Meet and Confer Notes
WSU Faculty Association
        Monday, September 15, 2003, 3:00 p.m.

 

0.            Additions or deletions

                Previously Scheduled:

1.         Course Approvals
            2.         Committee Appointments
            3.         Career Steps
            4.         Handgun Signs
            5.         Retirement Workshops
            6.         Enrollment Targets and Advertising
            7.         Meeting with Rochester Faculty
            8.         Teacher Education Unit Appeals Procedure
            9.         MnSCU Sexual Violence Policy
          10.        Conflict between Lobby Day and Assessment Day
          11.         Final Exam Policy
          12.        Rochester Holiday Closing
          13.        Winona Experience (Administration)
          14.        Student Teaching Supervision (Administration)
          15.        Calendar (Administration)

 

Additions:

16.        Printing (IFO Addition)

17.        IFO Travel Funds (IFO Addition)

18.        University Studies Progress Report (Administration Addition)

19.        Enrollment handout (Administration Addition)

20.        Coming campus visit (Administration Addition)

 

WSUFA Executive Committee:   Mary Kesler (President), Bruce Svingen (Vice-President), David Bratt (Board/Past President), Matt Hyle (Negotiator), Sara Barbor (Past Negotiator), Darrell Downs (Treasurer), Bill Ng (Secretary), Vacant Seat (Board).

 

 

1.         Course Approvals

 

The administration was informed that Faculty Senate approved changes in a 1credit research methods course and a non-thesis option for the Master's degree in English.  Papers already delivered and signed by the administration.

  

2.            Committee Appointments

 The administration was notified that Faculty Senate approved the following IFO member names (forwarded by their respective departments) for IACUC:

 Biol - Fran Ragsdale, Robin Richardson

Psyc - Rich Deyo, Kerry Williams

Phil - Kevin Possin (Don Schneid as backup)

 and the following IFO member names (forwarded by their respective departments) for IRB:

 

Nurs - Pat Hartkopf

Coms - Rita Rahoi-Gilchrest

Psyc - Carrie Fried

HHP - Brian Zeller

  

3.         Career Steps

 As instructed by Faculty Senate, M. Kesler asked the administration whether faculty who are due career steps [faculty on their 11^th, 21^st and 31^st year] have received the appropriate increase.

 The administration stated that all faculty have, except for two whose contracts are under Board review.

  

4.            Handgun Signs

 As instructed by Faculty Senate, M. Kesler queried when the administration will post appropriate signs banning handguns (i.e no handgun) on system property, noting that IFO will also carry this issue to the State Meet and Confer.  Also, are there safety/emergency plans in place if and when someone with a gun appear on campus?

 

Administration responses: [MnSCU policy given to the WSUFA]

1.         Policy states that MnSCU restricts/prevents MnSCU employees and students (except licensed peace officers) from carrying guns on campus grounds/buildings.

2.            Employees and students who have permits may carry firearms in parking lots.

3.         The administration would rather NOT post any signs.

4.         People with permits know what the policy is.

5.         VP Winbush is looking at the issue of safety/emergency plans when someone with a gun came on campus.  A  plan is being drafted and might be coming out in December. 

6.         The administration is not sure whether they can query people's gun permit status.  They will be checking this issue with MnSCU.  (i.e.  Can the administration ask someone if they have a gun permit?)

  

5.            Retirement Workshops

The administration was informed that Russ Stanton will be doing retirement workshops and individual meetings for faculty on campus September 22 and 23.  IFO would not mind having administration attend the meeting.

 The administration thanked the IFO for inviting them.

  

6.            Enrollment Targets and Advertising

 As requested by Senate, the administration was inquired regarding the following:

- a newspaper report where a future enrollment target of 8000 was mentioned by Tom Grier;

- the mention of a $150,000 advertising budget and the need for that;

- data for the past few years on (1) students/FTE faculty and (2) number of permanent faculty over the last few years, broken down by adjunct, fixed term, and probationary/tenure track faculty.

