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               WSU FACULTY SENATE MEETING

March 31, 2003

 

Senators Present:       Danning Bloom, Matt Bosworth, David Bratt, Marianna Byman, Darrell Downs, Mark Engen, Yogesh Grover, Matthew Hyle, Colette Hyman, Joe Jackson, Mary Kesler, Cindy Killion, Daniel Lintin, Christa Matter, Peter Miene, Bill Ng, Troy Paino, Christine Pilon-Kacir(Rochester), Susanne Smith, Cathy Summa, Bruce Svingen, Kerry Williams,

Senators Absent:      Sara Barbor, Pat Ferden, Kelly Herold, Jo Stejskal(sabbatical leave), Alex Yard(sabbatical leave).

Others Present:         Charla Miertschin, Ruth Forsythe, Darci Foseid, Angie Hoppe, Glen Just..

  

I.           Call to Order

David Bratt called the meeting to order at 3:02 p.m.                                          

  

II.             Approval of minutes of March 17, 2003 Senate Meeting

 M. Kesler/C. Killion moved to approve minutes of Feb. 24th as written.

Motion Carried.

  

III.           Agenda Additions/Revisions and Approval:      

 Delete:                            OB-C (postponed when Russ Stanton is present)

 Add:

Com-I:                           Treasurer

NB-B:                             Campus Climate Survey

NB-C:                            Budget

NB-D:                            WSUFA Election Ballots

 

C. Killion/B. Svingen moved to approve agenda items.

Motion Carried.

  

IV.          President’s Report      

 Reported by D. Bratt.

 The Faculty Association has sent memorials to the families of two faculty on the occasion of a death in the family. 

The IFO/MnSCU contract is scheduled to be voted on in both houses today.

 The analysis phase of the IFO/MnSCU Salary Equity Study will be reported to WSU faculty and administrators tomorrow, Tues, 4/1, 3:30-5:30 pm in Stark Auditorium (ITV’d to Rochester).

 

Since the last Senate meeting, I have attended an IFO Executive Committee meeting and the Spring semester’s meeting between Rochester faculty and the President (accompanied this time by the Academic VP). The chief topics were (a) WSU’s plans for dealing with the budget and (b) implications of the state’s declining share of funding for the university. The discussion was similar to the President’s points on these topics at Meet and Confer later that day.

 Mary Kesler, Bruce Svingen, and I attended an IFO Board meeting last Thursday and Friday. Among the items:

 The IFO budget for FY 04 was reduced in the face of anticipated reductions in membership next year. Among the categories cut back was local campus budgets. Others were:

 The Board adopted committee recommendations calling for (a) the cost of  “Customized Training” programs to be paid in full by clients ($13 M in MnSCU’s budget), and (b) reductions in the cap on state grants going to private college students.

 Legislation has been introduced allowing Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College to offer two 4-year programs; an MOA between IFO and MSCF defines the union affiliation of faculty hired in these programs.

 Two retirement benefits proposed by a WSU faculty member were discussed. (1) A provision to cancel the TRA cap on part-time work by retirees is already in the legislature. (2) The suggestion to allow faculty to contribute to the VEBA account via payroll deductions is an item for negotiations, not legislation. As such, it should be introduced at Delegate Assembly, particularly in light of the fact that inclusion in the contract would require all faculty to participate.

Additional Notes:

1.          D. Bratt mentioned that Jim Schmidt would like faculty to attend a meeting tomorrow at City Hall (11:30) and voiced their concerns regarding cuts to Higher Ed.

  

V.          Review of Meet and Confer Notes of March 24, 2003.

 Meet and Confer Notes received by Senate.

  

VI.             Committee Reports

 COM-A.  A2C2 (Charla Miertschin)

 The following items are from the March 19, 2003 A2C2 meeting:

 I.          Course Approvals

 A.          Revised Course

1.                    CHEM 208 General, Organic, Biochemistry I (3 SH) to 4 SH

 B.         New Courses

1.             ENG 324 Projects in Writing and Language (1-2 SH)

2.             THAD 315 Japanese Classical Theatre (3 SH)

3.             HIST 343 Modern China (3 SH)

4.             HIST 398 Topics in History with Oral Communication Emphasis (3 SH)

5.             ECON 430 Asian Economies in Transition (3 SH)

6.             ECON 435 The North American Economies (3 SH)

C.          Revised Program

1.             B.S. Major Biology _ Cell and Molecular Option (BICM) - includes changes in the required and elective status of several     biology, chemistry, and math courses.

