WSU FACULTY SENATE MEETING
February
10, 2003
Senators Present: Matt Bosworth, David Bratt,
Marianna Byman, Darrell Downs, Pat Ferden, Kelly Herold, 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
(Rochester), Kerry Williams,
Senators Absent: Sara Barbor, Danning Bloom,
Mark Engen, Yogesh Grover, Jo Stejskal (sabbatical leave), Alex Yard (sabbatical leave).
Others Present:
Charla Miertschin, Ron Elcombe, and
Kendall Larson.
I.
Call to Order
David Bratt
called the meeting to order at 3:05 p.m.
II. Approval of
Minutes of January 27th, 2003 Senate Meeting
B. Svingen/C. Matter moved to
approve minutes of Jan. 27th as written.
Motion
Carried.
III.
Agenda Additions/Revisions and
Approval:
OB-C: Calendar
NB-A: start time,
3:30
M. Kesler/C. Killion moved to
approve agenda items.
Motion
Carried.
IV.
President’s Report
I have received a thank-you note
from a faculty member in response to a memorial sent by the Association.
The All-University Budget Task
Force met last week Monday and today. At last week’s meeting the group heard from the
Director of Financial Aid on the subject of likely reductions in work-study and state
grants. This week the group will hear from the deans of CLA and Science and Engineering
about the likely effects of reductions on their colleges.
An open forum on budget was held
Tuesday, 2/4, attended by about 75 people.
I attended an IFO Executive
Committee meeting and State Meet and Confer 2/6-7. Items:
--The
chancellor mentioned cuts in MnSCU Central staff a number of times.
--Progress on
grievance resolutions has slowed (is the MnSCU Central HR staff making a case for their un-cut ability?), and grievances have
become more expensive to process.
--The IFO
made a case for retaining budgets and personnel in the MnSCU Transfer office. (People
working on transfer issues have grown in their jobs and are
starting to understand the State University situation.
MnSCU Vice Presidents and Campus Presidents are being asked by the Chancellor what
their budget priorities are.)
--The
chancellor agreed to increase the number of M&C dates next year to six.
Additional notes:
State faculty should write more
e-mails to legislators regarding the budget problem.
Use of anecdotal evidence (i.e. actual
student’s personal/academic plight) is most effective.
V.
Review of Meet and Confer Notes
February 3rd, 2003.
Meet and Confer Notes
received by Senate.
VI.
Committee
Reports
COM-A. A2C2
A2C2 forwards the following items from
their 1/20/03 meeting:
I. Course
Approvals
A. New
Courses
1.
SOCW 445
Globalization of Social Welfare (3 SH)
B.
University Studies B Course Requirements
1.
Unity and
Diversity: Critical Analysis
ECON 302
Intermediate Microeconomics (3 SH)
FIN 360
Corporate Finance (3 SH)
2.
Unity and
Diversity: Science and Social Policy
GEOS 102
Resources of the Earth (3 SH)
3.
Unity and
Diversity: Global or Multicultural Perspectives
MATH 410
History of Math (3 SH) - Remove course from this area effective fall 2003.
C.
University Studies B Flag Courses
1.
Writing
MATH
330-Advanced Calculus I (4 SH)
2.
Oral
MATH 410
History of Math (3 SH) - Add course to this area effective fall 2003.
3.
Mathematics/Statistics
FIN 335
Forecasting Methods (3SH)
Senate approved courses
listed in item-I.
II.
Recommendations
In Progress (IP) Grade Policy
We can find no reference to IP
grades in current WSU regulations. The 2002-2004 catalog (page 26) includes the statement
'if an IP is not replaced with a grade before the student completes graduation
requirements, it becomes a failing grade,' which was added by Stewart Shaw for that
catalog and did not appear in previous versions.
(A)
A2C2 recommends approval of the following
policy statement: "Winona State
University recognizes that special circumstances will arise in which a student can not be
assigned a grade for one or more courses at the end of a term. Typically, this will apply
to independent study courses, internships, special projects, and related activities which
bridge from one semester to the next. The grade of 'In Progress' (IP) is appropriate for
these circumstances."
