MSU-BOZEMAN FACULTY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
January 23, 2002
PRESENT: Young, Morrill, Sherwood, Engel, White, Kommers, Linker,
Leech, Benham, Howard, Stewart, Lewandowski, Ross, Nehrir,
McCLure/Amend, Locke, Lansverk, Bandyopadhyay for Levy,
Bogar, Jelinski, Idzerda, McKinsey for Pratt, Lynch,
Lynes-Hayes, Kempcke.
ABSENT: Hatfield, Anderson, Peed, Larsen, Mooney, Lefcort, Weaver,
Henson, Fisher, Butterfield, Griffith, Carlstrom.
The regularly- scheduled meeting was called to order by Chair John
Sherwood at 4:10 PM. A quorum was present. The minutes of the
January 16, 2002, meeting were approved as distributed.
Chair's report - John Sherwood.
- The Board of Regents met January 17-18.
- During the faculty meeting with regents, Chair Sherwood
suggested there be exploration of ways non-resident GTAs and
GRAs can be given tuition breaks, helping the graduate
program. The regents seemed enthusiastic during the
discussion and offered that it may be possible to provide
extra fee waivers for non-resident graduate students so they
would pay in-state tuition.
- The information technology policies, which are on today's
agenda, were discussed and approved for the action agenda at
the March meeting.
- Chair Sherwood has talked with Acting Vice President for
Administration and Finance Roloff about the plan to pay AY
faculty over a 10-month period.
- Faculty Council representatives should make constituents
aware that the default is 10 pay periods, and if a faculty
member wants to be paid in nine pay checks (on October 11
through June 11) they must notify their departmental
personnel who work with appointments. Once a faculty member
has chosen to be paid in nine pay checks during the academic
year, a change cannot be made.
- The administration will meet with all department heads and
will hopefully discuss the changes to the new pay schedule
for AY faculty.
- During brief discussion by Faculty Council, the point was
made that the letter from VP Roloff to faculty does not
mention the nine pay check option. Will there be another
letter providing this information and outlining the process
for receiving nine pay checks? Chair Sherwood will bring it
up with the administration.
- The Chair's perception of last week's Faculty Council
discussion of allowing students to drop a course during the first
10 class days of a semester without the instructor or advisor's
signature is that there are some concerns about the
implementation but no serious objections. He recommends Vice
Provost Fedock take the discussed concerns into consideration
when the policy is implemented and consider the policy to be
probationary. If the new policy causes problems to a department
or college that can't be addressed, Faculty Council leadership
should be informed so the policy can be reconsidered.
- Two additions to the Faculty Handbook have been approved by
President Gamble.
- Section 812.04 A (Opportunity to Respond to a Negative
Review) adds a statement that "In the case of a tie vote,
the candidate has the right to respond."
- Section 480 (Faculty Responsibilities: 'Workload Policy')
has been added..
- Both sections become part of the Faculty Handbook on July
1, 2002. They may be viewed at the Faculty Council web site
(http://www2.montana.edu/facultycouncil).
University Governance Council Nominating Committee report.
- The Committee will soon make an announcement about accepting
nominations for various university-wide committees.
- There is an open position for one faculty member on the Salary
Review Committee. Nominations for the committee may be forwarded
to Vicky York, Nominating Committee Chair, or John Sherwood. The
election will take place at next week's Faculty Council meeting.
- Membership of the Strategic Planning Committee was announced
today. Faculty members on the committee are Bill Brown, John
Carlsten, Kay Chafey, and Jon Wraith. Individuals nominated are
thanked for being willing to put their names forward. A capable
and varied group of nominees was provided to the Provost.
Faculty Affairs Committee report - Marvin Lansverk.
- The committee is still receiving information from other
universities about the process of using an ombudsman. The
reponses are encouraging to MSU's proceeding with the proposal.
- A survey will be distributed to determine possible needs and
uses for an ombudsman process.
MSU Benefits Committee report - Doug Young.
- A table displaying the results of a survey of key faculty
benefits at MSU and its peer institutions was distributed and
discussed. (The survey has been e-mailed to all Faculty Council
representatives.)
- A conclusion made from the survey is that MSU's health benefits
are marginal and MSU's retirement benefits are below the average
of even MSU's peers.
- It was suggested that there be discussion at Faculty Council at
a later date regarding communicating this information to MSU's
administration and to the legislature.
Information Technology Policies - Mark Sheehan.
- The draft policies are found on the web at
http://www.montana.edu/itpolicy/. By the middle of next week,
they will be updated with information from the Board of Regents
meeting, and comments regarding the policies can be made at the
web site.
- Some background information was shared.
- The Montana information technology system division (ITSD)
developed strict policies about the way computers are used
in state offices. In addition, during the last legislative
session, SB 131 gave more control over conduct of computer
usage in state government and universities. An information
technology policy was written for state employees, but it is
better suited to employees who do not work at universities
and it does not cover issues of students, faculty, and
research professionals.
- Ray Ford, (UM) and Mark Sheehan drafted the proposed
policies, which were sent to the regents for their November
meeting as information. However, they were discussed there
and brought to the January regents meeting as a submission
item.
- Until mid- February, comments will be accepted on the
policy. At that time, comments will be incorporated into
the proposed policy and it will be distributed as an action
item for the March Board of Regents meeting.
- There are significant differences between the current
acceptable use policy (published by internet providers,
federal laws, Faculty Handbook sections) and the proposed
policy.
- It was suggested policies that apply to telephone usage at
MSU apply to computer usage. It was noted that as the
telephone policy is written, personal telephone calls,
except for specific purposes, are out of compliance with the
policy.
- The policy does not give recognition that faculty's work
continues when they leave the university.
- Concern was expressed that violation of the policy and its
consequences are not specifically addressed.
- References to student computing will be deleted from the
proposed policy, and a separate student policy will be
developed.
As there was no further business, the meeting adjourned at 5:20 PM.
Joann Amend, Secretary John Sherwood, Chair