D.          New Courses for B.A. Major B Global Studies

1.             GS 205 Cultural Encounters (3 SH)

2.             GS 210 Introduction to North America (3 SH)

3.             GS 250 Introduction to Asia (3 SH)

4.             GS 255 Peoples and Cultures of South and Southeast Asia (3 SH)

5.             GS 355 Asian International Relations (3 SH)

6.             GS 360 Contemporary Asian Issues (3 SH)

7.             JPN 101 Beginning Japanese  I (4 SH)

8.             JPN 102 Beginning Japanese II (4 SH)

9.             JPN 201 Advanced Beginning Japanese  I (4 SH)

10.             JPN 202 Advanced Beginning Japanese II (4 SH)

11.             CHIN 101 Beginning Chinese  I (4 SH)

12.             CHIN 102 Beginning Chinese II (4 SH)

13.             CHIN 201 Advanced Beginning Chinese  I (4 SH)

14.             CHIN 202 Advanced Beginning Chinese II (4 SH)

E.          New Program B B.A Major B Global Studies

F.          University Studies B Course Requirements

1.             Arts & Sciences Core - Humanities

HIST 214 The Mississippi River in U.S. History (3 SH)

2.             Arts & Sciences Core - Natural Science

CHEM 106 Chemistry in Our World (3 SH)

CHEM 107 Chemistry in Our World with Lab (4 SH)

GEOS 201 Investigative Science I: Earth B The Water Planet (4 SH)

3.             Arts & Sciences Core - Fine & Performing Arts

THAD 151 Tap Dance I (1 SH)

THAD 153 Jazz Dance I (1 SH)

THAD 253 Jazz Dance II (2 SH)

THAD 155 Modern Dance I (1 SH)

THAD 255 Modern Dance II (2 SH)

THAD 157 Ballet I (1 SH)

THAD 257 Ballet II (2 SH)

G.          University Studies -- Flag Courses

1.             Writing

CS 410 Software Engineering (3 SH)

CS 470 System Design with CASE Tools (3 SH)

2.             Oral

CS 411 Software Testing (3 SH)

POLS 460 North American Relations (3 SH)

3.             Critical Analysis

HIST 372 Legal Research & Writing II (3 SH)

 

Faculty Senate approved the courses and programs in Item I.

 

II.             Recommendation

 

A.          A2C2 recommends the following change to the University Studies Program:

Under I. Course Requirements, A. Basic Skills, 2. Oral Communication, requirement f.: Delete “interpersonal and”.  The criterion will now read, “f. understand and be able to apply the communication behaviors appropriate for the constructive management of intra-group conflict;”

 

Faculty Senate approved US program recommendation in Item II.

 

III.             Notifications (information only)

 

A.          Geoscience - course description changes:

1.             GEOS 130 Earth & Life Through Time (4 SH) - Add  “Focuses on the assembly and evolution of North America as a model for global processes.”

2.             GEOS 225 Environmental Geoscience (3SH) - Course was previously offered in alternate years and will now be offered yearly (fall).  Prerequisite will change from “GEOS 120 or Instructor’s   Permission” to “Any University Studies Natural Science Course or Instructor’s Permission.”

3.             GEOS 240 Hydrogeology (4 SH) - Course was previously offered yearly (fall) and will now be offered in alternate years (fall).

B.          Geoscience - B.S. Major - Geoscience: Geology Option

Substitute requirement of GEOS 315 Surficial Processes & Soils (4 SH) for GEOS 440 Basin Analysis & Tectonics (4 SH).

C.          History - With the approval of the new course HIST 214 The Mississippi River in U.S. History (3 SH), it will be added to the required course sequence lists within the following programs with “Any two of the following” added:

B.A. Major - History, United States Sequence

B.A. Minor - History, United States Sequence

B.S. Major - Social Science/History (Secondary Social Studies Teaching), United States Sequence

D.          History - course title and description changes

title:  HIST 336 History of American Sports (3 SH) to History of North American Sports.

description: “A historical look at the place and value of sport in American culture” to “A historical look at the place and value of sport in North American culture”

E.          PER

The following PER Dance Technique courses will be banked:

1.             PER 118 Jazz Dance I

2.             PER 228 Jazz Dance II

3.             PER 116 Modern Dance I

4.             PER 216 Modern Dance II

5.             PER 316 Modern Dance III

6.             PER 416 Modern Dance IV

7.             PER 128 Ballet I

8.             PER 227 Ballet II

9.             PER 327 Ballet III

10.             PER 427 Ballet IV

11.             PER 136 Tap Dance

 

In addition, Faculty Senate received notifications in Item III.

   

Com-B.  Graduate Council

 No report.

