Meet and Confer
WSU Faculty Association
Monday, September 10, 2001

AGENDA

18. Technology (e-mail) Concerns (FA addition)
19. Strike and NCA
20. Forthcoming Posting Policy (Administration information)

WSU Faculty Association Senate re-elected Bill Ng as secretary and Darrell Downs as WSUFA treasurer.
Peter Henderson was elected to the Government Relations Committee.
The administration acknowledged these appointments.

2. Committee on Committees

Faculty Senate referred the WINGS Task Force request for three faculty appointments to Committee on Committees for appointment this year. D. Bratt has forwarded this recommendation to Comm. on Comm.

Senate referred to the PP&G Committee the memo from the Dean of Education (5/2/01), in which the dean reported student teaching supervisors' Spring '01 assignments and proposed a procedure by which such assignments would/could be made in the future. PP&G was instructed to review and recommend.

PP&G is also looking at 3-14 and 3-15.

4. Student Teacher Supervision assignments for Fall

D. Bratt noted to the administration that Dean Anderson's memo (5/2/01) stated, "The load for supervisors to be assigned next fall [i.e., this semester] will be provided by the beginning of the school year as placements are finalized and supervisors are hired."

FA Senate requests that this information (for fall 2001) be provided by the administration.

Administration provided the information during the meeting. Document titled "Student teacher supervisor loads for Fall 2001" dated September 8, 2001, originator Carol Anderson.

The student teacher supervision loads for Spring 2001 will be coming later.

D. Bratt informed the administration the FA Senate would like the results of the survey of the AA/HR office, undertaken last year.

The administration provided a single (draft) copy at the meeting. VP-Richardson noted the results was done with the Covey Foundation and was quite costly. This is to be viewed as an assessment tool, not evaluative. This should give the campus a start on how the campus view the AA/HR office.

D. Bratt requested (from the administration) the fixed-term and adjunct faculty lists for 2000-2001.

The administration thought they might have given a list of fixed-terms in April to Alex Yard, but Alex cannot recall (or refused to recall on the grounds that it might cause self-incrimination). VP-Richardson will provide a fresh list on fixed-terms and adjuncts at the next Meet and Confer.

D. Bratt noted that there is an increase in use of fixed-terms state-wide. VP-Richardson believes it might be due to increases in retirement numbers and failed searches.

Senate deferred action on the Report Describing Additional Duties Assigned to Administrators at Various Times, provided last Spring, because a revised version of the Report had not yet arrived.

D. Bratt requested that the administration provide a revised version of the Report, prior to the next Senate meeting, if possible. Tess Kruger requests for some clarification. She was not present at the Meet and Confer meeting when FA-exec's asked the questions. Tess Kruger appeared to have been given enough clarification during this meeting to provide a revised version of the Report.

The administrators will provide a revised copy at the next Meet and Confer.

The Sep. 24 Meet and Confer will occur during the NCA Visit dates. The NCA team would like to visit with the FA-Senate at 3 p.m. D. Bratt requests that the 9/24 Meet and Confer be scheduled at a later time on that date. The administration proposed 4 p.m.

The administration proposed that WSU should build (and enhance) an environment that focuses on technology application for faculty. A document titled WSU E-Learning Center Proposal was given to FA-exec's. This center could begin this year and serves as a pilot year. This represents a best shot at beginning an E-learning environment for faculty development. The E-learning Center would be supervised by an E-Learning Director, who would report to Assoc.VP-Clements. The E-Learning Director is a new position. An E-Learning Advisory Team is being proposed to be composed of: a Dean's rep, AUTC rep, FATECH rep, Rochester rep, Cont. Ed./Outreach rep, TSC rep, ITS rep, E-Learning Center Director, and the Laptop Liaison. This team would be proposing/considering E-Learning Policies and Directions.

The administration would like to start this center as soon as possible.

Comments:

1. The E-Learning Director carries out policies drafted by the E-Learning Team.

2. Searches for positions that are not presently filled will begin as soon as possible. Due to the soon-to-be-expired contract, the MAC-focused E-Learning Center Analyst position will be opened for a search soon.

3. No real new money, just combined and shifted internally. For example, The E-Learning Director position, a MSUAASF level-E position, will be funded from existing unfilled positions from IT and ACEED).

4. The E-Learning Instructional Designer (used to be available only to College of Nursing and Health Sciences) will now be available to the university.

5. This document is a working draft/document. Suggestions are welcome.

IACUC is in charged of looking at research proposals involving animals.

The administration is proposing that the committee memberships for faculty be increased from two faculty to four faculty (i.e. two from Biology and two from Psychology). Having one additional IFO from each of Biology and Psych would improve the chance of having a rep from each department at every meeting. Tim Dost, a Winona Clergy member, was contacted to be the ethicist. He also represents a outside-WSU member. He has agreed to be a member of the committee. The administration would like to have faculty appointments recommended to them.

The administration proposed that the Residential College Steering Committee be appointed two more members. Having more faculty members appointed on this committee would help to reflect the university-wide intent/effect of the Residential College concept.

The administration informed that they have hired an external consultant to help the Registrar’s office with non-technical aspects of the 2002-2004 Undergrad Catalog. The process has begun. The new catalog should be available sometime this summer. University Studies courses that have been approved will be put in he Catalog and Flag Courses (that have not been approved by the print date) will need to be designated appropriately.  Changes in flags and courses could be placed on the web.  University Studies will take to A2C2.

The administration reminded the visit team dates are Sept. 24-26. Some specific meetings have been set up, but others (that the NCA will want) hasn't been solicited/notified. The team members have been listed on the WSU-NCA web-site. The deadline for e-materials must be given to Lee Gray by Sept. 15.

(19) Strike effects: Strike (s) and NCA are separate issues. The strike should not affect the NCA accreditation or its process. The administration refused to comment on their preparation for a possible strike. The administration stated that they will not request replacements to work as scabs during the strike, including student workers.

 

The administration proposed that WSU plan for a convocation ceremony during fall orientation week. They would like the Commencement Committee to discuss and plan for this event.

The administration proposed that we have a Service Day in the spring time. A document was given to the FA exec's. This document is a letter addressed to all constituencies. It speaks to the importance of service to the community. It calls for the establishing of the Community Service Planning Committee composed of:

5 IFO

5 students

2 MSUAASF

2 Council 6

1 Coalition

1 Council of Administrators

This committee is in charged of coordinating the activities of a service day, a day during the academic year in which members of the WSU students, faculty and staff would work on a variety of service projects. The day will conclude with a campus-wide celebration to show appreciation for the volunteers.

The administration informed the FA that they are working on a strategic plan (for where WSU is going). This will be made available at the next Meet and Confer.

The administration informed the FA that many university regulations remained un-updated. They will bring (revised/updated) regulations to Meet and Confer throughout the year.

18. Technology (FA addition)

Faculty are noticing that student e-mails are getting caught up in the switch from vax2 mail accounts to webmail accounts. Many students think they have vax accounts but they don't anymore; therefore replies to vax accounts are bouncing back. Faculty reps. suggested to the administration that ITS communicate to the students and faculty regarding what is going on with e-mail accounts on campus.

Re-routings have been made by ITS to attempt to catch these bouncing e-mails; however, the system is still not catching these bouncy cyber-stuff.

The administration (ITS) is presently working on an all-university announcement on the changes in e-mail formats/systems.

See Item #13.

The administration will be bringing a Posting Policy at the next Meet and Confer. The policy will be dealing with hard-copy posters around the campus.

Adjourned 4:28 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted,

Bill Ng.