A faculty
member shall have one calendar year from the time a grade of 'IP' is initially submitted
to replace it with a regular grade. Any grade of 'IP' which is not replaced within this
time shall automatically be converted to an 'F' or 'NC'. A grade of 'IP' which was
submitted during or prior to the fall semester of the 2002-2003 academic year will
automatically be converted to an 'F'or 'NC' unless a regular grade is submitted by the end
of the fall semester of the 2003-2004 academic year.
(B)
A2C2 recommends that the catalog
statement noted above be revised to read: "If
an 'IP' is not replaced with a grade within one year, it becomes a failing grade".
Senate approved
recommendations (A) and (B) in item-II.
III.
Notifications
(information only)
A.
PER Adventure Tourism minor B adjustment of credits from Area A to Area B.
Com-B. Graduate Council
No report.
Com-C. Government Relations
Darrell Downs reported the following:
1.
Governor
Pawlenty has postponed his budget proposal until February 18th.
2.
The House Government Operations
and Veterans Affairs Committee may address the contract ratification bill (hf330) later
this week, the list & link for this committee membership is:
http://ww3.house.leg.state.mn.us/comm/committeemembers.asp?comm=13
The Senate
companion bill (sf293) has been referred to the Senate State and Local Government
Operation Comm. Member links are at:
http://www.senate.leg.state.mn.us/committee/2003-2004/State/members.htm
3.
See Russ Stanton’s background paper on the contract ratification bill, sent
this morning to all
faculty.
4.
The Governor's Un-allotment
decision on Friday removes $50.3 mil from Higher Ed, approx. $25 mil from MnSCU. This cut is not a base reduction.
5.
Please note that one of the IFO
Legislative Goals is to:'support increases in taxes to make up the state deficit and
provide funding for inflation for all areas funded by state government' and it may still
be possible for tax reform to be part of the upcoming budget debate IF campus area
legislators hear support for it from us via e-mail, phone calls, and at local Eggs &
Issues.
6.
The Winona Area Chamber of
Commerce is holding an Eggs and Issues Forum on Saturday, Feb. 22 at the Quality Inn,
Courtside Room, 7:30-9:00 AM. RSVP by Friday, Feb. 14 at 452-2272 Space Limited.
Senators Kierlin, Hottinger, and Murphy, and Rep. Pelowski have agreed to
attend.
7.
There will be a local Government
Relations Comm. Meeting this Thursday at 12:30 at the Blue Heron and the statewide GR
meeting will be held in St. Paul at the IFO lobby days: Feb. 19-20.
Com-D. Personnel Policies and Grievance
No report.
Com-E. Committee on Committees
The Committee on
Committees recommends the following appointments:
1. Ad Hoc May
Term Committee (5 to 7, representation by college/non-teaching desirable but not required)
David Bratt (Theatre & Dance)
Toby
Dogwiler (Geosciences)
Bruce
Svingen (Chemistry)
Elizabeth
Oness (English)
2.
Ad Hoc Committee, National Child
Protection Development and Training (5 to 10, representation should include (but not
limited to) faculty from depts./programs whose academic programs would be closely related
to the work of the Center)
Dan Linten (Comm. Studies)
Rod Winters
(Education)
Colette
Hyman (History)
Helen
Dachelet (Sociology)
Jacqueline
Hatlevig (Nursing)
Glen Just
(Sociology)
Carole
Madland (Sociology)
James Kobolt
(Sociology)
3.
Faculty Association Budget
Committee (representation from each college and non-teaching plus FA President and
Vice-President)
David Bratt (FA President)
Cathy Summa
(FA Vice-President)
Marzie
Astani (College of Business)
Elizabeth
Burke (non-teaching)
Linda
Seppanen (College of Nursing/HHP)
Mary Kesler
(College of Liberal Arts)
Bruce
Svingen Dan Bloom (College of Science and Engineering)
Jean
Leicester (College of Education)
B.
Svingen/C. Killion moved to amend by replacing Bruce Svingen with Dan Bloom.
Amendment
carried.
4. Judicial Committee
(All-University)
Marianna Byman
Faculty Senate approved the above CC recommendations.
Com-F. Action Committee (State IFO)
Cindy Killion resigned as Action
Coordinator.
M. Bosworth/B. Ng moved to bring
to the IFO Board that the renegotiation of Domestic Partner Benefits and the protection of
Human Rights be given the highest priority at the next contract negotiation.
Motion Carried.
B. Svingen/M. Kesler moved to
direct GRC to defeat the House bill on abolishing the current Human Rights law.
