MURRAY STATE UNIVERSITY

FACULTY SENATE

MINUTES

January 19, 1999

The Faculty Senate of Murray State University met in regular session on Tuesday, January 19, 1999, in the Barkley Room of the Curris Center. Thirty-two senators were present. Dr. Ray Conklin was proxy for Senator Dressler, Music, and Dr. John Crofton for Senator Maddox, Physics & Engineering Physics. Senators Bokeno, speech & theatre; Hulick, elementary & secondary education; J. Miller, special education; and Morgan, agriculture, were absent. Minutes of the December 1, 1998, senate meeting were approved with one minor correction; reference to financial evaluation should have been cost benefit analysis.

REPORTS

Provost Office--Assistant to the Provost, Dr. Bill Price, presented a proposal to examine the academic structure of the university. Dr. Gary Brockway, Interim Provost, was out of town. He, Dr. Tim Todd, and Dr. Price, of the provost's office met with the executive committee last week to discuss this. This proposal stems from a report by the Task Force on Health Sciences and Allied Health last fall. In studying ways to initiate an entity of health sciences and allied health it was noted that any compilation of programs for such an entity might reflect in the overall academic organization of programs. The interim provost, in addition, suggested that it was time to look at how the university is organized in meeting the needs of faculty and students. The last review was twenty years ago.

Dr. Brockway has asked the senate to appoint a committee to examine the current academic structure and submit a report to him by June 1, 1999. The focus on developing some means to provide a program of health sciences and allied health will continue under the leadership of Drs. Rose Bogal-Allbritten, Marcie Hobbs, and Tom Miller. It was suggested that the committee communicate regularly with these people.

There were concerns from senators that placement of an entity of health sciences had already been determined and that faculty in affected programs had not been consulted. A virtual organization was also suggested. Dr. Tom Miller told the senate that they had not made any determinations at this point and that all faculty involved in such programs would be involved. He assured faculty that this would be a collaborative effort of all affected. He sees a health sciences program as being beneficial to west Kentucky. Their charge is to make some recommendations to the provost of what would be feasible in a health care model. Dr. Price reiterated that measures will be taken to insure that faculty will not be hurt or placed at a disadvantage in terms of promotion and tenure by any reorganization. The provost's office wants any changes to be fair and equitable to all involved.

Senators expressed concern that deadlines were not sufficient for a thorough review. President Landini reported that Dr. Brockway is aware that there are concerns in completing a review and submitting a report by June 1. Concerns were also expressed that this review was being conducted outside the purview of any strategic plan for the university. President Landini noted that any recommendations would be forwarded to the provost after being approved by the senate and academic council.

The executive committee has appointed an Ad Hoc Committee to Review Academic Structure. The committee's charge is 1) to look at the current organization of the academic unit; 2) to preserve and enhance the academic program to do what is best for faculty and students; 3) to study other models; and 4) conduct a positive review of what the academic program is doing and ways to enhance it for the betterment of the university. The senate urges broad based input and strong communication between groups is encouraged. The committee is asked to report at the May 1999 senate meeting. The senate will then send any recommendations to the academic council for review. President Landini asked Senator Muscio to convene the committee to elect its own chair, set its own timetable, and determine its own direction. The provost's office will provide support to this committee. Committee members are:

James F. (Jim) Thompson, Faculty Emeritus, 753-6273

Kenneth Wolf, Interim Dean, -6935

Susan K. Dunman, University Libraries, -3510

Bonnie McNeely, Business & Public Affairs, -3009

Oliver Muscio, Science and Graduate Studies, Academic Council, -6597

Joann Hammons, Education, - 2855

David G. Kraemer, Chair, Industry & Technology, -6654

Steve Jones, Humanistic Studies, -4629

Allen White, Fine Arts & Communication, Residential Colleges, -4552

Elizabeth (Betty) Powell, Faculty Senate Executive Committee, - 2718

Board of Regents--Regent Rudolph briefly reported on the December board meeting. Appointments were made to the University Appeals Board and the board reaffirmed its affirmative action plan. The faculty and staff affairs committee met for the first time this year. The committee heard a positive report from the College of Science focus group. Dr. Alexander has started focus groups in each college to improve communication. Faculty Senate and Staff Congress gave status reports. He thanked President Landini and Vice President Call for their presentation of issues important to faculty. They stressed that the university takes steps to retain quality faculty. They told the committee that faculty find it difficult to get across the idea of shared governance but in doing so brought out other issues such as, operating budgets, class size, and maintaining the quality of students. They emphasized that the board, faculty, and students share the same goals and the university achieves status because of its quality faculty and students. The senate leadership also told the committee that faculty impose procedures on themselves to maintain that quality and should be concerned and heard in the decision making process of the university. They felt it was a positive exchange. They called on the board, administration, and faculty to be supportive of each other and work together to work to make sure that this university reaches its potential.

