MURRAY STATE UNIVERSITY

FACULTY SENATE

February 1, 2000

The Faculty Senate of Murray State University met in regular session on Tuesday, February 1, 2000, in the Barkley Room of the Curris Center. Twenty-eight senators were in attendance. Dr. Judy Brookhiser was proxy for Senator Broughton, HPER, and John Griffin for Senator At-large Brewer. Absent were Senators Beasley, history, M. Morgan, English, Jay Morgan, agriculture, Powell, nursing, and Watts, special education. Psychology was unrepresented. The minutes of January 18, 2000, were approved as written. In the absence of Jay Morgan, President Call asked Terry Foreman to serve as parliamentarian.

Board of Regents—Regent Rudolph reported that a special meeting of the Faculty & Staff Affairs Committee of the Board was called last Thursday, January 27, 2000. Using the version of the Faculty Handbook now online, the administration will distinguish between board policy and administrative regulations. Future handbook changes will go through a routing process. Two items are scheduled for the next board meeting. Regent Rudolph noted there is no question of the validity of the handbook. Policy will be voted on by the Board and designated as such in the handbook.

The committee asked President Alexander to appoint a committee of faculty, students, and administrators to study characteristics of student evaluations of faculty and recommend a central evaluation system. Selected questions would be posted. The committee also asked President Alexander, President Call, and Regent Rudolph to meet and discuss a definition of shared governance and report back to the Board at the May meeting. A motion by the student regent to require faculty to post abbreviated syllabi on the Internet was referred to the Provost’s Office. Regent Rudolph noted that many faculty already do this and that this should not be mandated by the board; further noting this as an administrative procedure.

The Board will meet on February 11, 2000.

Wellness—Dr. Judy Brookhiser updated the senate on directions for wellness on the campus. The Healthy Thoroughbreds Program is being geared to include faculty and staff. Hopefully, some faculty and staff data can be voluntarily tracked to provide information to improve benefits. Opportunities are available to improve wellbeing.

Academic Policies—Chair Janice Morgan reported that the committee would meet on February 8 with three agenda items; faculty development, the Information Technology Advisory Committee (ITAC), and the Kentucky Commonwealth Virtual University (KCVU). Committee members are gathering information from the other universities of the KCVU.

Finance—Chair Schell reported that the committee would meet on February 15. He also reported, as a member of the Campus Online Learning Technology committee (COLT), that Internet access to the residential colleges will be improved through a new vendor.

Governmental Affairs—Chair Wattier reported that the Governor has forwarded the CPE’s budget proposal. MSU administration is lobbying for additional funds for higher education and argues that institutions can’t budget for categorical grants that some may be eligible for.

Handbook & Personnel—Chair Elwell reported that the committee would meet on February 15 to open dialogue with the provost’s office and other administrators on issues of the Faculty Handbook.

Rules, Elections, & Bylaws—Vice President Elwell reported that the committee would meet on February 8. The committee will approve a final recommendation for current rules of senate sub-committee meetings. They will discuss the conduction of spring administrative assessments and the release of the results. Spring elections may be postponed due to reorganization. The committee is also monitoring the Board of Regents’ Teaching Excellence Awards.

Academic Council—No committee reports; but Senator Muscio reported that the reorganization plan had been presented to the council at large and been approved. It was noted that significant changes could be attributed to serious consultation with affected units by the administration. The central administration had invited the senate to further respond to the plan. The following motion was approved 23 for/2 against with two abstentions:

Executive—President Call told the senate that nothing has been received yet regarding changes to the proposal for post-tenure review. He saw the board’s committee meeting as a positive move. The committee heard faculty concerns as expressed through the faculty regent. Additional avenues may be opened for more faculty input and discussion.

President Call, also a member of the COLT committee, reported that the committee met on January 24. Discussion continues with no decisions yet. He has received the list of names appointed to the Provost Search Committee. Janice Morgan and President Call will represent the senate. An ad has been placed by the administration.

Dr. Brockway attended last week’s executive committee meeting and was able to answer questions concerning the Governor’s proposed budget for higher education. The President’s Cabinet has not yet set a meeting schedule for the spring. In response to a question from the last senate meeting, Ann Gupton of Information Services reports that they are working on web registration but that it probably would not be used for fall 2000 registration.

President Call reported that he attended a presentation by Linda Moore and Leigh Perry of the Development Office concerning the VisionQuest fund-raising campaign. They will solicit faculty contributions through e-mail and a web-based method. Their primary goal is high faculty participation in numbers more than in dollars; this looks good to other potential donors and can help multiply outside donations. Giving can be restricted to your department. They talked about faculty involvement next fall. A promotional video is available to faculty groups.

Senator Dressler asked if other interim positions in the provost’s office were being filled. President Call assumes that the structure of the office would be decided and positions filled by the new provost. He would hope that appropriate procedures would be followed.

The meeting adjourned at 5:05 p.m.