 

Administration responses: [ with a packet of enrollment handouts ]

1.         This year was projected to be 7,680 FTE, but ~8000 head-count.

2.         Student growth from: Winona campus NEF (1648 past projection of 1550-1650), transfers, and retention (75.4% from ~73%).  Therefore should have modest growth.

3.         WSU has had faculty growth (not probationary) with student growth.  The administration are now beginning to discuss how/whether to increase probationary faculty numbers.

4.         The administration has been gathering data on faculty number trends the last year but has not finished with the data.  The real faculty FTE data is difficult to decipher since faculty could have leaves, overloads, reduced load, etc, which are difficult to calculate toward actual load. 

5.         Data on adjuncts and fixed terms will be send out via Meet and Confer.  The administration is trying to understand/compare MnSCU load numbers to WSU's own numbers.

6.         WSU has been better in preserving faculty lines/positions than any other units on campus.

7.            Advertizing budget was started several years ago with advice from consulting firms.  WSU is trying to get a greater market share before State enrollment declines.  By putting a small amount ($) into this effort, WSU could receive higher private giving in return by enhancing WSU's image in the public eye (similar to the Capital Campaign that WSU would like to start). 

8.         Student growth helps to pay for short-term budget short-falls, could be even more painful if WSU has a decline.

  

7.            Meeting with Rochester Faculty

 The administration was informed that M. Kesler intends to continue with a meeting with Rochester faculty and the administration (Richardson & Clements) once per semester.

 The administration stated that these informal meetings for Rochester faculty is a lot more useful than regular Meet and Confer meeting.

  

8.            Teacher Education Unit Appeals Procedure

 As instructed by Faculty Senate, the WSUFA exec. committee referred the Teacher Education Unit Appeals Procedures document to the administration with the following concerns:

(a) the fact that it should be brought to Meet and Confer first,

(b) that it could override department policies, and

(c) that it could be clearer in what it tries to do (assuming it is used primarily for students who want to appeal when they are not admitted to the professional education program.

 Administration responses:

1.         Carol Anderson: procedure developed by unit council (old PEAC, renamed UPC, Unit Planning Committee) and policy has been in place for over a decade, this is just a refinement. 

2.         CA:  Will try to clear up the document.

3.         CA on issue of overriding dept. policy: The procedure was intended to focus on education's retention/admission process.  The procedure should go through department representative and the department (via chairperson).  Anything dealing with department policy would go back to the respective departments.  This is a standard due process for any students not getting admitted to Education or retain by the department.  CA will provide a current charge of the UPC to see if it's still ok.

 The administration agreed to bring charge and description of UPC, including clarifications to the procedure document.

 

 9.         MnSCU Sexual Violence Policy

 As requested by Senate, the exec. committee asked the administration that a draft of a MnSCU Sexual Violence policy be referred to the Sexual Violence Advisory Committee for comments.

 The administration agreed to forward document to the said committee and will request feedback from them.

10.            Conflict between Lobby Day and Assessment Day

 The administration was informed that there could be conflict(s) between student Lobby Day and Assessment Day on February 11.  One conflict involves mandatory assessment tests and lobbying efforts.

 Administration responses:

1.         This is a state-wide issue since the State Student association sets the date state-wide.  It would be more difficult for them to move the date, which has traditionally been the second Wednesday in February.

2.         The administration will look into moving Assessment Day, though not this year since the College of Business required assessment test is only done in alternate years, (i.e.  not this year.).  So the administration could ask the Calendar Committee how to move Assessment Day (to avoid Lobby Day).

3.         The administration proposed to move Assessment Day (in FY2005, FY2006) one week later in February.

  

11.        Final Exam Policy

 The administration was queried why the language for the Final Exam policy that was approved last year has not yet been updated (on the web).

The administration realized it was a web-page-task error (separate web pages for spring and fall schedules).  The error has been corrected.

