MSU-BOZEMAN FACULTY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
October 1, 2003
PRESENT: Gipp, Giroux, McDermott, Kommers, Schlotzhauer, Monaco,
Leech, Taylor, Howard, Christopher, Seymour, Jones, Yoo, Becker,
Taper, Ashley, Lansverk, Bandyopadhyay for Levy, Cherry, Giusti for
Kevane, Neeley, Prawdzienski, Coon, Knight, Dooley.
ABSENT: Ag Econ, Weaver, Schmidt, Jackson, Conant, Cell Biol, Chem,
Bond, Idzerda, Pratt, Lynch, Lynes-Hayes, Hoffman.
The meeting was called to order at 4:10 PM by Chair Warren Jones. A
quorum was present. The minutes of the September 24, 2003, meeting
were approved as distributed.
Chair's report - Warren Jones.
- The Board of Regents, at a September 24-26 meeting in Billings,
considered the following.
- MSU-Bozeman's Bachelor of Liberal Studies degree was
listed as a proposal to be discussed at the November
meeting.
- MSU-Bozeman has been approved to move ahead with a
two-year pilot to fund faculty who teach a course overload
during the summer at a 3/9 salary during those months.
- Two UM administrators received bonuses of $5,000. There
was discussion of the awards before they were approved by
the Regents, and the action will generate further discussion
of large bonuses for administrators.
- Sixteen acres of MSU land and about 60 acres of MSU
Foundation land immediately west of Bozeman will be sold to
Mitchell Developments. The sale will allow the Foundation
to settle some aspects of a a previous lawsuit and provide
some money for a proposed Animal Bioscience Building.
- During brief discussion of the issue by Faculty
Council, concern was expressed for the sale of the MSU
land, which is agricultural, and the fact that the
majority of the money from the sale will not go toward
the purpose of the land's use. New land is not being
purchased to replace the lost property.
- Regent Mercer presented two proposals:
- An Economics Roadmap was approved in a much more
modest form than the original proposal. The concern
was that the original proposal overlapped the work of
the Montana Office of Economic Development.
- The benchmark-for-quality proposal was revised
significantly so it's goal now is to simply find a
credible and coordinated way to measure and communicate
the quality of the Montana University System, with
emphasis upon the communication aspect.
- Regent Hur presented a tiered tuition proposal. The
Tuition Policy Committee, which developed a differential
tuition model last year, will probably address it.
- The Chair of the Grievance Hearings Committee elected September
24 is unable to serve in the position. Shannon Taylor moved the
second nominee for the position, Bill Brown, be elected as Chair.
The motion was seconded and carried.
UGC Nominating Committee report - None.
Faculty Affairs Committee report - Marvin Lansverk.
- The committee will consider some changes in language in the
grievance section of the Faculty Handbook.
- At today's meeting, the committee discussed the Provost's
proposal to move University Promotion and Tenure deadlines
forward about one month in the calendar year. This will allow
cases to move through the system in a more timely manner with the
notification of the candidate happening about March 30.
Departmental promotion and tenure committees would begin work
during the spring and solicit external letters during the summer.
There will be more discussion of the issues by the Faculty
Affairs Committee before the issue if brought to Faculty Council
for discussion.
University Graduate Studies Committee/Faculty Council Liaison report
- Maryann Prawdzienski.
- The Bachelor of Liberal Studies degree was approved by the
Undergraduate Studies Committee, and, as noted by Chair Jones,
presented to the Board of Regents as an item to be discussed at
the November Board of Regents meeting.
- A Faculty Council member expressed concern about Faculty
Council's prerogative for reviewing new programs. If it does not
now exist, should a formal mechanism for Faculty Council to
review academic program proposals be developed?
Discussion with Provost Dave Dooley.
- Based on the recommendations of the Faculty Professional
Development Task Force, the Provost and the Vice President for
Research and Creative Activity propose a short-term professional
development program,
- Information about the proposal was distributed.
- The length of the leave is proposed to be from one week to two
months. The maximum award is for $5,000, to be used for
registration costs, travel, or subsistence. The award may not be
used for buy-outs or for salary.
- The award is not intended to be used for attending
regularly-scheduled discipline-based professional meetings but
for activities that enhance capabilities for scholarship,
teaching and outreach.
- The program would be in addition to BEST, Scholarship and
Creativity Awards, and sabbaticals.
- The awards would be open to all faculty, with emphasis upon the
merit of the proposal and the anticipated impact upon the
university.
- Proposals would include the activity for which the money is to
be used, the amount of money needed, and a vita.
- It is hoped proposals may be solicited soon, with the deadline
for returning them November 30. If the program is successful, it
may be expanded and calls for proposals may be issued more than
once each year.
- The money currently set aside for the program is $50,000,
one-half from the Provost's discretionary reserve and one-half
from the VPRCA's IDC's.
- In Faculty Council's view, should the Provost and Vice
President for Research proceed?
- Members are asked to discuss the program with their colleagues
and bring that information back to the October 15 Faculty Council
meeting or e-mail it to Chair Jones.
As there was no further business, the meeting adjourned at 5:05 PM.
Joann Amend, Secretary Warren Jones, Chair