MURRAY STATE UNIVERSITY
FACULTY SENATE
October 3, 2000
 

The Faculty Senate of Murray State University met in regular session on Tuesday, October 3, 2000, in the Barkley Room of the Curris Center.  Thirty-two senators were present.  Senators Broughton and Pilgrim were absent.  Sarah Aguiar was proxy for Senator Foreman, English & Philosophy.  Senators were reminded of meeting procedures.  The minutes of September 5 were approved.

Board of Regents--Regent Rudolph reported briefly on the September 8 Board meeting.  A provost and vice president for institutional advancement were named.  He and other regents attended a state trustees meeting this month.  A MSU alumnus received an ACORN award.  Regent Rudolph confirmed that faculty may continue to bring items to the faculty and staff affairs committee of the Board.

Academic Policies--Vice President Morgan reported that the committee met on September 12.  The committee invited Peggy Schrock, chair of undergraduate studies committee of the Academic Council, John Yates, Dean of Continuing Education, Linda Miller, ACTS, and Tim Todd, academic affairs to discuss quality control of online courses.

The committee has recommended that another standing committee be established in academic council to approve proposed courses.  Another ad hoc committee has been appointed by the provost to develop criteria by the end of the fall semester.  Senators Pilgrim and Jay Morgan serve on this committee.    Tim Todd will recommend that these recommendations be passed on to the deans.  ACTS will continue to offer workshops on development of web-based courses and assist with on campus procedures for implementation.

The academic policies committee will meet on October 10 to discuss a revised university attendance policy.

Finance--President Call noted that Chair Pervine has resigned from the senate due to his appointment as assistant dean of the College of Science, Engineering and Technology.  Ed Thome is the new senator from the Department of Mathematics and Statistics.  Committee member, Betty Driver, reported that the committee met on September 19 and discussed a salary study.  The committee listed five items that it deems necessary to address:  1) How merits were distributed this year and how in the future; 2) Is five percent (5%) commensurate with projections; 3) Promotion adjustments; 4) What was true merit; and 5) Extra compensation for participation in designated university initiatives.  The committee will meet with Vice President Denton to gather some of this data.  President Call was asked to request the formula used this year from the Provost.

Governmental Affairs--Chair Wattier reported that COSFL will meet in Lexington on October 14 and discuss the program reviews, a statement on shared governance, and agenda for the next legislative session. COSFL will elect officers and be briefed by the CPE on program initiatives.  Chair Wattier is chair of the nominating committee.
 
 

Handbook & Personnel--President Call serves as interim chair.  The committee met on September 19 with the provost.  The committee will review the 2000 limited edition of the Faculty Handbook.  The edition will also be posted to the senate website.  The committee
proposed a tracking system for changes to the Handbook.  President Call reported that the executive committee would generate a status report of all pending Faculty Senate action items.  The handbook & personnel committee will meet again October 24.

President Call noted that the 2000 edition is an advisory compilation to be used by the provost office to resolve academic matters.  An update will be distributed to faculty when this review is accomplished.

Rules, Elections, & Bylaws--Vice Chair Strieter reported that the committee met on September 12 to develop guidelines for university governance elections.  The committee will accept nominations through October 17 and will meet that day to confirm nominees.  Ballots will be accepted by mail.  The committee will then meet to confirm ballots and elect faculty representatives.  The senate was reminded that university committees are meeting with hold over members and deans' interim appointees.  It was also noted that this year is a faculty regent election year.  Guidelines will be distributed in the spring, forums will be held, and the election will be the third week of April 2001.

Insurance and Benefits--The committee will meet on October 11 to discuss recommendations from Human Resources and elect a new chair.  A special called meeting was held on September 27.  Joyce Gordon, assistant vice president for human resources, explained the procedures to be used for open enrollment that were subsequently released to the campus.  The committee had no input and did not receive any information on changes until this meeting.  The university addressed projected increases to healthcare costs by combining increase of employee premiums and the university's contribution.  The university will not offer a two-tier prescription plan or buy outs for two employee families.

Senators noted a significant reduction in benefit to two employee families.  The committee did note that the university did increase its contribution by a significant amount to offset costs to employees and hopes for further increases in future years.  The committee does seek input into the decision making process.  The committee will look at reduced benefits and the save harmless policy.  The impact on recruitment and retention of faculty was also noted.

Academic Council--Faculty Senate representatives reported that the council met briefly last Thursday.  Special meetings may be called due to the restructuring process.

Executive--President Call reported that the committee met last week.  An academic council committee to revise an academic honesty policy has met.  The committee has reviewed a policy recommended by the Faculty Senate in 1985 but not implemented.

The committee has discussed salary issues and guidelines for endowed professorships with the provost.  The committee continues to look at a proposal for extra merit compensation for involvement in the residential colleges.

New business--Faculty are invited to a reception for Dr. Brockway to be held Wednesday at the Faculty Club.

The meeting adjourned at 4:25 p.m.