MURRAY STATE UNIVERSITY FACULTY SENATE February 3, 1998

The Faculty Senate of Murray State University met in regular session on Tuesday, February 3, 1998, in the Barkley Room of the Curris Center. Thirty-three senators were present. Dr. Bill Schell was proxy for Senator Beasley (history). Senators Aguiar, Arche, Flynn, and Robinson were absent. The minutes of January 20 were approved as amended. The health insurance costs exceeded budget by $500,000 over the past two years. Corrected minutes are on file in the senate office and are posted on the senate's website at http://campus.murraystate.edu/org/facsenate/minutes.htm.

REPORTS

Academic Policies--The following resolution was passed 26/1:

The intent is to strengthen the current program and eliminate some of the problems.

Finance--Chair Guin reported that work is on going to get audit analysis in a workable form for the committee.

Governmental Affairs--Chair Wattier presented information items. The post tenure review bill is still in the Senate Education Committee. He and President Landini are receiving regular bill reports from Buddy Buckingham, MSU Legislative Liaison. Dr. Wattier informed faculty that they can get online information on a bill and amendment index at http://www.lrc.state.ky.us/record/98rs/baindex.htm. You may also contact Mr. Buckingham to comment on any particular bill at (502) 227-0771 or leave a message at 1-800-592-4399. On campus contact Lora Ivie at 762-4150. Copies of complete bills will be available if needed.

An interactive COSFL meeting for January 31 was cancelled; may be rescheduled for February 21.

Handbook & Personnel--No report.

Rules, Elections, & Bylaws--Vice President Call reported that the committee continues to finalize election procedures for this spring's university governance elections. Also, same procedures as used last year will be utilized in this year's selection of the Board of Regents' Teaching Excellence Award recipients. He presented a letter of resignation from Senator Stuart, biological sciences. President Landini and he thanked Dr. Stuart for his many years of service to the senate.

Board of Regents--Regent France reported that she will meet with President Alexander next Thursday, February 12, from 9 to 11 a.m. She anticipates review of the board agenda for the February 20 meeting and will discuss other issues. She asked senators to let her know of anything they wish covered with Dr. Alexander.

Academic Council

Undergraduate Studies Committee--Chair Campbell reported items on agenda for a routine meeting this week. Graduate Studies Committee--Chair Muscio reported no issues of general university interest on the table at this time. Library and Academic Support Committee--No report.

Insurance and Benefits--Chair Jacobs reported that he met with Vice President Denton and Assistant Vice President Gordon and received an orientation to and a calendar for a review process for insurance coverage. The Faculty & Staff Insurance and Benefits Committee will meet on Friday, February 13, from 1-2 p.m. in the Third Floor Conference Room of Sparks Hall. He anticipates discussion of the budget overrun and questions about the consultant hired to do a market analysis.

Chair Jacobs asked Ms. Gordon where and how the consultant would get information. Initial work with faculty and staff will be limited. Chair Jacobs will have handouts available for the senate at the March meeting. Vice President Call asked if the administration had involved the committee with the process thus far. Chair Jacobs said the committee received a general sense of change in October but was given no specifics. The committee discussed direction and decided to wait until the administration was ready to talk, which has led to current meetings, stressing communication as being the most important component of the process. Concerns were again expressed that the committee would be bypassed with little opportunity for faculty involvement. President Landini and representatives of Staff Congress were given the same orientation yesterday (2/2). Faculty and staff will definitely be involved.

President Landini presented the calendar for the health insurance review. A newsletter will go out to faculty and staff soon with routine updates scheduled. Program evaluation and objective setting will involve the insurance and benefits committee. A preliminary plan will again involve the committee. Recommendations by the committee with input of faculty and staff focus groups will culminate with requests for proposals from the market. The administration and committee will work into the summer to have a new policy in place by the end of June. Impact upon the Faculty Handbook and Policy and Procedures Manual will be cross referenced by the senate and Human Resources with changes then taken to the board. Future newsletters will announce training sessions for faculty and staff.

The board will be asked to include money in the budget in May but discussion could take place as late as June 30. The Faculty Senate and Staff Congress leadership will be involved and informed and given an opportunity to suggest items to be included in the review. They have already asked that a definition of being self-insured be given to faculty and staff. Vice President Denton has projected figures exceeding the previous two years based on amount of claims. Some problems in overlapping costs of the current plan and a new plan may occur due to the difference between the university's fiscal year and the calendar year.

Executive--President Landini and Vice President Call will also meet with the president on Thursday, February 12, at 11 a.m. She also anticipates a briefing of board items and several items of discussion from the executive committee on-going from the last senate meeting. She has received several calls concerning the Roads Scholars bonuses. They discussed this at their November meeting but will try to follow up with him. She asked faculty to let them know of any concerns.

Vice President Call reported that they discussed technology support with him in November. They have since received a lengthy letter from Don Olson, Chief Information Officer, explaining support programs available for faculty which are also posted online on RacerNet under technical support. Copies of this communication went to deans and chairs. Also, individual units may request assistance for specific issues. Senator Campbell also informed faculty that her department will offer courses in July.

Old business--The senate unanimously approved asking State Senator Jackson study the possibility of offering all faculty across the state a choice between KTRS and an optional retirement plan.