Motion Carried.
K. Herold/M. Bosworth moved to ask the Action Committee to
advise the Faculty Senate on steps to take on the issues of Human Rights and Domestic
Partner Benefits.
Motion Carried. (With the understanding that the Action Committee
needs to elect a new chair)
C. Hyman/C. Summa move to thank
C. Killion on her dedicated work as Action Chair.
Motion Carried.
C. Hyman/B. Svingen moved the
following:
To be placed at the 2/17/03 Meet and
Confer that the administration begin discussion on three specific areas in the contract:
(how should the administration address them?)
(A)
Competitive salaries (we should stress the importance of competition
in the national/international market and as well as its importance to maintaining
quality).
(B)
Workload (we should try to assess the quantity and
distribution of local reassigned time and ask, What is the process for the distribution of
reassigned time?
(C)
Supplemental resources for individual research (We
should ask what is being done regarding this issue and what is planned for future
supplement in light of impending budget?).
Important to
remind the administration the importance of these issues, especially with the pending
budget cuts. However, these issues are
important in the long run toward maintaining the quality of education we offer our
students.
Motion Carried.
Faculty Senate requested that D. Bratt
e-mail (and may be also hard-copy) faculty/chairs to invite Matt Hyle to their departments
to discuss their likes and dislikes regarding the current contract.
Additional Senate Comment:
1.
Should we have an evening for
faculty to talk about budget issues/cuts, esp. cuts to specific groups of people, such as
the elderly, local government aids, etc.?
VII.
Old Business
OB-A. Faculty reps
on All University Budget Task Force
Amidst all the Budget meetings,
Faculty Senate forgot to appoint faculty reps on the All University Budget Task Force,
even though they are already serving on the committee.
C. Killion/B. Svingen moved to appoint
David Bratt, Cathy Summa, and Mary Kesler to the All University Budget Task Force.
Motion Carried.
OB-B.
Student Teaching supervisors (final assignments)
Faculty Senate received a document
from the administration on >Final supervision loads/Spring Semester 2003' dated 1/24/203,
from Dean Carol Anderson.
(Information only)
OB-C.
Calendar
B. Svingen/M. Byman reported
that:
1.
Students would
like to start spring semester before MLK day. (i.e. Students claimed they get bored with a four-week
break.)
2.
VP-Richardson compromised the
student request by suggesting that two class days be turned into non-class duty days
(05-06) and move them to April 13-14 (R/F), which would affect MWF and TR equally (i.e.
cut one class day from each); BUT would lose 2 more class days. The non-class duty days would occur two
weeks before Finals week.
Faculty Senate generally agreed
the compromise by the VP would hurt class instruction since we will lose two class days.
A2C2 Chair Miertschin relayed
the A2C2 sentiment that faculty cannot lose/sacrifice any more class days.
M. Kesler/D. Downs moved NOT to
support turning two class days into non-class duty days in the 05-06 Calendar. (i.e. Having more non-class duty days at the
expense of class days would erode instructional quality.)
Motion Carried.
VIII. New
Business
NB-A.
Residential
College (3:30)
Ron Elcombe presented
informational status of the Residential College: (documents on the WSU Residential College
Strategic Initiatives and the Res. College Pamphlet were given to Senators)
1.
Four themes with 17 Linked
Courses: Gender and Culture,
Globalization, Human Beginnings and Endings, Mississippi River.
2.
19 sections available = 475
students max.
3.
Cohort of 25 students taking same
Eng/speech classes and one theme class.
4.
Strategic Initiatives: Living/Learning
Communities (funded by student fees)
Leadership Initiative (funded by student fees)
Faculty Fellowship Program
Cultural/Student Activities (funded by student fees)
5.
$100 Residential College fee was
proposed to rise to $200 for this project.
6.
However, since
already a 10% increase in debt service in residence hall, the Student Senate voted down
the increase in Residential College fee.
7.
Without a fee increase, there will
NOT be any reassigned time for coordinators (but should get 1credit overload). Also most associated activities will not be
carried without a fee increase.
8.
Several hundred students have
already indicated interests in the Residential College.
The pamphlet was sent to interested students.
Questions/Discussion:
1.
Theme classes will have reserved
seats for Residential College students.
2.
Class sections listed with staff
could be uncertain with budget problems.
