February 26, 2020 Minutes

A printable PDF of this information can be found here. 

Faculty Senate Minutes

February 26^th, 2020

SUB Ballroom C

3:10-4:30pm

I.          Call to Order

II.         Approval of the February 12, 2020 meeting minutes: Tomas Gedeon moved for approval, Julie Ruff, seconded, approved

III.        Informational Items

a.       Faculty Senate Survey and Feedback Initiative: Chair elect Brody is asking for participation in a small scale survey of faculty to build consensus among senators regarding what you think, do and value in your work.

i.            When you elected me to chair, I promised that assessment would be an area I would address. It seems everywhere on campus there are initiatives that beg the need for assessment. Eric is leading an initiative to assess administration and together this summer he and I will design a systematic way to do this.

Other initiatives such as Core or 4X4 assessment should be assessed and we are committed to participating in the development with these faculty and administration committee-based initiatives.

One area that I felt I could personally contribute to the MSU assessment initiatives is a survey of faculty to determine what the experience of faculty is in relation to their work here at MSU.

ii.            The Survey

A.     I am asking your permission and cooperation to conduct a small scale survey of faculty senators to determine the experience of senators as faculty at MSU. Let me repeat that…

B.      I ask for your trust and honesty in a collaborative and transparent process to help describe YOUR experience as faculty.

C.      Look around we have representatives from all departments, who I believe were chosen to be on senate for their insight and institutional knowledge to help determine policies, programs, courses, etc. You represent arrange of knowledge, experience and viewpoints concerning your work here at MSU.

D.     I am proposing and emergent, iterative process to build consensus among senators about what you think, do and value in relation to your work. In my field of education research, thinking, doing and valuing are sometimes referred to as the “lived experience” of people.

E.      So I would like us to build consensus among senators of their lived experience as faculty members. The process I am suggesting is a Delphi style survey methodology which includes both qualitative and quantitative information

F.      I have conducted similar studies nationally for Project WET on Water education, Project Archeology for archeology education and the Flathead Watershed. You can search Michael Brody and Delphi Project WET to see more about my experience with this strategy.

G.     The specific details of the survey and more discussion to come at the next senate meeting. In brief:

1.       We will conduct the survey in an anonymous D2L course shell. This gives us the faculty complete control over access and anonymity. No one will know who is responding. I have used this technology before and it works.

2.       We will begin next senate meeting, there will be three successive opportunities to participate and each will be addressed in subsequent senate meetings. That makes this a six week endeavor.

iii.            Process

A.     In the first week, you will be asked to respond to open ended questions about what you are thinking doing and valuing about your MSU work. You will be able to see all of the responses from all the participants. We will summarize responses into simple statements.

1.       Example My experience at MSU has been enriched by my international experience over thirty years in five countries on three continents

B.      In the second week you will be asked to rate responses from the first round on a Likert scale from strongly agree to strongly disagree.

1.       Example International experience is an important part of my work at MSU

C.      In the third week you will again be asked to rate the highest or most strongly agreed to responses from the second round on a Likert scale from strongly agree to strongly disagree.

D.     In the final week we will report the results to senate for discussion

E.      I believe that the first round may take from 1-2 hours depending on your style. The second and third rounds tend to take less time because the items have been derived from your own contributions and you will have seen the contributions in round 1 and 2

iv.            Summary

A.     There are multiple opportunities to participate, it is an emergent iterative process

B.      My goal is to inform the faculty senate of the important thinking, doing and valuing that influences our work. This will be foundational to next year’s senate agenda.

C.      You are participating for yourself, your own experience.

D.     This is a mechanism to take advantage of expertise, interests, experience and values of senators,

E.      This proposal has been vetted by senate steering in about two hours of discussion. We believe the process will give voice proactively not reactively. We believe that this opportunity for faculty has not been given in the recent past.

IV.              Old Business

a.       None

V.                 New Business

a.       New Programs
         i.       Life Scholars Proposal: Christie Sofianek, Director, Life Scholars program presented the proposal.

A.     Higher education programs for students with intellectual disability in the U.S.-2004-2019 https://thinkcollege.net/college-search

1.       2004=25

2.       2009=149

3.       2014=228

4.       2019=272

B.      Carnegie R1 Universities with IHE Programs

1.       Auburn University

2.       Clemson University

3.       Colorado State University

4.       Florida State University

5.       George Mason University

6.       Georgia Institute of Technology

7.       Georgia State University

8.       Indiana University

9.       MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY

10.   Ohio State University

11.   Oklahoma State University

12.   Pennsylvania State University

13.   Purdue University

14.   Temple University

15.   Texas A&M University

16.   University of Alabama

17.   University of Arizona

18.   University of Arkansas

19.   University of Cincinnati

20.   University of Delaware

21.   University of South Carolina

22.   University of South Florida

23.   University of Georgia

24.   University of  Iowa

25.   University of Kansas

26.   University of Missouri

27.   University of Nebraska

28.   University of Nevada

29.   University of North Carolina

30.   University of Oklahoma

31.   University of Wisconsin

32.   Drexel University

33.   Northeastern University

34.   Syracuse University

35.   Vanderbilt University

C.      Outcomes of TPSID Model Demonstration Projects (2018-2019)

1.       64% of graduates had paid, integrated employment within one year.