In other business, concerns were addressed regarding expansion at Hopkinsville, and again, the absence of a strategic plan in these initiatives.

Academic Policies--Chair Gray reported that his committee continues to study grade inflation and recommends an ad hoc committee is formed to monitor. They also will keep the senate posted on the virtual university. They noted that advisers are often bypassed through the MAP Reports but that a remedy by the registrar is in progress.

Finance--Chair Guin presented preliminary salary data, which will be posted to the senate's website. The executive committee has asked that three questions about salary be answered:

1) Does salary inversion exist at MSU? The committee found no evidence of inversion. 2) Does gender equity exist? Females continue to earn less than their male counterparts in each college. Fine Arts and Communication has the most equal salaries at 96%. Business and Science are the lowest at 90%. Senator Barrett noted that this is in contrast to the affirmative action policy just reaffirmed by the board. Senator Pervine (mathematics & statistics) noted that the longevity of males at the full professor rank might explain some of the discrepancy. Chair Guin noted that the university is doing better and that collegiate numbers are consistent with recent new hires. 3) What is the relationship between salary and years of service? Chair Guin reported that the data is not complete but that there seems to be no close relationship; data varies and the slope is positive, as you would hope. The committee will continue to work on these results.

Senator Barrett (psychology) asked if the committee is looking at differences across departments due to market adjustments. He noted that faculty are faculty regardless and are required to do the same things and wondered if the committee had noted unjustified market adjustments for some new faculty hired in at more than existing full professors. Chair Guin responded that data had been gathered across colleges but not broken down into departments. He thinks this would be interesting to study and will take it up with the committee. The committee will finish a report and make recommendations to the senate later on. The committee will meet on February 8 to finish review of the university audit; it is currently 85% complete.

Governmental Affairs--Chair Wattier reported that he has talked with state officials and Drs. Alexander and Brockway about the governor's plans for fire safety. It seems that a needs based student aid program is preferred. Also, he has talked with them about giving current faculty retirement options. COSFL has asked Murray to work on pre-filing a bill to give faculty across the state an option and will solicit the support of the university presidents. The legislature is anticipated to appropriate $18 million to the "Commonwealth Virtual University." He outlined other items discussed by COSFL on January 16. They discussed that state appropriations to the regionals may be based on new institution based benchmarks rather than CPE established benchmarks or be made with enrollment based factors or tied into strategic plans. The CPE expects reports from the institutions on post tenure review soon.

Handbook & Personnel--Chair Elwell reported that the committee is considering specific proposals to strengthen the tenure policy so that faculty will know requirements and expectations in planning their professional lives. They will meet again to ratify before bringing to the senate floor. They will also invite Dr. Brockway to meet with them again in order to bring items off the table.

Rules, Elections, & Bylaws--Vice President Call reported that the process to select Board of Regents Awards for Teaching Excellence has begun. The committee recommends that the senate conduct administrative evaluations similar to last year using the old forms. Interim appointees will be evaluated if no search committee is active. Other interims will be given the choice.

Insurance & Benefits--Chair Jacobs reported that the committee is focusing on three items: 1) accrued sick leave towards KTRS retirement; 2) tuition waivers; and 3) sick leave bank proposal. He asked for input on the bank proposal. He noted that some of the committee's work depends on feedback from faculty and staff regarding salary issues. The committee will meet again the first week of March.

Academic Council

Undergraduate Studies--Peggy Schrock, Chair, reported one change that affects curriculum approved by the University Studies Committee; adding one course in a fifth enrichment elective category. She also mentioned a possibility of 099 courses being offered through the residential colleges. Dr. Price responded that nothing had been forwarded for approval thus far. The senate unanimously went on record that any change in 099 curriculum goes through academic council.

Graduate Studies--Chair Muscio reported that the committee has drafted an initial resolution recommending the university fund as many waivers as possible for assistantships in and out of state. It was again mentioned that such program initiatives are being undertaken without a strategic plan in place.

Executive Committee--President Landini reported briefly on two meetings with Dr. Alexander since the last senate meeting. The governor, CPE, and presidents met recently on how to best address fire safety. They have determined each institutional need and agreed to partially fund several existing capital construction items. This money was appropriated for 1998 prior to the recent tragedy. The first meeting Dr. Alexander discussed unionization efforts. At their second meeting, they discussed reorganization of the university. President Alexander stressed that any initiative follows the state's Vision 2020 plan and our own strategic plan. He wants the faculty senate to have major input in configuring health-related programs into our existing structure. He also wants to be responsive to faculty and administration concerns with our current organization by a comprehensive look and reevaluation of needed changes.

President Alexander has asked the deans to review programs for efficiency in the current budget allocation process. He is also studying chair stipends and would like to have a university policy in place to eliminate any arbitrary processes by deans or the provost.

The senate adjourned at 5:15 p.m.