MUW Faculty Senate

September 23, 2005

Minutes Approved: October 28, 2005

Members present: Tom Velek, Pres. (A&S); Bonnie Oppenheimer, VP (A&S); Brian Anderson, Sec. (A&S); Jimena Aracena (A&S); Shawn Dickey (A&S); Richard Holden (ED/HS); Ellen Jackson (ED/HS); Scott McKenzie (CAI); Jim Roth (ED/HS); Glenn Rhyne (BUS); Cathy Smith (NSLP); Robert Swanson (NSLP); Pam Thomas (proxy for Theresa Sparks; NSLP)

Guest present: Sam Gingerich (Provost/VPAA)

Members absent: Lea Helen Evans (NSLP); Van Roberts (A&S); Cathy Young (LIB)

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1. The meeting was called to order at 12:15pm.

2. No new agenda items were added.

3. The meeting agenda was adopted by unanimous vote.

4. Consent Agenda

A. The April 29 minutes were approved unanimously.

B. The Senate voted unanimously to approve the following Fund A disbursements.

Disbursed: $3,150                                           Remaining in Fund A: $6,450

5. Updates

A. Administrative Council: August meeting focused on Nora Miller (VPFA) report on bond/funding issues; Sept. meeting cancelled due to hurricane aftermath.

B. Academic Council: No report.

C. Meeting with Pres. Limbert: No meeting yet.

D. PIE Council: First meeting will be Sept. 30.

E. UCC: First meeting will be Oct. 7.

6. Old Business

* Campus Decorum: Tom Velek has received numerous concerns over noise in the Hogarth Dining Center, loud car stereos, noise from grounds maintenance, and chalk graffiti on sidewalks that are religious messages but might be interpreted as having racist undertones. Discussion: Anderson–The Senate should draft a letter to Sodexho (copied to the administration) that the dining center is disrupted not by traditional social club rites but by unruly behavior, such as shrieking and loud music. Jackson–And the dining center is getting run down and dirty from this behavior, and when I’ve approached authorities about it, they say the incidents are permissible “campus activities”. Dickey–I believe there should be more policing of the volume of car stereos at the main gate, and groups that wish to write chalk messages on sidewalks should perhaps have to get permission to do so. Gingerich–Keep in mind this is a free speech issue, and MUW can’t control it unless we go the route of “Free Speech Zones”. Velek–I’ve heard that there have been “thong comparisons” in the dining center. Maybe the standard should be: would this behavior be permitted in a public restaurant? Anderson–Maybe this should be the year’s focus for the Special Issues Committee.

7. New Business

A. Populating Committees: The Senate Executive Committee is Velek, Oppenheimer and Anderson; Velek is also the MUW representative to the University Faculty Senate Assn. Volunteers were taken for the following committees/panel: Hearing Panel Pool (Anderson, Aracena, Jackson, Rhyne, Smith, Velek); Parking (Jackson); Faculty Evaluation (Dickey). No volunteers came forward for Special Issues, Faculty Welfare, Faculty Development, or the Social Committee.

B. “Summer Decisions”: Major decisions have been made by the administration while faculty and students are on break: 1. Termination of the athletic program; 2. Termination of the dance program; 3. Closing the Demonstration School; 4. Termination of the Continuing Education program. The Senate considers a statement of concern. Discussion: Aracena–The administration should consult the Faculty Senate president on these matters, since the position is a 12-month contract. Gingerich–Unlike years ago, nothing slows down on campuses during breaks. Planning is very complicated. This year’s state budget wasn’t finalized until June, so the administration couldn’t be deliberative about adapting to the new fiscal constraints. Rhyne–But there needs to be some faculty input in the process. Velek–The biggest concern is over the sometimes dramatic cuts that are made at these times. Vote: The Senate unanimously voted to table this matter so senators can gather input from their colleges.

C. Dr. Gingerich: The current system for student evaluation of faculty has been purchased from Educational Testing Service for $12,000/year, and the University will go back to designing its own system. Faculty participation is needed to assist the administration and deans in developing a new instrument./// Appropriate standards for establishing faculty rank are needed. Most fields have a doctoral degree, but others have a terminal Master’s degree (e.g., MFA). There are still other fields where standards are unclear (graphic design, culinary arts, etc.). What should we expect these faculty to have for purposes of hiring and promotion? Perhaps a Master’s plus certification. MUW should develop clear and thorough standards./// Faculty promotion and tenure policies (PS 1301-4) have been changed so that faculty p&t materials are submitted to the department chair and then the college p&t committee. The materials are then reviewed by the university p&t committee, which has one member from each unit. This committee reads the materials thoroughly and receives feedback when requested. These changes will be submitted to Academic Council for its approval.

D. Policy for Review: The proposed change to PS 9301: Travel as a University Employee requests that changes to travel procedures be posted to the MUW website rather than distributed in hard copy. Vote: The Senate unanimously approved this change.

8. Announcements: None.

9. Adjournment at 1:20pm.