The Faculty Senate of Murray State University met in regular session on Tuesday, January 18, 2000, in the Barkley Room of the Curris Center. Twenty-seven senators were present.

Dr. Tracey Bernard had proxy of Senator Begley, John Griffin for Senator At-large Brewer, and Dr. Kelly Rogers for Senator Broughton. Senator Crofton, physics, Senator Barone, management & marketing, and Senator At-large Landini were absent. The Department of Psychology was not represented. The minutes of the December 7 senate meeting were approved as written.

Board of Regents—Regent Rudolph outlined action taken by the board at its regular meeting on December 10. Other than routine items, the board accepted land from the athletic foundation for the Hopkinsville Center and reaffirmed its affirmative action plan. Regent Rudolph then reported that he addressed the board asking that a task force be named to look at the differences between the faculty and the administration; isolate the problem and find some solution. The board referred this to the faculty and staff affairs committee along with the student regent. As of this time, no meeting has been called. Dr. Rudolph clarified that the chairman of that committee and chairman of the board would call that meeting. He hasn’t been contacted and the evaluation hasn’t been addressed.

Senator At-large Strieter asked if it would be appropriate for the faculty senate to request the senate president to address the board, specifically, Ms. Buchanon; noting serious problems on campus and that something should be done. According to the regents, proper channel for that issue to be addressed is within this committee. Publicity problems were noted and that the problem won’t go away by itself. If regents are unhappy with negative publicity due to differences, perhaps they should address the reasons for that.

President Call noted that the board didn’t establish a timetable; his impression was that the regent’s idea that this committee would be meeting before the next board meeting. Regent Rudolph concurred that other members believed that this committee would have a special meeting prior to the next board meeting and that was his intent when asking for review. He thought it appropriate for the senate to ask the faculty senate president to get in touch with that committee. He told the senate that he placed the situation in the hands of the board to step forward and take the responsibility. The majority of the board was receptive. Senator Foreman (philosophy) noted that the faculty has no stake in the failings of any president. The problem needs to be resolved; can’t do that without the board.

President Call emphasized that this was a positive step for the board to take. The chair of the board did not want to address the evaluation. Senator Beasley (history) stressed that he felt this action was not enough. He urged the faculty senate to ask the board for a formal response to the evaluation. Senator Foreman suggested that the board might need some guidance in this matter and that the senate should encourage them in their efforts.

Senator Bokeno (speech & communications) felt that the senate should concentrate on what should be done if focus of board is to not respond. Senator Wattier (political science) asked if the board committee is still accepting items from faculty on its agenda. Regent Rudolph was not sure. Senator Wattier suggested that the senate ask that the faculty senate president be placed on the agenda to discuss concerns brought out by the evaluation and offer his interpretation of the results.

Senator At-large Strieter offered a motion that the senate president write a letter to the chair of the faculty-staff affairs committee urging the committee to meet as charged by the board. Vice President Elwell urged the executive committee to continue looking at alternatives and explore further steps. Dr. Strieter’s motion was passed. The motion passed 27/0 with 1 proxy abstention.

Academic Policies—Chair Morgan first outlined the committee’s involvement in the reorganization plan. To insure faculty consultation, the committee solicited input from faculty on their departmental affiliations within the new structure and streamlined these comments into a report for the provost’s office. The interim provost was very responsive to faculty concerns and has offered a revised structure. The committee is now asking faculty to respond to their academic council representatives in regard to the new proposal. The administration has asked for further response from the senate. President Call noted that the executive committee has referred the matter to the academic council for proper debate. Senator Muscio informed the senate that a meeting of the executive committee of the academic council has been called for tomorrow, January 19. President Call will ask for a report from council representatives at the next senate meeting.

Senator Strieter noted the vast amount of faculty input into this process. Vice President Elwell concurred that the administration should be commended for this sharing of responsibility in governance.

Finance—Chair Schell reported that his committee would study the recommended CPE budget noting that funding is increased for maintenance and academic excellence.

Governmental Affairs—Chair Wattier reported on items discussed by COSFL at its January 8 meeting. CPE staff briefed COSFL on the proposed budget. Fewer capital projects are proposed with more funding for maintenance and renovation. COSFL chose not to endorse the budget. President Alexander reported to the executive committee that they are talking to the governor’s office for an increase in appropriations from 2.4 to 3 percent.

Faculties were asked to review a position paper on faculty participation in university governance to strengthen it. The senate’s handbook & personnel committee will also review this statement for inclusion in the handbook.

COSFL will consider the process of selecting regents for the next legislative agenda. In other action, COSFL sent a letter to the state department of education to insert "evolution" back into curriculum statements replacing "change over time".

Senator Wattier noted that the governance statement from COSFL would reinforce faculty position at MSU.

Handbook & Personnel—Vice President Elwell will call a meeting to distribute and study the COSFL governance document. The committee is working with the administration on handbook proposals for board approval. One change recommended last year by the senate would be brought before the board in February to introduce them to the process. Discussion continues on the distinction between board policies and administrative rules. The provost’s office has the official board book.