 

Com-C.  Government Relations

 D. Downs reported the following:

1.          IFO Contract will be going through the legislature today, progress unknown.   He will send out a message on the results as soon as he knows.

  

Com-D.  Personnel Policies and Grievance

 No report.

  

Com-E.  Committee on Committees 

 Three names for the Faculty Orientation Coordinator Screening Committee will be sent for Senate e-vote this week.

  

Com-F. Budget Committee

 I.             Recommendations concerning the WSU budget deficit

The Committee recommends that Faculty Senate bring to Meet and Confer the following as statements of the faculty’s positions regarding the budget deficit:

              1.          Minimize “restoration of reserve” as a principle.

Budget reserves are built up in order to be used in hard times.  This may be one of the hardest times we will face.

 

2.          Maintain (or increase, commensurate with enrollment increases) the number of permanent (tenure-track) faculty lines at the university.

 

3.          Include the budget of the Admissions Office among those of all other units being examined in order to identify potential efficiencies.

 

4.          Include the budget of the Admissions Office among those of all other units being examined in order to identify potential efficiencies.

Not to do so is to assume, perhaps without hard evidence, that the Admissions Office has already achieved a level of efficiency that other units have not.

Furthermore, admitting well qualified students is no more important than having classes, equipment, and other support available to those students when they arrive.

 

5.          Pursue retirement incentives (early, phased, and/or full), including promises of continuation of faculty lines within a department when appropriate.

 

Senate Discussion:

1.          In addition to the Admissions Office, two areas that did not get un-allotted were: the portion of the Library budget that students’ extra tuition levy designated and the Leased Laptop program.

 

II.             Recommendations about IFO Legislative

 

The Committee recommends that Faculty Senate direct the following positions to the IFO Board as legislative goals:

1.          Seek to prevent transfer of MnSCU funding to HESO.  Failing that, seek to ensure that such funds be used only for MnSCU students’ grants.

2.          Seek to reduce the university’s responsibility for debt service on construction bonds.

 

M. Bosworth/T. Paino moved for Faculty Senate to approve Budget Committee’s recommendations I and II.

Motion Carried.

  

Com-G. May Term Committee

 The committee recommends that Faculty Senate bring the following recommendations to Meet and Confer:

 

Rec 1:   That WSU establish a May Term summer session, consisting of 25 consecutive days, with no overlap in duty days between the Spring Semester or Summer Session I.

 

Rec 2:   That WSU regulations governing Summer Session courses and instructors apply to the May Term, except where explicitly noted in the following.

 

Rec 3:   That courses offered during the May Term may be new or one-time offerings, existing courses within a department’s major or minor curricula, University Studies courses, or general electives.

 

Rec 4:   That the instructor be free to set the class meeting days and times of a May Term course without restriction, with the understanding that current credit-hour/contact-hour ratios will apply to May Term courses as well as courses in Summer Sessions I and II.

 

May Term courses involving travel may establish deadlines for fee payment to travel agents that precede normal university deadlines.  Courses requiring early payment deadlines will be able to accurately predict enrollment numbers earlier than normal summer courses; faculty contracts for such courses should be offered earlier than most.

 

Rec 5:   That the university establish procedures and dates regarding May Term (for submission of courses, for students’ registration, etc.) Such that faculty are able to meet the deadlines of travel agents and other agencies.

 

Rec 6:   That the university provide support staff to help faculty with travel arrangements and other details connected with unusual offerings.

 

To reduce the impact of new May Term offerings on a department’s summer budget funds:

 

Rec 7:   That the university make departments aware of opportunities to apply for funding from outside the regular operating budget of the university, such as New Venture Funds from ACEED or funding sources totally outside the university.

 

Questions/Discussion:

1.          Can chairs use the May Term as a summer session?...if May Term is the same as summer session, then Yes.

2.          These recommendations should be sent to PP&G.  If PP&G wishes, the May Term report should also be sent up to the state IFO office.

 

B. Svingen/D. Downs moved to send the May Term report to PP&G.

Motion Carried.

 

Com-H. National Child Protection Development and Training Center

 

Three documents (as part of the committee’ report to Senate) were e-mailed to Faculty Senators:

 

NCPDTCprop.doc  a one-page summary of 'Child Abuse Full Proposal. doc'

 

Child_Abuse_Full_Proposal.doc  complete version of the Director's long-term hopes and dreams

 

The Work Begins.doc  a memo from Mr. Vieth to his staff. Written after funding had been secured from Congress, it lays out the Director's short-term goals for the Center.

