Minutes - 11/15/2001

Missouri Western State College
Faculty Senate Minutes
November 15, 2001

Call to order:

The meeting was called to order at 4:02 p.m. by Robert Klostermeyer, Faculty Senate president.

Senators present:

Larry Andrews, Mike Cadden, Ben Caldwell, Bill Church, Steven Greiert, Marilyn Hunt, Robert Klostermeyer, Mark Mikkelsen, Barry Nelson, Sally Radmacher, Keith Rhodes, John Tapia, Kelly Williams, Carolyn Windsor

Senators absent:

Brenda Blessing, Evan Noynaert, Mike Smith

Ex-officio members present:

James Scanlon, president
James Roever, vice president for academic affairs

Guests present:

Phil Mullins, Robert Nulph

Approval of minutes:

Senator Greiert moved to approve the minutes of the previous meeting of November 1, 2001 with the following change: swap the positions of the second and third paragraphs in the section "Professional leave committee report." After a short discussion, Senator Andrews called the question. The minutes were then approved as amended by unanimous consent.

Approval of agenda:

The agenda for today's meeting was approved as proposed (Tapia).

Report from college president:

James Scanlon, president of Missouri Western State College, reported that the Coordinating Board for Higher Education (CBHE) has recommended an equity funding adjustment for Missouri Western State College in the amount of $1,526,364, which would be implemented over a two year period, resulting in Missouri Western's (per full-time equivalent student) funding being raised to 90 percent of the national average for peer institutions by the year 2003-2004. President Scanlon tendered his appreciation for the recommendation, while affirming that the proposed adjustment is still insufficient, since he has been pushing for a $4 million adjustment over a two year period.

On October 31, the Commissioner of Higher Education acknowledged that the proposed adjustment was not enough. She stated that there are 3 options for adjusting the FTE funding: (1) additional funding of $4 million to bring us to 100 percent of the national average; (2) additional funding of $6.6 million to bring us to 100 percent of the average of similar Missouri state institutions; and (3) additional funding of $16.7 million to bring us to 100 percent of the highest in-state similar institution. Scanlon expressed his encouragement for the blossoming support of the Commissioner, who has passed this problem to the state legislature. Scanlon indicated that we need a four year plan to bring us to the national average of peer institutions, and to this end has been working with key state legislators (in addition to planning to work with the governor's office in settling this). In mid-December, the chair of the legislative sub-committee working with the inequity issue should issue a preliminary report.

Scanlon then reported that a second 5 percent withholding of state funds is likely, for which the college is beginning to plan for meeting this shortfall. State funds are short this year and are likely to continue to be short for some time to come. At a breakfast meeting with the governor, officials from the governor's office indicated that the state expects $450 million requested for new projects, while only $180 million in new revenue is expected . Scanlon expressed his hope that the equity adjustment funding will survive through these austere financial projections.

Finally, Scanlon announced that advertising has been placed for the positions of vice president for academic and student affairs and vice president for financial planning and administration. These advertisements will appear in the Chronicle of Higher Education on November 30, with a stated closing date of January 30, 2002.

Some discussion followed President Scanlon's report.

Report from vice president for academic affairs:

James Roever, vice president for academic affairs, reported that President Scanlon has appointed an ad-hoc faculty salary committee consisting of all members of the current Faculty Senate salary committee, Todd Eckdahl, Deans Daffron and Johnson, and himself. The committee is scheduled to meet November 16 to deal with remaining salary issues and modification of the merit pay system.

Roever further reported that he has reviewed the applications for faculty professional leave for the year 2002-2003 and has forwarded his recommendations to President Scanlon.

Report from Faculty Senate executive committee:

Robert Klostermeyer, Faculty Senate president, reported that the Senate executive committee has met to examine the proposed minutes and to discuss briefly the ad-hoc grievance committee report. In addition, some discussion occurred concerning what issues the executive committee might like to discuss with President Scanlon. Klostermeyer then invited any senators to propose issues or matters they may like to see discussed by the executive committee in its periodic meeting with Scanlon.

Ad-hoc grievance committee report:

Phil Mullins, chairperson of the ad-hoc grievance review committee, distributed the Ad Hoc Grievance Review Committee Report (attachment A) and briefly presented its 11 proposals. After some discussion of several of the proposals, the motion was made to table the matter (Greiert), so that discussion could continue at the December 6 senate meeting. The motion to table passed unanimously.

Preliminary Curriculum Committee report:

Robert Nulph, chair of the Curriculum Committee, presented a written informational report entitled General Description of Department of Economics Items Proposal Number 01-07 Fall 2001, which consists of 21 proposals (attachment B). Nulph asked that the senate accept the report with the understanding that it would be forwarded to the College Governance Advisory Council (CGAC). After some brief general discussion, President Klostermeyer declared the report as received.

Old business:

MOTION SB 01-02.01: That the name of the Division of Liberal Arts and Sciences be changed to the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and that the name of the Division of Professional Studies be changed to the School of Professional Studies (Greiert).

Senator Andrews moved to adopt, whereupon the motion then passed unanimously.

Adjournment:

The meeting was adjourned at 5:35 p.m. (Windsor)


G. Barry Nelson
Faculty Senate Secretary