2.       78% of graduates found employment above minimum wage.

3.       27% of graduates reported they were pursuing further education.

4.       93% of graduates reported being satisfied with their social life.

D.     LIFE Scholars Program

1.       Academics-14 credits (audit or credit)

2.       Campus Engagement-60 hours

3.       Career Development-6 credits (2 internships)

E.      Academics

1.       57 courses, 2019-Present

2.       26 spring 202 Courses

3.       4/13 Credit/Audit Courses

4.       6 Activity Classes

5.       15/8 In-class/Out of Class Peer Partner Support

F.      Course Enrollment Process

1.       Student selects courses in their career pathway from MSU or Gallatin College. 

2.       Student and LS staff meet with Sheila Gilbertson, MSU advisor, or Nicole Berg, GC Advisor, to review classes and register.

3.       LS  director contacts  professor to share information and request a meeting.

4.       LS Director, professor and student meet to review the course syllabus, expectations, information on the student, and to determine supports. 

Ø  ACADEMIC RIGOR OF A COURSE IS NOT COMPROMISED.

5.       Information is documented in an Audit Agreement and shared with all parties.

6.       LS staff works with the student to prepare for the class and put supports in place.

7.       LS staff maintain communication with the professor, student and peer partner to offer ongoing support and resources as needed throughout the semester.

G.     Courses

1.       Introduction to Public Speaking

2.       Interpersonal Communications

3.       Writing 101

4.       Creative Writing

5.       Ground Level Horse Handling

6.       Western Civilization

7.       Mythologies

8.       Environmental Science

9.       Accounting

10.   Physics of How Things Work

11.   Meteorology in Aviation, Fundamentals in Aviation

12.   Basic Nutrition

13.   Film 101

14.   Acting for Non-Majors

15.   Welding Theory

16.   Intro to Astronomy

17.   Intro to Computers

18.   Visual Language: Drawing

19.   Ceramics

20.   Early Childhood Development

21.   Sign Language for Educators

22.   Exceptional Learners

23.   Introduction to Culinary Arts

24.   Hotel Management and Operations

25.   Music

26.   Energy and Sustainability

27.   Sports Communication

28.   Bowling, Powercycling, Billiards,

29.   Yoga, Taekwondo, Circuit Training

H.     Campus Engagement

1.       58 Peer Partners

2.       26 Spring 202 Peer Partners

3.       10 Social Only

I.        Career Development

1.       1 Intern

2.       2 PT Campus Work

3.       4 Seeking PT Campus Work

4.       7 Employed Outside of LS program

5.       1 Program Intern Each Semester

J.        Program Evaluation -Think College Standards, Quality Indicators, Essential Practices, Data/Evidence

1.       Facilitate Alignment with University Systems and Practices

2.       Maintain Effective Program Coordination and Internal &  External Collaboration

3.       Maintain a Fiscally and Programmatically Sustainable Program

4.       Engage in Ongoing Evaluation of Practices and Outcomes

5.       Support the Development of Student Self-Determination

6.       Support Inclusive Academic Access for Students

7.       Provide Experiences and Support to Seek and Sustain Competitive Employment

8.       Facilitate Authentic and Inclusive Campus Membership

9.       Faculty and Peer Partner Surveys  - provides feedback for ongoing program improvements.

b.      Courses 
         i.       ANTY 348: Contemporary Africa

ii.       CULA 123: American Regional Cuisine

iii.       ECP 102: Wilderness First Aid

iv.       EDEC 108: Introduction to Early Childhood Education

v.       HEE 242: Introduction to Teaching Health Enhancement

vi.       HORT 420: Landscape Architecture Professional Practice

vii.       HSTR 427: Nature & Culture in European History

viii.       HTR 345: Revenue Management

ix.       NUTR 224: Careers in Nutrition & Dietetics

x.       RS 306: Livestock Management & Human Resources in Ranching systems

xi.       RS 316: Forage Management & Natural Resource Stewardship in Ranching Systems

xii.       RS 406: Finances & Decision Making in Ranching Systems

xiii.       RS 498: Ranching Systems Finances & Planning Internship

xiv.        SOCI 235: Aging & Society

xv.       PHSX 577: Physics of Renewable Energy for Teachers

c.       Course Changes
        i.       EDU 370: Integrating Tech into Education

ii.       NUTR 411: Nutrition for Sports/Exercise

iii.       HDCO 508: Counseling Theories I

d.      Program Deactivation
         i.       PLGR-BA : Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy - Philosophy and Religion Option

VI.              Announcements and Updates

a.       Chair-Elect Nominations and Election on 3/1/2020

b.       Rec Sports Advisory Committee Update- communication regarding student fee votes will be forthcoming.  The facility design decisions have not be finalized. Will have Grant Peterson and John How will be invited to Faculty Senate for a more detailed discussion/presentation.

c.       NCUR- March 26-28, 2020

VII.            Public Comment

a.       None

VIII.         Adjournment

a.       Meeting was adjourned at 4:30pm

Reminder: Next Faculty Senate Meeting

                                    March 11, 2020

                                    3:10-4:30 PM

                                    SUB Ballroom D