 

The Ad Hoc Committee on the National Child Protection Development and Training Center recommends that Faculty Senate bring the following six recommendations to Meet and Confer:

 

Recommendation 1  That the Faculty Senate support the proposed development of the National Child Protection Development and Training Center (NCPDTC) at Winona State University.

 

Recommendation 2  That, in order to facilitate the integration of the NCPDTC into the campus community, the Faculty Senate create a multidisciplinary faculty advisory committee charged with working in collaboration with the NCPDTC staff to:

·          conduct research

·          develop courses on child abuse issues

·          write yearly renewal grants

·          manage fiscal resources

The first task of the committee would be to develop a policy to describe the formal relationship, administrative structure and decision-making processes that will be utilized by the NCPDTC and WSU.

The Committee’s composition would consist of a faculty representative from each of the following disciplines: Communication Studies, Counselor Education, Criminal Justice, Education, Nursing, Paralegal, Psychology, and Social Work.

 

Recommendation 3 That at least once per year the question of WSU’s continued participation in the activities of the Center be brought to Meet and Confer; further, the criteria by which decisions about continued cooperation should include the perceptions of faculty on the following matters:

degree of collaboration evidenced between Center personnel and WSU faculty on research projects and curriculum development

significance of impact upon faculty development, curricular strength, and student learning

severity of impact of Center activities upon WSU classroom availability

ability of WSU departments to replace faculty engaged in Center activities

 

Recommendation 4  That the Center and its activities not reduce current levels of funding or of the availability of classrooms and other spaces directly or indirectly connected with the education of students.

 

Recommendation 5  That Center employees be advised that all curricula offered to WSU students, including materials offered by the Center to working professionals and others, is subject to WSU’s curriculum approval process.

 

Recommendation 6  That, when WSU faculty receive reassigned time to engage in Center activities, compensation be made to the affected academic department or program at a prorated rate of pay equivalent to that of a tenured Associate Professor.

 

Senate Discussion:

1.          In Recommendation 6, the reference to “prorated rate of pay equivalent to that of a tenured Associate Professor” is problematic since the IFO Contract no longer specifies different lanes for different ranks.  (i.e.   There is no lane of pay for tenured Associate Professor)

 

D. Downs/M. Kesler moved to replace “compensation”.....= with  “replacement compensation be no less than that of the faculty receiving reassigned time.”

Motion Carried.

 

2.          In Recommendation 2, is the Committee composition consistent with people involved with this project.

 

M. Kesler/C. Killion moved to rewrite the committee representation in Recommendation 2 as: “The Committee’s initial composition would consist of one faculty representative from each of the following disciplines: Communication Studies, Counselor Education, Criminal Justice, Education, Nursing, Paralegal, Psychology, and Social Work.”

Motion Carried.

 

3.          The document should state clearly the actual participation/involvement/expectation of WSU faculty involved with this committee/project.

4.          If other departments are interested in participating, they may request participation on the committee at a later time.

5.          Is this committee serving as an over-sight committee?

6.          It should be clear that departments can choose to opt out at a later time.

7.          It is not the committee’s intention to obligate any departments listed under the initial composition of the committee.

8.          An oversight Board/Committee should be developed after the institution has been established.  However, the oversight committee should NOT oversee faculty research or work.

9.          There have not been any movement on the (additional) $2.2-million from the State Legislature.

 

M. Hyle/T. Paino moved to refer the Report/Recommendations back to the Ah Hoc Committee for re-writing in light of the comments discussed above.

Motion Carried.

 

Com-I.  Treasurer

 D. Downs presented the 1st, 2nd and 3rd quarterly reports for FY 2003.  Most of this year’s expenditures will be forthcoming in the 4th quarter.

 B. Svingen/C. Summa moved to approve the quarterly reports.

Motion Carried.

 A 5% reduction in campus disbursement was made on next year’s IFO campus budget allotment  To stay balanced for this and future years of operations, we will need to make some cuts.    For example, the annual WSUFA allotment is $17,500, while the projected cost is $21,170.

 Discussion moved to Item NB-C.   [Discussions were muted with call for Executive Session in NB-C.]

  

VII.       Old Business

 OB-A.             Stipends                                                           

From the 3/24/03 Meet and Confer, the administration stated that if the WSUFA and the faculty involved with a grant are willing to set up an MOA, the administration is willing to work with the WSUFA and faculty to set up such MOA’s.

 B. Ng/B. Svingen moved the Stipend issue to PP&G.

Motion Carried.

