MSU FACULTY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
                           October 16, 2002
                                   
MEMBERS PRESENT: Young, Gipp, Sherwood for Giroux, Engel, Kommers,
Schlotzhauer, Linker, Leech, Taylor, Howard, Jones, Nehrir, Bradley,
McMahon, Amend, Ashley for Locke, Levy, Cherry for Bogar, Bond,
Jelinski, Idzerda, Pratt, Lynes-Hayes, Prawdzienski.

MEMBERS ABSENT: Morrill, White, Anderson, Stewart, Chem Engr, Comp
Science, Conant, Engl, Lynch, Fisher, Kempcke, Knight, Hoffman.

OTHERS PRESENT: Bandyopadhyay, McKinsey, Dooley, Fedock, Mathre.

The meeting was called to order at 4:10 PM by Chair Rich Howard.  A
quorum was present.  The minutes of the October 2, 2002, meeting were
approved as distributed.

Chair's report - Rich Howard.
     - After discussion of a draft memo regarding the football coach's
     comments on October 5,  Wayne Gipp moved shredding the memo and
     considering the matter closed.  The motion was seconded and
     carried.
     - The Strategic Planning Committee distributed the SWOT analysis
     at UPBAC.
          - Chair Howard would like to use meetings in November to
          brief Faculty Council regarding UPBAC and the process the
          committee will use to reach budget decisions.  Individuals
          invited to discuss these topics with Faculty Council will
          most likely include Provost Dooley, SPC Chair Morton, and a
          faculty member from the SPC committee.  Someone will also be
          invited to Faculty Council to discuss the Morrill Act and
          its implications for today.

University Governance Council Nominating Committee report.
     - There is a mid-term vacancy on the Athletics Committee.
     Faculty nominations are being solicited and may be submitted to
     the Chair of the UGC Nominating Committee chair, Vicky York
     ([email protected]).
     - Two faculty members on the Computer Fee Allocation Committee
     are Gary Bogar and Shawna Lockhart.  They are willing to continue
     on the committee through the current term, which ends in June,
     2003.
          - Jack Jelinski moved Gary Bogar and Shawna Lockhart's names
          be forwarded to the Provost for appointment through the end
          of the current term.  The motion was seconded and carried.
     - There will be a vacancy on the Salary Review Committee
     beginning January 1, 2003.  Susan Capalbo's name has been
     submitted as a nominee for a second 3-year term.  Others may be
     nominated, with their approval.  Nominations may be submitted to
     Vicky York.

Faculty Affairs Committee report.
     - A proposed post-tenure review policy has been forwarded to
     Faculty Council by Faculty Affairs and is attached to today's
     agenda.  It will be discussed by Faculty Council October 30.
          - There will be a general announcement inviting comment
          after the policy has been discussed by Council.  In the
          meantime, faculty may comment through their Faculty Council
          representatives.
          - Warren Jones moved the draft be made available to all
          faculty before Faculty Council discussion.  The motion was
          seconded and carried.

NCAA visit and the Athletic Committee.
     - In response to a question, the Chair stated that until about
     three years ago, the Athletics Committee functioned as a policy
     committee, as was intended.  At that time, there was discussion
     within the committee of whether it should serve as an advisory or
     policy committee.
     - The NCAA accrediting body sees the committee as a monitoring,
     advisory committee which includes broad participation of
     individuals outside the Athletics Department.
     - It is the President's responsibility to charge the committee,
     and he appears ready to do that.
     - Greater interaction between the committee, the Athletic
     Director, and Faculty Council is expected.

MSU Benefits Committee report  - Don Mathre, Chair of the Committee.
     - MSU's benefits plan is self-insured and statewide (Montana
     University System).  About 7,000 employees and 8,000 dependents
     are covered.  The plan includes life, basic medical,  dental,
     major medical, and long-tem disability insurance.
     - The plan is required to maintain a $3 million reserve, and it
     has been able to do this over the past 10 years, by increases in
     premiums and reductions in cost by reducing coverage.
     - Medical costs have been increasing 10-20% per year, so
     continuing decreased benefits or increased costs are anticipated.
     It is Don's understanding that MPEA plans to request increases in
     the amount provided for state employee coverage from the
     legislature of $50/month in the first year and $45/month in the
     second year of the biennium.
     - Procedures implemented last year, to reduce costs, include
     direct contracting with hospitals in communities where there is a
     choice of hospital (does not include Bozeman Deaconess Hospital)
     and self-funded HMO's.  There were also increases in premiums.
     - Changes are taking place nationwide and statewide to keep
     medical insurance plans viable.
          - In the Montana University System, the number of retirees
          using the university program is dropping.  It appears that
          some individuals cannot afford it, and other insurance
          programs are becoming more competitive.
          - Some large companies and the University of Minnesota are
          implementing a consumer driven health care plan.  A
          "personal care plan" allots a specified amount of money for
          an individual's medical expenses.  Any money left over in an
          individual's plan at year end may be carried over but may
          never be received as a cashout.  If an individual spends
          more than the available amount in a year, the person is
          responsible for a deductible and then is covered by
          catastrophic insurance.  The idea is to make individuals
          more responsible for monitoring their health care costs.
          - The pharmacy plan provider (Eckart) has suggested
          replacing the dollar amount co-pay with a per cent amount.
          It would save about $1.5 million per year but is problematic
          for individuals using expensive drugs.
     - The Wellcheck is scheduled for November 13 and 14, 7-11 a.m.
     Free flu shots will be available, as well as the usual tests.
     - Discussion followed.
          - It was suggested consideration be given to extending the
          hours of the spring Wellcheck.  They were shorter last
          spring than they had been in previous years.
          - The philosophy of the MUS health plan has been that is
          provides against catastrophe, if there are large medical
          costs.  The plan is attractive because there is no cap on
          catastrophic care.
          - The State of Montana now pays $4400/employee each year for
          health care coverage.
          - Regarding the "personal care plan", it was argued that if
          individuals do not do preventative health maintenance
          because they are over their allottment, this may lead to the
          need for catastrophic coverage.  In addition, many pharmacy
          costs are preventative.
     - Doug Young is also a member of the Benefits Committee.  Don or
     Doug may be contacted with questions or concerns.

The October 23 Faculty Council meeting is cancelled so members may
attend the town meeting on higher education that day.

The meeting adjourned at 4:55 PM.


Joann Amend, Secretary              Richard Howard, Chair