Faculty Senate Minutes - 2/20/2003
Missouri Western State College
Faculty Senate Minutes
February 20, 2003
Call to order:
The meeting was called to order by Vice President Barry Nelson at 4:00 p.m.
Senators present:
Larry Andrews, Brenda Blessing, Bill Church, Ben Caldwell, Richard Cluff, Susan Hennessy, Marilyn Hunt, Michael Ottinger, Mark Mikkelsen, Barry Nelson, Keith Rhodes, John Tapia, Randye Williams, Carolyn Windsor
Senators absent:
Steven Greiert, Mike Smith
Ex-officio members present:
President James Scanlon, Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs David Arnold
Guests present:
Mary Korneman, Andrea Schmitt
Approval of minutes:
Minutes of the February 6, 2003 meeting were approved (Tapia/Andrews).
Approval of the agenda:
The agenda for the February 20, 2003 meeting was approved (Ottinger/Cluff).
Report from college president:
President Scanlon reported on the current status of state funding, indicating an expected withholding of 2.3% for public institutions. For Missouri Western State College, the withholding would be approximately $459,000. He reassured senators that Western’s budget plan will accommodate the withholding. Scanlon also reported on the status of the “university” bill and complimented Charlie Sheilds and Beth Wheeler for the testimony they have provided in support of the bill. He further reported that the Coordinating Board for Higher Education has said that four-year institutions that have two-year programs, will have to justify the existence of the two-year programs, beginning in 2007. Senator Mikkelsen inquired about comments which have been made about Western in editorials in the local newspaper, and Scanlon responded that he will participate in an editorial meeting with the newspaper.
Report from vice-president for academic and student affairs:
Vice President Arnold reported that a draft document entitled “Assets and Aspirations: An Enrollment Management Plan to Promote the Western Advantage”, will be available for review this next week. This draft document is an outcome of the Academic Affairs Enrollment Management Committee’s activities and will be available online for employee review and
comment. He also reported that a proposal for the new residence hall will be sent to the Board of Regents at their meeting on February 27, 2003. As far as budget and faculty hiring, Arnold indicated he will be meeting with the chairs of the departments to discuss funding issues and the filling of open faculty positions.
Report from faculty senate executive committee:
Senate Vice President Nelson presented the following report:
1) The faculty senate budget has less than $204.00 to cover expenses for the
remainder of the fiscal year, and the executive committee plans to pursue an increase for
next year. This increase would help cover expenses for senators’ participation in
MAFS meetings;
2) CGAC met on Thursday, February 13, and approved the entire curriculum proposal
package as presented by faculty senate. Much of the CGAC discussion focused on the proposal from the Department of Business. Nelson also reported that he explained the
Engineering Technology proposal, which would increase their Electronics Engineering
Technology B.S. degree major requirements from 66 hours to 72 hours. The curriculum
proposal package will forwarded to President Scanlon for his consideration;
3) CGAC has changed their meeting times for the remainder of this semester to Tuesdays
at 3:30 p.m. The remaining scheduled meetings are March 4, April 8, and May 6.
4) Dr. Arnold reported that President Scanlon is requesting volunteers to serve on a
committee to review administrative policies, which will begin meeting the latter part of this
semester and report next year. Scanlon requests the names of volunteers by March 1;
5) The regular election of senators will be conducted during the first days of March, the
results posted by March 6. Nelson recommended that faculty be instructed to vote for
zero to four candidates from the LAS slate of eight, and to vote for zero to three candidates from the PS slate of six. He discussed the election of senators, requesting a volunteer to help count ballots on March 5 from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m., and stating election procedures would be the same this year as last year unless there were concerns among senators. No concerns were voiced and the election process was accepted by consensus.
6) The executive committee has received several volunteers for the calendar committee,
policy committee, and scholarship committee. They are: Randye Williams, calendar
committee; Larry Andrews, Brenda Blessing, John Tapia for the policy committee; and
Ben Caldwell, Mark Mikkelsen for the scholarship committee. Senators approved the
volunteers by consensus.
7) Nelson announced that the next senate meeting will be March 6.
President Scanlon and Vice President Arnold responded to the report with the following comments: Arnold agreed to increasing the faculty senate budget; Scanlon has signed and approved the curriculum proposals package; and Arnold will chair the committee which will review administrative policies, requesting three or four faculty nominations. Nelson indicated the executive committee will discuss the nominees and present the names to Scanlon. Senator Mikkelsen asked for clarification about the scope of the committee to review institutional committees, and Arnold responded that the review of institutional committees would not include faculty senate committees.
Old Business:
None was presented at this time.
New Business:
Senator Andrews reported that the ad hoc grievance committee members would be meeting
February 21 with Vice President Arnold and college attorney, Steven Briggs. Andrews requested senate to schedule the committee’s report after March 6. Senator Nelson agreed to the request.
Senator Hennessy introduced a motion to amend the MWSC Policy Guide, pp.62-63, changing the credit hour statement, which will make the number of credit hours consistent with the number of credit hours in the foreign language curriculum proposal which was approved in 2002 (Attachment A). Motion seconded by Senator Blessing. Senator Nelson indicated this motion
will be on the agenda for the March 6 senate meeting.
Senator Andrews asked for clarification on the status of professional development for faculty given the current budget constraints. He raised the question about possible assistance from the Foundation and Senator Mikkelsen responded that the Foundation will not be taking new applications for funding. Senators expressed a need for clarification of funding and professional development and raised the question whether a resolution from the senate would be in order.
Discussion ensued.
Adjournment:
Meeting adjourned at 5:10 p.m.(Blessing/Hennessy).
Respectfully submitted,
Carolyn Windsor
Faculty Senate Secretary
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