Senator Morgan (foreign languages) forwarded a request from her department that the old evaluation instruments be used to assess administrators performance until that time a new university wide process is put into place. Vice President Call reported that it was the feeling of his committee that we should not spend effort on the old instruments if the administration will work in a satisfactory way toward developing a new system. Senator Morgan asked for a date for a new system to be implemented. VP Call hopes to have a new process in place by the end of this semester for implementation during the 1998-99 academic year. It is understandable that new forms being developed this semester is dependent on Dr. Booth's return to work. Senator Hulick (ESE) volunteered to serve on the Ad Hoc Committee appointed by President Landini to develop, with assistance from the Provost, a new process. Other members agreeing to serve are Senators Jones (mathematics) and Richerson (office systems). Senator Duncan (psychology), a member of the deans' evaluation committee, will serve as a resource person.

Senator Miller (accounting) asked the status of the sick leave proposal passed last year. President Landini reported that the insurance and benefits committee approved the proposal and is awaiting approval from Vice President Denton. Dr. Jacobs will ask for periodic updates at their next meeting.

New business--Senator Gulotta moved that the senate send a letter to the chairperson of the Academic Council requesting the Academic Council review the reorganization of academic units and formation of the Institute for International Studies. Regent France asked if this was within the scope of the Academic Council. Senator Bell, who helped write the bylaws for the academic council, said they intended all things concerning academic programs be brought before the council. Senator Bell noted that in the advertisement applications were to be sent to the president's office. Senator Hulick asked the composition of the search committee. Senator Maxwell (economics & finance) responded that his chair, Dr. McCoy, is serving on a committee of five people screening applicants; but, added that this has not been widely disseminated. He also believed that Ms. Johnson, Director of the Center for International Programs, is serving on this committee. Regent France noted that this is another point of discussion for her to take up with Dr. Alexander. She intends to ask him how search committees in other areas are formed and who serves while faculty have to have a well documented, publicized process. Senator Jeanquart-Barone (marketing & management) asked if she would also comment that it is a real concern among faculty that the university would hire an additional administrator when an increase in enrollment, specifically with international enrollment, directly impacts the faculty. She also asked if the impact of sending more faculty oversees has been addressed and of the structure and funding of this international program. Senator Campbell said that a lot of these oversees opportunities are short term and in her department faculty are glad to cover the load for a faculty member who has the opportunity to go. She added that the Hong Kong campus has not cost the department anything. Payment is made from the university in Hong Kong. The department's costs for Regensburg are more. Dr. Schell, proxy for Senator Beasley, asked what the differences were between this new institute and the existing Center for International Programs. Senator Bell responded this is why such things, because of these concerns, should go through the academic council and the reason for rules. Vice President Call concurred. Senator Maxwell said that it is his understanding that the current center is a subsidiary of the new institute. Dr. Schell questioned that we were looking at another center. Senator Maxwell suggested that the center will focus on students whereas the institute will take care of programs. Dr. Schell asked if there were to be any gains from adding another layer of bureaucracy. Senator Gulotta does not know and that is the reason for his resolution:

The resolution was passed 27/0.

Senator Hulick noted that the concern for feedback to the administration is in response to a growing feeling of faculty for a need to express frustrations to appropriate people and receive some recognition that they are being heard. He urged that this be speeded along by the senate by giving faculty the opportunity to express information that some people need to know by using the old instruments. He moved that as the Faculty Senate moves toward a new and improved instrument that can be agreed upon by the senate and the administration, in the meantime, not letting another year go by, use instrument already available this spring while concurrently working on a new instrument. Vice President Call supported this motion. The motion passed 27/1/0. The Rules, Elections, & Bylaws Committee will review a timetable.

Residential Colleges--Senator Horwood thanked faculty for responding to his request for input. From these responses, he sees that faculty don't fully understand what the colleges do. He sees this the fault of the college heads for not getting information to faculty. The heads were initially charged with ten to eleven points to look into various areas. He offered his evaluations as an example. The main focus is retention of students. In his report he outlined how his college could improve. They are not just interested in keeping traditional students but also need to focus on excellent students that we worked so hard to get here in the first place. He asked that senators share this information with their colleges and believes if faculty take the opportunity to understand what the colleges are actually doing, they will appreciate them more. Senator Horwood said faculty not knowing isn't productive. He added that every college has a faculty member to contact who will be happy to share what they do. This semester the heads are trying to emphasize the academic side by improvement of facilities to offer classes and identifying classes that can be offered. It was noted that faculty are at some fault for not trying to find out what the colleges are. Senator Horwood stated that the college heads work very hard trying to do their charge. It was asked if newsletters could be used to keep faculty regularly informed. He acknowledged that he is working on one at this time but that the students are ahead in this regard already having newsletters out. He also stated that more things could get done. Initiatives online are also being designed. The colleges are trying a lot of things to be effective in their mission and the heads are learning a lot in the process.

Other business--Senator Morgan, noting possible problems being publicized in acquiring the new TV station, requested that Regent France might suggest that the board review the overall financial picture and discuss the future financial impact of such an acquisition. Senator Wattier concurred. Regent France has that on her agenda with Dr. Alexander.

The meeting adjourned at 4:34 p.m.