  

OB-B. Student Senate invitation

 At the 3/17/03 meeting, Faculty Senate did not pass a motion one way or another on the matter of issuing an invitation to Student Senate President Tony Romaine to come and address Faculty Senate regarding  Student Senate’s position on the subject of the calendar; though it was clear that Senators were not in favor of issuing such an invitation at that meeting.

 A request has now been made that Faculty Senate should formally consider such an invitation.

 According to D. Bratt, after talking with Tony Romaine, it occurred to him that it is important that students perceive that their case has been heard by the faculty.   Though it is true that *faculty Senate* may be confident that the student’s case has been reported accurately and fairly, based on the regular reports we've been getting from our reps on the committee...but that is not the point. The point is that *the students* are most likely to believe this if they are able to have their case presented by *their* representative.

 D. Bratt suggested that it will cost us little (a few minutes of our time) to purchase something worthwhile--a favorable perception on the part of the Student Senate.

 

Senate Comments:

1.          WSUFA President has not been invited by the Student Senate...shouldn’t D. Bratt be invited?

2.          One Senator exclaimed no more than 20 seconds.

3.          The Student Senate President should be informed that it should be a short prepared presentation (5-8 minutes) and he should be willing to answer questions.  The short time given for the presentation is because the April 14 meeting will the last scheduled Faculty Senate meeting of this year and there will probably many items on the agenda.

 

C. Hyman/D. Bloom moved that Faculty Senate invite Student Senate President Tony Romaine to come to Faculty Senate to present Student Senate’s position on the subject of the calendar. 

Motion Carried.

  

OB-C. “Brainstorm” funding proposal (Russ Stanton) - OB-B from 3/17/03 Senate meeting

 Item postponed since Russ Stanton has to be present at the legislature for Senate and House votes on the IFO contract. 

VIII.    New Business

 NB-A.             American Democracy Project

 The administration provided a document on the American Democracy Project: Civic Engagement for Citizens in the 21st Century, in which WSU is being solicited to join in a new civic engagement initiative.  One hundred institutions could work together collaboratively with the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) and The New York Times.

 This project is a multi-campus initiative that seeks to create an intellectual and experiential understanding of civic engagement in the United States in the 21st century.  It grows out of a concern about decreasing rates of participation in the civic life of America in voting, in advocacy, in volunteerism in local grassroots associations, and in other forms of civic engagement that are necessary for the vitality of our democracy.

 Enrolling in this project requires no special expenditure of campus funds.  Upon participation, campus agrees to:

*Review the mission statement and other institutional goal statements, and work to include a statement about the civic outcomes of college for students in that statement if not already present,

*Conduct an inventory of civic engagement activities already underway on campus,

*Participate in a national conversation about civic engagement theory and practice,

*Initiate a wide variety of civic engagement projects and programs...within the curriculum, in non-academic campus activities, and in reshaping the campus culture and climate...within current funding limits, and as appropriate for the campus,

*Participate in assessment activities and share successful strategies.

 Should WSU’s name be sent forward?

 Senate Comment:

1.          Have other WSU constituencies been invited? [ask at next Meet and Confer]

 Y. Grover/S. Smith moved to approve that WSUFA agree to participate in the American Democracy Project. [with understanding that Comment #1 be asked at Meet and Confer]

Motion Carried.

 

NB-B. Campus Climate Survey

 A memo from VP Winbush requested that faculty (staff and administration) participate in a MnSCU sponsored survey on “Campus Climate.”  This survey is a first step for WSU in developing a work plan that addresses the recruitment, retention, and success of traditionally under-represented and under-served students (i.e., students of color, first-generation college students for whom English is a second language, and low-income students).

 Discussion:

1.          The local Cultural Diversity committee is presently working on a draft of the Cultural Diversity plan.

2.          Since Tech ID are used, this survey might not be anonymous.

3.          Has this project been approved by the Human Subjects (IRB) committee? 

4.          This survey is poorly designed.

 M. Hyle/C. Killion moved to reject the Campus Climate Survey and not to participate in this survey on the grounds that the survey is not anonymous and have not gone through the IRB.

Motion Carried.

 NB-C. Budget

 Faculty Senate moved into (closed) Executive Session.

 The following motion was approved for reporting out of Executive session.

Keep Kathy Schott’s present compensation (pay rate and pay provision) the same until we know more clearly the budget scenario, at which time the compensation issue will be re-visited. 

Motion Carried.

 

NB-D.  WSUFA Election Ballots

 Several Senators reported that there were incomplete ballots circulated.  D. Bratt will look into the situation.  Possible extensions will be considered. 

 

X.             Adjournment

Faculty Senate adjourned at 4:36   p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 Bill Ng.