Wednesday, January 11, 2023

8:30 AM – 10:00 AM
SUB Room 235
Printable Minutes

Members:

Waded Cruzado, Sreekala Bajwa, Camie Bechtold, Janelle Booth, Matt Caires, Leon Costello, Chris Dobbs, Ariel Donohue, Tracy Ellig, Stephanie Erdmann, Chris Fastnow, Beverly Garrison, Stephanie Gray, Jeannette Grey Gilbert, Brett Gunnink, Alison Harmon, Robert Hawks, Jeff Heys, Stefani Hicswa, John How, Yves Idzerda, Chris Kearns, Greg Kegel, Ryan Knutson, Chere LeClair, Terry Leist, Dan Miller, Bob Mokwa, Chris Murray, Jennifer Thomson, Doralyn Rossmann, Tricia Seifert, Kim Obbink, Lucas Oelkers, Craig Ogilvie, Kellie Peterson, Sarah Shannon, Royce Smith, Cody Stone, Amber Vestal, Kristof Zaba

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  1. Call to Order
    President Waded Cruzado

    President Waded Cruzado called meeting to order at 8:30am.

  2. Approval of Minutes from December 7, 2022

    Terry Leist moved to approve minutes; Dean Matt Caires seconded, and the minutes were approved unanimously.

  3. University Wide Information/Announcements

    The last two weeks of December 2022 were truly remarkable.  The Bobcat football team kept us excited until the very end -- Go Cats!  The President’s Medallion Dinner was very special and thank you to everyone who participated.  Thank you to the academic colleges who made December 2022 commencement so wonderful.  President Cruzado welcomed Jennifer Thomson as the new chair of Faculty Senate and Tom Woods, attending on behalf of Chere LeClair, as the non-tenure track representative. 

  4. Public Comment

    There was no public comment offered.

  5. Old Items

    A. Fiscal Misconduct Policy Revision
        Camie Bechtold, Chief Compliance Officer

    Camie provides update to University Council: In Section 300.70: added nothing in the policy is intended to interfere or delay any police investigation.  In 500.20: added Legal Counsel as a department that could assist.  The policy was approved unanimously.Informational Items

    A. Update on Tuition Waiver Policy
         Jeannette Grey Gilbert, Chief Human Resources Officer

    Jeannette shared this updated policy has been enhanced to four months of employment to be eligible; and two dependents at a time. It is effective January 2023.

    B. Choosing Promise: GOAL 2.4: Elevate Expectations for Scholarship
        Chris Fastnow, Director, Office of Planning and Analysis

    Montana State University faculty, staff, and students hold themselves to the highest standards of research and creative outcomes.

    METRICS and ACTIONS

    1. Colleges, departments, and centers will set goals and document progress in their annual research reports by 2020. The goal was accomplished on time!
    2. Montana State University will have annual contract and grant expenditures exceeding $200 million spanning all units by 2024.
    3. Publications, presentations of creative works, translational research and creative activity, and other evidence of dissemination of scholarship will meet or exceed peer benchmarks by 2024.
    4. Montana State University will increase the number of research faculty, research staff, post-docs and graduate students funded on external contracts and grants by 2022.

  6. Public Comment

    There was no public comment offered.

  7. Updates

    Stephanie Erdmann shared Great Falls College Montana State University is slightly up on their FTE’s which is welcome news.  The Sprint Program format is ongoing with OCHE; Second Chance Pell and working with prison in Shelby. In 2022 they received $1 million in ARPA funds and grants.  They are hosting the regional science fair, night out for science scholarship and fundraiser.

    Chancellor Hicswa is working on the Sprint Program and Second Chance Pell as well.  As part of their retention initiative, they are overhauling their advising.  They are using a new system in advising literature for professional and faculty advisors. Today is Chancellor Hicswa’s second anniversary.  President Cruzado congratulated her and said the transformation has been extraordinary and attributed to Chancellor Hcswa and her team. 

    Chancellor Kegel shared MSU Northern’s Provost Neil Moisey retired.  Carol Reifschneider is serving as interim Provost as they conduct a search. The rodeo program raised over $100,000.00 and they kicked off their capital campaign for the new equine facility.

    Around-the-table updates were shared by University Council members.

    Meeting adjourned at 10:00am.

NOTE:  The next University Council meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, February 1 , 2023, from 8:30 AM – 10:00 AM in SUB, Room 235.