, Auxiliary Services
2. Jami Hornbuckle - Assistant VP, Communications & Marketing
3. Dr. John Ernst - Executive Assistant to the President
4. Dr. Roger McNeil - Dean of the College of S&T
5. Jill Ratliff - Assistant VP, Academic Affairs - Institutional Research
6. Brent Jones - Executive Director Distant Ed. and Regional Campuses
7. Dr. Darrin DeMoss - Professor of Biology
8. Ricardo Nazario-Colon - Director of Student Activities Inclusion and Leadership Development
9. Dr. Chris Miller - Associate Professor of Education
10. Teresa Lindgren - Executive Director of Budgets and Financial Planning
11. Steve Richmond - Interim Assistant Vice President for Technology
A question and answer session followed Mr. Richmond’s report. Mr. Richmond was able to respond to some questions and others were taken into consideration. Some of the topics were:
• Slow Internet traffic at various places and times on campus
• Printing problems with various MSU documents
• Functionality advising
• Computer updates needed at regional campuses
• Software problems or the elimination of software (SAS was an example)
• Converting the paper reporting slips for student athletes to digital procedures
• Internet Explorer VS Firefox as standard Internet browser (Blackboard was an example)
• MSU search engine is not appropriate or helpful
• Many other IT issues relating to specific faculty applications
Minutes: Senator Wymer moved to approve the minutes of October 4, 2012 as submitted. Senator Chapman seconded the motion. Motion passed.
Reports:
Chair’s Report:
• Chair and Chair-Elect attended the meeting of the President’s Leadership Council
• Chair met with the Provost
• EC will meet with President and Provost next week
Faculty Welfare and Concerns:
FWC Committee Vice-Chair Gilbert Remillard presented PAc 17 (Sabbatical Leave of Absence) for continuation of the second reading. Senator Remillard explained that the changes discussed at the last Senate meeting were incorporated into the policy. Senator Wymer moved to close discussion on PAc 17. Motion seconded. There were some questions/issues with the PAc. After discussion ended, Chair Chatham called for the vote. The Faculty Senate voted to approve PAc 17 (Sabbatical Leave of Absence) as presented today.
Announcements:
Possible meeting scheduled for October 25, 2012 has been cancelled
Next meeting November 1st in ADUC 301
Adjournment: 5:50 p.m.
