Faculty Senate Meeting Minutes
October 5, 2006

Senators: Tim Casey, Tim Hatten, Steven Werman, Lory Maddox (for Judy Goodhart), Joshua Butler, Bill McCracken, Kristen Hague (for Maureen Neal), Barbara Borst, Jane Arledge, Tamera Minnick (for Bill Tiernan)

Guests: Dan Flenniken, Tracy Broderick, Carol Futhey, Shannon Robinson, Cathy Barkley

Minutes Secretary: Jessica Cowden

I. Introductions/Announcements

" Jane Arledge requested that she be added to the Curriculum Committee minutes mailing list.

" Tracy Broderick reminded the Senate that book orders for J-Term and Spring semester are due on October 23. She also encouraged communication with the book store regarding all course material requirements, including courses where no texts are required so that they can more effectively serve and inform the students. Broderick also informed the Senate that book costs are increasing and assured them that the MSC book store mark-up is less than half of the average retail mark-up.

" Carol Futhey addressed the Senate on a number of issues:
o She thanked those involved for their help with the most recent GT Pathways conference where 6 out of the 8 course submissions were approved.
o The newly implemented electronic curriculum submission process is working well thus far. They are currently creating a wish list of other tasks to incorporate into the system.
o 900 students got feedback through the Early Alert Program.
o The Higher Learning Commission report is available online at the Academic Affairs site.
o They are beginning to look at position requests for next year.
o The Tenure and Promotion committee has begun meeting.
o "Turn It In" software training sessions to be offered.

" Shannon Robinson announced that the 2-year cycle fee allocation meetings will begin on Monday and are open. They are currently in need of a student Arts representative and a faculty rep.
o There was a discussion concerning the new student fees structure. Arledge inquired as to the future of the Math Lab in light of those changes. Robinson said that they are currently petitioning for a permanent home for both tutoring and the Math Lab, but that the modular will in fact be torn down for construction of the new academic building.

II. Update Discussion on HR Application Form

Many faculty members have met with HR since the last Senate meeting to discuss and improve the online application form. Several changes have been implemented and the new version is half as long as the original. The two biggest concerns, about privacy issues and requests that were contrary to the Faculty Handbook, were both omitted.

The following motion was made, seconded, and unanimously approved as amended (Arledge/Casey):

Whereas:

" New procedures were implemented affecting the faculty search process without consultation with faculty.

" The procedures as originally implemented were legally questionable, and did not conform to the Professional Personal Employment Handbook nor the MSC Affirmative Action Policy.

" Neither the original procedures nor the revised procedures conform to the Faculty and Administrative Search Procedure Manual (updated June 28, 2006).

" The revised procedures still need revision.

" The application form that is part of the new procedures was revised during the active search cycle, which will result in search committees likely receiving different forms from different candidates.

" Faculty positions are inherently different than administrative positions.

I make the following motion.

The Faculty Senate respectfully requests that

1. The new procedures be ablated until such point as the process has been resolved.
2. Any department whose ads have been revised to include the new procedures have the opportunity, if they so wish, to readvertise the position to remove any possible taint of the current search.
3. A subcommittee of Faculty Senate consisting of two Faculty Senate members and two Academic Policies members be formed to meet with the Director of HR and other administrators to
a. devise a separate form for faculty searches (which will not include the administrative position items) that will
1. meet the needs of HR and other MSC administrators
2. meet the needs of faculty searches
3. comply with current policies of MSC and national affirmative action laws
b. update the Faculty and Administrative Search Procedure Manual accordingly
c. resolve the process in a timely manner
d. develop a form that finalists may be asked to sign by the Spring of 2007

Discussion:
" The point was made that the form should be removed entirely until it is perfected and finalized, especially considering that no forms were required previously.

" Faculty members have expressed concern that their searches have been compromised by the implementation and subsequent revision of the application form.

" Hatten reported that a member of his faculty, who has a doctorate in Human Resources, says that this type of form normal and standard.

" Arledge concurred that this is the direction in which most colleges and universities are moving, but emphasized the need to find a version of the form that would serve HR's needs without negatively impacting recruitment and retention.

III. Tabled Motion (Adademic Council)

Discussion:
" The senators found that their constituents were evenly divided between those who would like to see minutes from the Academic Council meetings and those who did not feel it was necessary.
" Werman suggested that the Senate change the tabled amendment to request a summary of the meetings rather than minutes.

The motion was approved as amended with one dissenting vote.

The motion was made, seconded, and passed to charge the Academic Policies committee with working in conjunction with Pat Hampton to make sure that the policy as formalized and put into writing so that the faculty are informed whenever grades are changed. (Arledge/Casey)

IV. Year of the Classroom

A committee has been formed. Doug O'Roark has agreed to serve as the chair. Suggestions, comments, and ideas are welcome and should be submitted to O'Roark or the committee.

Meeting adjourned at 5:00 pm

Respectfully submitted,
Jessica Cowden
Minutes Secretary