The handbook is now on-line. The senate leadership suggested that faculty be notified through email. The provost’s office has been reluctant to do this since the board hasn’t reviewed it. The senate believes the on-line version contains the most current revisions that have been approved. Vice President Elwell noted that a handbook to provide administrative guidelines for faculty is in the best interests of faculty and the administration.

Rules, Elections, & Bylaws—Vice Chair Powell reported that the committee would meet on February 8. They will discuss the conduction of spring administrative evaluations. Two specific items to be determined are whether to include the president and the releasing of the results to the public.

The committee will also look at rules for faculty senate sub-committee meetings. President Call noted that the committee has sent out guidelines for the Board of Regents’ Teaching Awards and asked senators to monitor the process through their departments.

Insurance & Benefits—Senator At-large Jacobs reported that the committee met on December 9. Agenda items include discussions on possible increased health plan costs, including ways the university would share the burden of higher employee paid premiums. The committee has initiated talk of risk groups paying a bigger share; i.e., smokers, families. Senator White, member of the committee, reported that the committee is drafting a resolution urging the university to adjust their $3.2 million cap upward based on current information. President Call noted that the administration and committee has negotiated good premiums up to this time. The committee will meet again on February 25.

Graduate Studies—No report

Library & Academic Support—No report

Executive—President Call reported that the president had updated the executive committee that the post tenure review policy remains on his desk and in the university attorney’s office. Revisions will be presented to the senate.

President Call and Senator Crofton made a presentation to the board on a nine-month contract for faculty. Board members asked a number of questions; the administration is not to the point of requesting a change. Problems with payroll during the transition year are still being discussed. The board appreciated seeing on-going faculty research.

President Call and Senator Schell serve on a committee to study lap top technology on campus. A local newspaper article implied that there is a definite plan to require students to purchase laptop computers, but the committee is still discussing this. The administration has not announced any commitment to such a plan. Discussions will continue this semester. Senator Schell reported that results of a student survey in the fall indicate that students are satisfied with current services noting sufficient access. In comparison with other institutions, the fee being considered, reported in the newspaper article, appears to be understated. Faculty commitment would be extremely time consuming and faculty production of web materials at other institutions has not met expectations.

President Call reported that Drs. Alexander and Brockway attended last week’s executive committee meeting. Dr. Alexander wanted senate endorsement of a search process for provost. The committee told the president they would meet again on Thursday to reflect on the process. He distributed a search committee to the campus on Wednesday before the committee was able to meet and give him a response. The committee met on Thursday and felt that the process was generally satisfactory. President Call told the senate that the committee discarded a previous senate recommendation determining that the president’s plan was more in line with a dean’s search outlined in the Faculty Handbook.

The committee did find the search committee too large, with a lack of balance in faculty representation, and unrepresentative of women and other minorities. The committee sees the premature release of a committee as a lack of commitment to shared governance by the president. Recommendations were forwarded to the president on Friday morning. On Friday afternoon, the senate leadership received a faxed memo whereby the president was considering adding three more people to the committee, with none being faculty, and accused them of wanting to hide and restrict search information from the campus. The president’s initial list included two representatives from the senate. The executive committee elected the faculty senate president and Janice Morgan, chair of the academic policies committee, if the current composition is adopted.

Vice President Elwell noted that aside from the written lecture on shared governance from the president, faculty should be delighted that a formal search process will be underway. The reduction of interim appointments should add some stability to our administration. Senator Wattier asked if other interim appointments in the provost's office have become permanent. President Call hasn’t seen that addressed. Senator Beasley noted that the same affirmative action procedures as is required for faculty positions should be applied.

In other business, Dr. Alexander is committed to meetings of the President’s Cabinet this semester. President Call expects cabinet meetings once or twice a month. He has also been asked by Linda Miller from ACTS to make presentations to new faculty on the faculty senate and governance. He has also been asked to attend a presentation from the development office on the VISION Quest Campaign.

New business—Senator Schell noted restrictions to the senate distribution of notices to all faculty. Administrative regulations are in place. President Call suggests using the senate’s distribution list and asks senators to forward any communication to their departments.

Senator Hulick (elementary/secondary education) reported his faculty has asked that he inquire about what they see as a systematic process to change the name of the university to Murray University. It was noted that President Alexander had previously reflected to the senate officers advantages of a name change but that he would rather concentrate his efforts in the state legislature to capital projects and other things of more value. Senators shared that recruitment videos and publications have been seen with references to Murray University. Replying to inquiries from Senate President Call and Regent Rudolph, Phil Bryan has noted that some flyers sent out to prospective students that contained this reference would be re-edited.

Senator Wattier asked about the status of pin numbers for advisees to get into classes. Vice President Elwell noted that Phil Bryan was looking at this last year and determined that a lot of faculty members were not in favor of such a number.

The meeting adjourned at 5 p.m.