Faculty Senate Minutes November 18, 2004

SENATORS: Cindy Thomas, Jill Cordova, Bill McCracken, Tony Schountz, Gayla Jo Slauson, Larry Madsen, Tom Acker, Chad Grabow, Tim Casey, Rich Cowden, Barbara Borst

MINUTES SECRETARY: Jessica Cowden

GUESTS: Duane Hrncir, Carol Futhey, David M. Cox, Heather Exby, Morgan Bridge, Gary Looft

I. ANNOUNCEMENTS

Tom Acker was contacted by Chris Purkiss of CFAC inquiring about the MSC faculty’s concerns with the Performance Contract. In response to a faculty-wide e-mail, many have expressed concerns about the following: grade distribution, faculty control over curriculum and CCHE micro-management.

Gayla Jo Slauson gave a brief report on the recent Board of Trustees meeting. As agreed upon at the last Faculty Senate meeting, Phil Kavanagh addressed the issue of removing the e-mail policy from the Employee Handbook. The Trustees are going to consider their options; Phil is optimistic about the Trustees’ willingness to amend the document. There was also discussion about the Performance Contract, the College Opportunity Fund, and tuition, which is expected to raise 3% across the board (not by department) in the fall.

II. MINUTES

The motion was made, seconded and passed to receive and approve the Curriculum Committee minutes from October 28, 2004. (Casey/Grabow)

The motion was made, seconded and passed to receive the Curriculum Committee minutes from November 4, 2004. (Thomas/Casey)

The motion was made, seconded and passed to receive and approve the Faculty Senate minutes from October 28, 2004. (Casey/Thomas)

The motion was made, seconded and passed to receive the Faculty Senate minutes from November 4, 2004. (Casey/Grabow) One amendment will be made before approval: Chad Grabow is to be added to the Policies and Procedures Manual Faculty Senate subcommittee.

III. OFF CAMPUS COURSES

To begin a discussion concerning off-campus courses and how to maintain adequate quality control over the instructors as well as the curriculum, David Cox Department Head of Theatre, was brought in to provide some background information from a Department Head’s perspective. Cox revealed that, in the past, off-campus course information including the syllabi and the instructors’ Curriculum Vitae were sent out in advance to the Department Chairs. Currently, that is no longer the case. In his department, for example, he had recently discovered that a number of Speech courses were being taught off-campus that he had never approved.

Cowden then suggested that Senate follow up with the Academic Policies Committee, who was charged with studying this issue, and request an update on their progress and findings for a future meeting.

Further background information was provided by VP Carol Futhey and Heather Exby from Extended Studies. Carol stated that the college is still in the process of formalizing the off-campus education system and that many of these irregularities are residual hold-over problems from the previous, less formal system. Heather expressed the desire of Extended Studies to foster a more involved relationship between on-campus and off-campus instructors in order to provide more unified courses so that what is offered regionally is comparable in quality and content to what is offered at Mesa State.

IV. POLICIES AND PROCEDURES MANUAL

Tim Casey reported gave a brief report on the progress made thus far by the Policies and Procedures subcommittee. So far, he had been engaged mostly in gathering information on whom and what will be involved in rewriting the manual. He had already met with President Foster who indicated that he is planning on involving faculty as well as the administration in the rewrite. Casey also has meetings scheduled with the Vice Presidents after Thanksgiving.

Casey suggested that, because there are so many different sections to the manual, it would probably be best to have a series of small subcommittees each working on their own piece of the puzzle. It would probably also be best to rewrite the Policies and Procedures Manual while school is still in session so as to avoid some of the problems the Employee Handbook committee faced with conducting the rewrite over the summer.

Cowden encouraged the senators to report back to their individual departments, speak to their constituents and try to get them involved with the rewriting process.

The meeting was adjourned at 5:00 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Jessica Cowden
Minutes Secretary