The Faculty Senate of Murray State University met in regular session on Tuesday, November 14, 2000, in the Barkley Room of the Curris Center. Twenty-seven senators were in attendance. Jim Benson was proxy for Senator Palmer, IET, and Kelly Rogers for Senator Broughton, wellness and therapeutic sciences. Senators Cetin, Gutwirth, Jeanquart, Mulligan, Muscio, and Senator At-large Jacobs were absent. The minutes of October 3 were approved.

Insurance & Benefits--Jim Benson, Chair of the Faculty & Staff Insurance and Benefits Committee, reported that the committee has met to set goals for the coming year. They have discussed what function they would like to provide to the university this year. They will seek information on the health insurance and would like to see options being communicated to faculty and staff prior to administrative decisions made on behalf of the faculty and staff. They will explore current market trends. Faculty may be included in a survey on how this year's changes effected staff. Dr. Benson encouraged comments and concerns to the committee. The committee meets again on December 6.

Executive--President Call presented a resolution forwarded by the Executive Committee as a faculty response to this year's insurance process {addendum to these minutes}. The resolution calls for the University Administration to follow principles of shared governance in future decisions affecting insurance and benefits for faculty and staff. Noting that it is Board policy that the Insurance and Benefits Committee "evaluate and make recommendations concerning group health and life insurance and other benefits for faculty and staff" and that the committee was not consulted this year on various changes in coverage, the Senate passed the resolution 26/0 with one abstention by the FSIB Chair. President Call added that the FSIB committee did not seek recourse and the executive committee drafted the resolution after a straw poll of faculty stipulated direct involvement by the committee.

President Call updated faculty on the following. He has received information on how salary and merit pay were distributed and will forward it to the finance committee. The university is developing guidelines to choose endowed professorships.

He reported that there was no consensus on the senate's straw poll to the proposal for extra compensation for residential college involvement. A lack of information was noted. Therefore, the executive committee has invited Vice President Robertson to the December Senate meeting to discuss the proposal.

A status report of pending senate items sent with the agenda is intended to help the senate leadership follow up on faculty concerns. President Call appointed Senator Mulligan, history, as interim chair of the finance committee. This leaves a senate vacancy on Academic Council.

Dr. Brockway informed the executive committee at its October meeting that the CPE has established faculty development funding. Each institution makes application for recurring monies to fund initiatives. MSU is eligible to receive approximately $72,000. He asked for senate appointees to a committee to discuss initiatives and structure for handling proposals. A task force will develop guidelines and a structure will be implemented to approve proposals.

The Provost also noted action agenda program money in the amount of $1.6 million awarded by the CPE for recruitment and retention efforts. The executive committee asked for faculty involvement in the distribution of these funds. The Provost will take this request to President Alexander.

The Provost invited members of the committee to a breakfast for Gordon Davies on November 30. Mr. Applegate, CPE staff, will also be on campus later in the semester to discuss the above initiatives. The executive committee continued its monthly meeting on November 6 to complete the agenda for this senate meeting.

Academic Policies--Vice President Morgan reported that the committee has reviewed a revised university attendance policy. The Academic Council will discuss and make recommendations.

Finance--Betty Driver, committee member, noted the committee met but did not elect a new chair.

Governmental Affairs--Chair Wattier reported that COSFL met on October 14. Dr. Wattier served as chair of the nominating committee and the slate of incumbents was fully endorsed. CPE personnel presented a review of this year's budgeting process. Chair Wattier forwarded budget information to the senate's finance committee. Mr. Applegate specifically asked to meet with faculty groups on campuses. Chair Wattier explained CPE reporting mechanisms; i.e., program review. He has given Provost Brockway information on how the other institutions internally assess programs.

Handbook & Personnel--President Call reported that the committee met on October 24 and will meet again on November 21 continuing review of the Faculty Handbook.

Rules, Elections, & Bylaws--Vice Chair Strieter reported that election results were verified on November 2 and that the committee will next meet on November 21. Criteria for spring elections, specifically, procedures for the faculty regent election, will be formulated.

The floor was opened for nominations to the senate vacancy on Academic Council. None were made.

Senator Jay Morgan reported that the council has been reconstructed based on the composition of each college. The council adopted a ratio of one faculty representative per 25 faculty with a minimum of two representatives from each academic college, the School of Agriculture, and the University Libraries.

Library & Academic Support--Senator Driskill reported that the committee met November 9. They will meet with Tony Powell, MSU Webmaster, to discuss academic freedom issues governing the structure of WebPages. Senator Brewer noted that ADA (Americans With Disabilities Act) considerations must also be addressed.

In response to a question from Senator Pilgrim, Vice President Morgan reported that Academic Council has not discussed campus guidelines for online courses. The Senate has forwarded a proposal to the Academic Council for review. The university is waiting on state recommendations. Tim Todd and Linda Miller are involved in the state initiatives.

Old business--Senator Jones, social work, anthropology, and gerontology, noted an erroneous association with his discipline in discussions over the residential college proposal. A reference has been made that in some disciplines association with students in given situations violates a code of ethics.

The meeting adjourned at 4:55 p.m.