Faculty Senate Minutes - 11/7/2002

Missouri Western State College
Faculty Senate Minutes

November 7, 2002


Call to order:

The meeting was called to order by President Greiert at 4 p.m.


Senators present:

Larry Andrews, Brenda Blessing, Ben Caldwell, Bill Church, Richard Cluff, Steven Greiert,
Susan Hennessy, Marilyn Hunt, Michael Ottinger, Bob Klostermeyer, Barry Nelson,
Keith Rhodes, Mike Smith, John Tapia, Carolyn Windsor


Senators absent:

Randye Williams, Mark Mikkelsen


Guests present:

Dr. Arnold, Carl Bell, John Comerford, Dr. Scanlon, Geo Sipp, Ernie Stufflebean


Approval of minutes:

Minutes of the October 17, 2002 meeting were approved (Ottinger/Cluff).


Approval of the agenda:

The agenda for the November 7, 2002 meeting was approved (Blessing/Hunt).


Report from college president:

Dr. Scanlon reported on the following:
1. Coordinating Board for Higher Education confirmed the appointment of an interim
commissioner to serve a one year term;
2. He has received a recommendation from the strategic planning subcommittee to hire
an individual who would serve as Director of Grants and Sponsored Programs.
This individual would report to the Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs;
3. The November 5 Kansas City Chiefs’ visit to the campus and St. Joseph was
a positive event for the Chiefs, the campus and the community. Questions by several
senators were asked of Dr. Scanlon regarding potential impact on the campus if selected
as a training site. These included: 1) Reemphasis by Dr. Scanlon that Western will not
be deterred in any way from its academic mission; and 2) Financial impact on the college
would be neutral.


Report from vice president for academic and student affairs:

Dr. Arnold reported on the following:
1. SPIF proposal guidelines will be on the Web and he requested senators encourage
departments to submit proposals. He reported there was $350,000 available for
FY 2002 and that there will be a second request cycle in July 2003;
2. He welcomes discussions with faculty about the Chiefs’ potential use of Western
as a training site and can share his experiences from St. John Fisher College and the Buffalo Bills;
3. He will provide the MU report on dual credit to the Faculty Senate Executive
Committee;
4. The Cultural Diversity Team presentation will be made to the Faculty Senate today
by Ernie Stufflebean. He encouraged senators to review and consider the goals of the
team.


Report from faculty senate executive committee:

President Greiert reported the committee has met and will meet with Dr. Scanlon and Dr. Arnold on a monthly basis. He further reported that Fred Nesslage, Data Communications Coordinator, is creating a committee to review network services with the first meeting in November 2002.
Greiert asked senators to consider faculty nominations and respond to him as soon as possible.
He also indicated that comments have been received from faculty and retirees regarding changes in the consortium health benefits and costs of the benefits. President Greiert stated he will be asking the Fringe Benefits committee to examine the changes and to meet with the Executive Committee. Several senators raised questions about the security of existing faculty positions with the additional funding cut of 10% in December, and a brief discussion followed.


Report from faculty senate professional leave committee:

President Greiert welcomed Geo Sipp, chair of the committee. Larry Andrews dismissed himself from the meeting at this time. A written report was then presented to the senate. Discussion ensued regarding the five faculty who have applied for sabbatical. Brenda Blessing requested the committee’s report reflect the correct rank of all applicants and that the Executive Committee develop a written response to the professional leave committee’s recommendations. Greiert concurred with this request. He thanked all committee members for their work and gave special thanks to Geo Sipp for his willingness to assume the chair position after several last-minute changes in the committee structure.


Report from college diversity team:

Ernie Stufflebean, Associate Dean of Student Affairs and chair of the College Diversity Team,
distributed copies of a draft document dated July 22, 2002, entitled “Diversity Education Team
Report”. He indicated this was a working document. He discussed the purpose of the team and
the goals cited in the report. He further indicated a desire to have greater faculty representation on the committee. Greiert asked senators to submit names of faculty nominees to the Executive Committee within the next two weeks. Discussion by the senate ensued with questions raised about funding, the relationship of this program to Unity Services, diversity training, and the name of the department (Goal#4, p.7). Carl Bell and John Comerford participated in the discussion and clarified information presented in the document.


Old Business:

None


New Business:

None


Adjournment:

Meeting adjourned at 5:30 p.m. (Nelson/Blessing).




Respectfully submitted,


Carolyn Windsor
Faculty Senate Secretary