Faculty Senate Minutes - 11/6/2003

Missouri Western State College

Faculty Senate Minutes

November 6, 2003




Call to Order:

Senate President Barry Nelson called the meeting to order at 4:03 p.m.

Senators present:

Blessing, Caldwell, Cluff, Haney, Hennessy, Hunt, Ottinger, Wacek, Wagner, Senate President Nelson, Senate Vice-President Tapia, Past Senate President Greiert, Senate Secretary Andrews

Senators absent:

Hegeman, Mikkelsen, Williams

Ex-officio members present:

MWSC President James Scanlon
MWSC Vice-President for Academic and Student Affairs David Arnold

Guests present:

Professor Ali Kamali, Chair Professional Leave Committee

Approval of minutes:

Minutes of the Faculty Senate meeting October 23, 2003 meeting approved (Senator Hunt/Senator Blessing)

Approval of agenda:

Agenda for November 6, 2003 meeting approved (Senator Ottinger/Senator Caldwell)

Report from MWSC College President:

President Scanlon reported that Western Points of Pride had been updated and will continue to be updated to personalize issues that celebrate students, staff and faculty.

President Scanlon provided copies of a memo from Quinton Wilson concerning the upcoming meeting of the Commission on the Future of Higher Education. President Scanlon indicated that it is just a recommendation document at this point and he if asked his current attitude would be ¡§yes and no¡¨. It has a strong emphasis on ¡§measurement¡¨ and includes some material that would be good for Western concerning ¡§student financing¡¨. A copy of a proposed suggested policy is attached to the minutes. (attached)

President Scanlon also named the advisory committee to do final recommendations of the ¡§salary equity plan¡¨. Members of the committee include both School Deans, Professors Kevin Anderson and Christa Adam along with Faculty Senate President Nelson, Past-President Greiert and MWSC Vice-President Arnold. It is anticipated that the plan will be implemented by January 2004 and salary adjustments will be included on the January checks. President Scanlon indicated he anticipates this will be a multi-year project to bring faculty salary up to the proper levels.

Senator Blessing and Senate Vice-President Tapia asked about enrollment management issues. President Scanlon indicated that Howard McCauley, Vice-President Arnold and staff were reviewing the process.

Senator Caldwell inquired about health insurance concerns on campus including increases that affect faculty with families and retired faculty. President Scanlon related that Western was looking into the best option for next year indicating that several member schools currently involved with the consortium are also interested in what options might be available.

Report from the Vice-President for Academic and Student Affairs:

Vice-President Arnold reported that the review committee here for the Dean¡¦s Colloquium was pleasantly impressed with the current process on the Western campus concerning our ¡§learning communities¡¨. Branding and Image are areas which will be addressed to improve the learning communities.

He indicated retention could be improved with everyone from the maintenance staff, support staff, administration and faculty working together for engagement of Western students.

Faculty Senate President Nelson asked questions about the many committees on campus and the current progress on possible reduction of the same. Vice-President Arnold indicated that the committee process was under review and hoped that some committees would be eliminated and others might be combined.

Senator Hennessy requested additional information for academic departments on the learning committees and how faculty could be more involved to assist in the process.
Senator Haney who is working on the committee indicated that individual meetings might be scheduled for the departments in the future.

Senator Wacek reported that last Monday night faculty members started one new part of the learning community¡¦s process by meeting with groups of students in the dorm area. She believed the involvement was positive for students and an opportunity for faculty to encourage the learning community plan.

Senate President Nelson inquired about information he had received concerning the possible inception of a two-year college catalogue to cut down on publication costs yearly and the many changes. Vice-President Arnold indicated this is being considered for several reasons and will report as this develops.


Report from Faculty Senate Executive Committee:


President Nelson¡¦s report follows:


Executive Committee Report November 6, 2003
Missouri Western Faculty Senate

The senate executive committee met on November 5, at which time the following items were discussed:
„h timeline for selecting members for the ad hoc peer review integration committee
„h procedure for soliciting nominations for the ad hoc committee
„h specific nominations for members of the ad hoc committee
„h preview of the report from the professional leave committee
„h agenda for today's senate meeting
„h matters related to setting a monthly executive committee meeting with the college president and the vice president for academic and student affairs
„h concern for the growing demand for across-the-campus faculty committee work, in that securing adequate volunteers for faculty senate committees is becoming increasingly more difficult
„h recommendation from the college calendar committee to replace the Columbus Day holiday with a Friday "mid-semester break" beginning in the 2005 fall semester

Regarding the fall calendar, the executive committee expressed general disapproval for the replacement of Columbus Day holiday with the mid-semester break day. As president, I recommend a straw vote from the senate regarding our position on this recommendation, followed by a statement to the calendar committee expressing the senates¡¦ will. (attached)


President Nelson discussed the Faculty Senate Peer Review Committee and indicated he would be seeking nominations from Senators of candidates for service on the committee prior to November 14. He will be sending a memo to all faculty later today concerning the process. (attached)

Senator Blessing responded to Senate President Nelson¡¦s questions concerning the issue of a Fall holiday. The Faculty was asked to do a straw vote on the issue presented concerning when the holiday would be planned. The Senate voted against the proposed plan to move the holiday from one Friday to another around the football homecoming weekend. In a vote of two in favor and eight against the Senate does not favor the proposal from the Dean¡¦s Council. Senator Blessing along with several other Senators supported the holiday being on the calendar Columbus Day. Senator Caldwell indicated his concern about the loss of a Monday class day. The response from the Senate will be expressed by the Faculty Senate President and Vice-President at CGAC.

Professor Ali Kamali, Chairperson of the Faculty Senate Professional Leave Committee
Gave a report from the committee concerning sabbatical leave requested by faculty.


Motion to close meeting for Professional Leave report: (Missouri Sunshine Law Section 610.022) (Senator Blessing/Senator Wagner)

Motion to accept report (Senate Vice-President Tapia/Senator Cluff)


Vote postponed



Senate quorum was lost 5:20 p.m.



Respectfully submitted,



Larry D. Andrews, EdS
Professor
MWSC Faculty Senate Secretary




Attachments




Professional Leave Committee¡¦s Recommendation
Change of Statement in the Policy Guide
November 6, 2004

Policy Guide, Page 49

change current wording from:
Application Procedure for Faculty. A faculty applicant for sabbatical leave must submit one copy of the leave proposal to the department Chairperson by September 1. The proposal and the chair's recommendation must be submitted to the appropriate dean and the chair of the Professional Leave Committee by September 15. The recommendation of the appropriate dean shall be forwarded to the chair of the Professional Leave Committee by October 1. (July 1993)(May 2000)

to the following proposed revision
Application Procedure for Faculty. A faculty applicant for sabbatical leave must submit one copy of the leave proposal to the department Chairperson by September 1. The Chairperson will deliver her or his recommendation and the applicant's proposal to the appropriate dean and to the chair of the Professional Leave Committee by September 15. The dean will send his or her recommendation to the chair of the Professional Leave Committee by October 1. (July 1993)(May 2000)

Rationale
As currently worded, the sentences are passive. They caused confusion regarding meeting deadlines. The current statement vaguely implies but does not state if it is the applicant's or the chairperson's or the dean's responsibility to forward materials to the PLC. The proposed change maintains the intent of the paragraph and clarifies the responsibility of each person.