MSU FACULTY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
January 24, 2001
PRESENT: Morrill, Sherwood, Kommers, Linker, Leech, Benham, Larsen,
Jost, Harkin, Nehrir, Mooney, McClure, Locke, Lansverk,
Levy, Bond, Jelinski, McKinsey, Lynch, Prawdzienski,
Butterfield, Scott, Griffith, Carlstrom.
ABSENT: Young, Hatfield, McDermott, White, Anderson, Peed, Howard,
Stewart, Lefcort, Weaver, Bogar, Francis, Fisher.
The meeting was called to order at 4:10 PM by Chair Ron Larsen. A
quorum was present. The minutes of the December 6, 2000, meeting were
approved as distributed.
Chair's report - Ron Larsen.
- The Board of Regents met in Helena January 18-19. So far, the
regents have done a good job of advocating for the university
system in the legislative session.
- Topics of discussion during the Regents' meeting included:
- The proposed policy regarding ownership of electronic
course materials was clarified. The policy applies
only to courses, not to materials faculty put on the
web to support existing on-campus courses. At the
request of Faculty Council leadership, the proposal
will not be voted on until the March meeting.
- Ron Sunsted presented the BOR request for legislative
funding of the university system, as well as Racicot's
proposal and Martz's proposal. With predicted
increases in energy costs, the pay plan and inflation,
the Governors' proposals fall far short of needs.
- The meeting between regents and faculty leaders
focused on graduate education. MSU faculty member Lee
Spangler gave a short presentation on Op Tech and its
integration of MSU graduate students into the
technology economy. The presentation was well-received
by the regents.
- Problems created by residency requirements for
graduate students were discussed, and beneficial
changes to the current policy may be considered.
- John Amend is drafting a memo to the regents
outlining issues to be considered regarding the
graduate program. He will bring it to Faculty
Council for comment.
- President Gamble is on record with the Commissioner of Higher
Education and the regents stating that he won't try to maintain
parity with UM.
- The review of administrators has been discussed with President
Gamble. He would like to have it done, keeping in line with his
philosophy of the importance of assessment to improvement.
- It is suggested results of the review be reported by
groups: department heads and directors; assistant and
associate deans and deans; and administrators above this
level. The three groups will provide anonymity while giving
an indication of the effectiveness of administrators by
level. There was consensus by Faculty Council that this
approach is acceptable.
- Because of personnel issues, the statements provided by
administrators to be published on the web will be called
"Statements of Accomplishments, Responsibilities and Goals"
or something similar.
- Ron and John Sherwood, Chair Elect, met with President Gamble
today. Items discussed include:
- Faculty are encouraged to use WebCT. Who owns electronic
materials when they are created using webCT?
- Records of IDC expenditures, recharges, and internal
allocation of funds are expected to be more available to
faculty.
- The President will attend Faculty Council the first
Wednesday afternoon he's in town.
- There will be some kind of occasion at MSU marking the
transition to a new president, probably at next fall's state
of the university message.
- If possible, there will be one or two PEC/UGC Steering
Committee retreats this spring. The president would present
his vision and priorities, and then particular issues would
be addressed.
- The President was asked how two new positions in
Chemistry/Biochemistry fit into the policy regarding
reversion of faculty lines. The issue will be discussed
further.
- It appears Faculty Handbook Section 200 has been approved.
Faculty Council is awaiting written notification.
- The President has met with both the Long Range Planning
Committee and the Strategic Planning and Budget Committee.
He is also considering what the mission for a multi-campus
MSU will look like.
- The reviews of administrators will be sent to
administrators reviewed and to administrators above the
individual, through the President.
Nominating Committee report.
- Five faculty have been nominated for one position on the Long
Range Planning Committee: Bill Brown (Bus), Janis Bruwelheide
(Educ), Duane Griffith (Ag Econ/Econ and Extension), Rocky Ross
(CS), and Lori Ryker (Arch). By written ballot, Bill Brown was
elected.
Strategic Planning and Budget Committee report - Peter Kommers.
- The committee met today. The charge has been to develop
principles for planning, to be implemented no earlier than 2002.
The committee was not charged to deal with the FY01 budget.
- Assistant VP for Administration and Finance Craig Roloff
reported that the FY 2002 budget deficit could easily be $5.5
million, even with a modest tuition increase. The deficit is due
to increased utility costs, raises, inflation, and other factors.
- What, then, should be the response of SPBC? Deficits of this
magnitude will shape the institution. Some committee members
feel there should be an "emergency plan" of priorities as a step
toward a more deliberate plan. This plan would deal with pending
deficits.
- President Gamble's planning principles have been identified
from his interview as candidate for President and from interviews
with the press. Two of them are 1) linking the budget to a
strategic plan and priorities, and 2) living within the means of
the institution.
- During discussion by Faculty Council members, it was pointed
out that Council recommended early in Fall Semester that deans
develop contingency plans for best and worst budget scenarios.
It does not appear this has happened.
- Retention of students would ease the budget shortfall. A
substantial percentage of students leaving MSU have a GPA of 2.8
or higher.
As there was no further business, the meeting adjourned at 5:00 PM.
Joann Amend, Secretary Ron Larsen, Chair