  

12.            Rochester Holiday Closing

 WSUFA recently found that the Rochester campus (due to possible budget savings) has announced closing of the Rochester campus/buildings during holidays (Dec. 24-Jan.4).  Is this true and exactly which buildings are closed?  This is of concern to Rochester faculty since they could be blocked from doing any professional development and/or class preparation, which affects terms and conditions of employment within the IFO contract.  This issue will also be taken State Meet and Confer.

 Administration responses: [decision of closing has been made by RCTC President Suppula]

1.         In a revised agreement last summer, the buildings/grounds were given to RCTC for operation.  WSU presently use Rochester facilities via a payment  negotiation. 

2.         The closing will NOT provide building access to faculty.  There will NOT be heat, snow plowing.  Hallway access will also be blocked.   About $100k could be saved...where is WSU's share of the savings?

3.         What if the Internet connection goes down?...afraid of the answer!

4.         Rochester faculty can work at WSU and should be provided internet connection off-campus.

5.         The U only has 1 or 2 faculty at Rochester, no real effect to the U.

6.         Several Nursing faculty (and a few others) might need working environment during the closing period.  The administration agreed to work out an arrangement for faculty to work in Rochester during the closing period.

7.         A few staff will have to be access buildings (for payroll).

8.         Not sure if alarms will turn off!

9.         Russ Lohman and Christine Clements will take faculty names who might need building access and then arrangements can be made.

10.        Who are the non-essential employees?!

11.        The administration is not pleased with the decision to close the Rochester campus either.  The closing could be viewed negatively by the community.

  

13.        Winona Experience (Administration)

 

The administration provided the WSUFA exec. comm. with several draft documents for the development of several all-university committees to explore how WSU can address the AWinona Experience@ concept.  Except for AFSCME, all units have agreed to participate and they have all asked for increases in members on committees, with students wanting majority on committees.

 

WSUFA questions/comments [administration responses]:

1.         Faculty will take this issue under consideration and will begin discussion at the next Senate meeting.

2.         How does this connect with the Long Range Planning committee
[Don't know answer since the administration has not received any feedback from that committee for quite a while.]

3.         During Leadership Retreat, some faculty related concerns of "less resources with more work".

[Students could buy into (possibly more) tuition increases if WSU can show an "improved"/Winona Experience.  If the State can get Health Care costs under control, then perhaps a different ball game.  It's an ethical practice for WSU to try to seek ways to improve this university.  No models are out there for WSU to follow.  Perhaps with something better, WSU can ensure its future for may be 5-10 years.  However, if MnSCU rules  no tuition increase, then all bets are off .  Just by going through the process would help WSU improve itself even if WSU did not become a "New" University.   The administration has high hopes that the Governor and the MnSCU Board/Chancellor would buy into WSU being the "Winona Experience."]

4.         Can the administration come for Q&A during the next Senate meeting? [ yes ]

  

14.        Student Teaching Supervision (Administration)

 The administration provided a document (from Dean Carol Anderson) on Student Teaching Supervision for Fall 2003.

  

15.            Calendar (Administration)

 The administration forwarded (properly) the 2004-2005 and 2005-2006 calendars, with Assessment Day a week later in each calendar.

 

 16.            Printing (IFO Addition)

 The Print Shop turn around time has been very slow the last few weeks. (i.e. two weeks given ahead of time was not time enough in getting print materials back.)   Are other state agencies (i.e. Tech C in Winona) contracting WSU for Print Shop work?

 The administration responded that they are trying to build a cooperative relationship with other state agencies. They told Tech C in Winona that there should be a 6 week lead time.  The Print Shop was simply swamped.

  

17.        IFO Travel Fund (IFO Addition)

What is the policy of (about-to-leave/retire) faculty with multi-year subscriptions?  Presently, the Business Office's policy is that if a faculty leaves WSU, the subscription goes to the Library or the Department.  However, for most professional subscriptions, the costs is substantially lower for an individual than for a Department or the Library.  Will the administration carry the extra costs?  Shouldn't the Business Office be allowing faculty to cancel subscriptions (upon their leave/retirement) ? 

 The administration will study this issue more carefully.