Pending approval at the January 23, 2006 Faculty Senate Meeting
Approved as read at January 23, 2006 Faculty Senate Meeting
WSUFA Meet and Confer Notes
Monday, November 28, 2005, 4:15 p.m.
Agenda - Previously Scheduled:
1. Agenda Additions
2. Undergraduate Course and Program Approvals
3. Changes in Policy on Graduation with Honors
4. Committee Appointments
5. Comments on Vice President for Academic Affairs Materials
6. Inauguration Committee
7. Center of Excellence Structure
8. Technology Committee Charge for Chief Information Officer
9. Study Group for Applied Doctorate Degree (Administration)
WSUFA Executive Committee: Mary Kesler (President), Bruce Svingen (Vice-President), Sara Barbor (Past Negotiator) [Absent], David Bratt (Past President), Darrell Downs (Treasurer) [Absent], Matt Hyle (Negotiator), Cindy Killion (Board), Bill Ng (Secretary), Cathy Summa (Board).
Administration: J. Ramaley, S. Richardson [Absent], K. Gorman [Absent], N. Jannik, T. Paino [Absent], T. Gaspar, C. Barajas, C. Winbush, S. Ellinghuysen, T. Kruger, K. