MURRAY STATE UNIVERSITY FACULTY SENATE May 5, 1998 Minutes

The Faculty Senate of Murray State University met in regular session on Tuesday, May 5, 1998. Thirty-two senators were in attendance. Dr. Clyde T. Stambaugh was proxy for Dr. Tim Miller, accounting. Regent-elect Rudolph was also present. Senators Dressler, Duncan, Flynn, Kimball, and Wiggins were absent. The minutes of April 7, 1998, were approved. The senate recognized outgoing senators for their service. Specifically recognized were Senators Steve Horwood and Wayne Bell for twenty years of service on the senate, Dr. Gary Jones for fifteen, and Dr. Lou Tillson, six.

REPORTS

Board of Regents--Regent France thanked senate members for their support over the last three years. She considered it an honor to represent faculty as a board member, and she hopes that she was able to change their views on occasion. She and Regent-elect Rudolph will attend the upcoming retreat and see this as an unique opportunity to delineate the faculty perspective. The most important issue before the board at this time is health insurance. She has stressed that the university must maintain the quality of health care traditionally provided to employees. The board will meet in June.

Academic Policies--Marlene Campbell, Bill Schell, and Pam Wurgler were elected to represent the senate on the Academic Council.

Finance--Chair Guin presented a synopsis of the faculty senate study of the university's audit. Worksheets are on file in the Faculty Senate Office. The study notes revenue sources and expenditures. He presented figures on state appropriations as a part of revenue that can be used for salaries as well as information on how the budget and audit reflect the institution's priorities; i.e., scholarships, enrollment. A fairly sizeable amount of scholarship money comes out of the general fund; however, the committee felt this was a necessary expenditure. The university still maintains the lowest FTE of any of the regionals but building plant is underutilized. Higher enrollments have provided additional tuition revenue but no added state appropriations. Even though state funding is less, there seems to be more from increased tuition revenues that could be moved over into salaries. In the past, the university has received additional funding based upon the number of new students; that is no longer the case. In the future, additional student enrollment will lead to higher tuition revenues but no other state appropriations. The finance committee will need to monitor costs and revenue associated with varying enrollment policies.

Health care is not a line item in the audit. Claims are paid out of a pool of departmental and employee contributions. Verification of numbers will have to be done from another source. There is no way to trace costs directly through the audit. Vice President Denton was very helpful in presenting the committee with line by line information on normal operations. Fiscal plant expenditures are justified. Money for things such as beautification of the campus come out of discretionary funds. Some funds are restricted as to how the university may use them. University renovations generate maintenance and operation funds from the state.

In general, the audit seems to reflect that the president's priorities appear to agree with those of the faculty; however, the problem remains that there is very little communication between the president and the faculty. Senators responded that the committee should continue to pursue information on insurance and health benefits through the insurance and benefits committee and that the administration should be able to give out one set of numbers. The administration has provided the committee with answers to all of its inquiries thus far. The senate proceeded to discuss possibilities in health care.

On behalf of the entire executive committee, President Landini thanked Dr. Guin and his committee for their work. The senate will continue to build upon what this committee has done this year.

Governmental Affairs--Chair Wattier reported that COSFL met on April 18. He informed the senate that Dr. Davis has been appointed for a 4-year term as the first president of the CPE. His main thrust will be for collaboration between the state's schools. The senate voted to invite Dr. Davis to campus. An invitation will go out in September.

Handbook & Personnel--No report.

Rules, Elections, & Bylaws--Vice President Call formally announced that the senate had concluded university governance elections including faculty regent. President Landini welcomed Regent-elect Rudolph.

Academic Council

Undergraduate Studies--Chair Campbell reported that the committee will finalize the new general education curriculum at its first meeting next fall.

Graduate Studies--Chair Muscio reported that his committee and the full council have approved new requirements of English language competency. Bill Payne has met with graduate coordinators to explain new rules.

Library and Academic Support--No report.

Insurance and Benefits--Chair Jacobs reported on the April 30 meeting and presented his committee's calendar of work for the summer. The committee will look at options relating to administering new plans and the kinds of plans desired at its May 20 meeting. Proposals will be accepted from companies through June. This committee has pressed the university to look at alternative plans for family coverage and has questioned the $3.2 million cap the university has budgeted for expenditures over several years. The senate also discussed faculty input into work thus far. Some members of the committee felt that the committee would not have input on whether the university continues to be self-insured. This would be an administrative decision. The senate then discussed the university's commitment to employees' standard of living, cost benefits and cost containment, and health care in relation to salaries and retirement options. President Landini encouraged continued participation in the decision making process through shared governance and commended the committee for its hard work on behalf of faculty and staff.

Executive--President Landini asked that senators share the Mercer Medical Report with their departments. She reported that several individuals signed up to form an organizing committee at the AFT presentation on April 20. She has asked Dr. Terry Strieter to chair this committee. The executive committee moved that the senate endorse the formation of such a committee. A friendly amendment that this committee serve as an ad hoc committee reporting to the senate was added. The senate endorsed this committee by a vote of 22 for/4 against/with 3 abstentions. The executive committee also encouraged input into the regent nomination process. Two of our board members terms will expire June 30, 1998. The process was explained. President Landini and Vice President Call met with Dr. Alexander last Thursday and discussed salaries, health care, the AFT, and shared governance. They stressed the importance of communication and see the president's letter of May 4, 1998, as a positive effort. The senate voted to support the president's pledge of maintaining the standard of living of university employees and encouraged the administration to improve salaries to benchmark levels as previously requested on April 7, 1998. (Resolution attached as part of these minutes)

In other business, President Landini and Vice President Call were reelected by acclamation and Regent-elect Rudolph thanked faculty for their support and pledged to work with the senate. President Landini asked current committee chairs to serve over the summer and again thanked Dr. Charles Maxwell for work on the salary studies. She again welcomed new members and asked senators to sign up for committee work. The meeting adjourned at 5:15 p.m.