NB-B. Budget Priorities
M. Kesler reported that there is
a rumor that monies have been set aside for admissions, Library, and the laptop program.
M. Kesler/B. Ng moved to bring
to Meet & Confer questions on what exactly has been set aside, how were the set-asides
decided, how firm is the set-aside decision, and what is the $4.5M laptop rental fee used
for?
Motion Carried.
NB-C. Senate and M&C dates, 03-04
Tentative meeting dates for
Senate and M&C 03-04 (including A2C2) were included in the Senate packet.
C. Killion/M. Kesler moved to
send tentative meeting dates to Meet & Confer.
Motion Carried.
NB-D.
Administration’s
grievance designees
The administration informed the
Faculty Senate the order/list of administration designees for IFO grievances, according to
contract requirements: (3/4 of the year has already gone by!)
“Normally, the President will
hear Grievances at Step II and the Vice President for Academic Affairs is designated to
hear Grievances at Step I. Both
administrators have the authority to resolve grievances locally on a mutually acceptable
basis without additional consultation.”
(Information only)
NB-E. Golden Key Advisor
Gabriel Manrique will be
relinquishing his role as the faculty advisor to the Golden Key International Honors
Society. At the 2/3/03 Meet and confer, the
administration provided a page listing the role and responsibilities of the Chapter
Advisor. There will NOT be reassigned time
provided for the faculty advisor.
D. Lintin/M. Kesler moved to ask
Committee on Committees to solicit a faculty volunteer.
(Motion withdrawn)
M. Hyle/C. Hyman moved that the
administration urged students in the Golden Key Society to find/select an advisor (and the
faculty is willing to help).
Motion Carried.
NB-F. Mn Transfer Curriculum Study Committee
The administration for faculty
participation in a study committee to address the following issues and produce
recommendations to be submitted to the Chancellor's Office on behalf of WSU:
1.
Identify and describe the
arguments in favor of and against implementation of the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum on
an area-by-area basis.
2. Recommend
practical means, informed by the outcome of issue #1, for implementing an area-by-area
approach to the Minnesota
Transfer Curriculum.
3.
Recommend a process by which
future modifications to the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum may be made.
Committee composition:
four faculty and
three administration.
Task completion date:
no later than March 31, 2003.
Discussion:
1.
D. Bratt noted that a faculty
member grieved the administration for accepting area-by-area transfers, so the
administration has now agreed to set up this committee.
2.
It's very important that the FA participates and tell MnSCU what the
faculty wants.
M. Kesler/K. Williams moved to refer
to Committee on Committees for solicitation of Alex Yard and Charla Miertschin and two
other faculty for the Mn Transfer Curriculum study committee; and due to time-line,
request that approval of members be confirmed by Senate e-votes.
Motion Carried.
[Alex Yard was chosen to be solicited
since he is the State rep on transfers and Charla Miertschin was chosen to be solicited
since she is the A2C2 chair. Both volunteers
(if agreed) would provide appropriate expertise to the discussion of MN Transfer issues.]
NB-G. Ad Hoc
Science Building/Art Advisory Committee
The administration proposed the
formation, composition and charge of an ad hoc Art Selection Advisory Committee for the
new WSU science facility.
Charge:
to provide
a recommendation for the selection of art to be displayed in the new science facility.
Composition: 2 faculty from science
departments that will occupy the new building, and
1 faculty
from a non science department that is an arts professional who is a member of the
following art and design professional categories: artists, curators, critics or writers,
museum directors, art educators or administrators, architects, landscape architects, or
interior designers, or a member of the MN State Arts Board=s governing body.
Committee chair:
Dean Nancy
Jannik.
The administration would prefer
appointments at the earliest convenience of the Faculty Senate appointment process. [i.e.
Before end of semester or earlier.]
Discussion:
1.
There should also be more advisory
roles for faculty participation in the selection of art in buildings and on campus
grounds.
2.
A motion on art selection (in
general) could be forth coming at a future Senate meeting.
C. Summa/C. Matter moved to
refer to Committee on Committees to solicit 3 faculty volunteers.
M. Hyle/K. Williams moved to
employ the faculty compositions as a guide.
Amendment Carried.
Summa/Matter Motion (with
Hyle/Williams Amendment) Carried.
X.
Adjournment
Faculty
Senate adjourned at 5:05 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Bill Ng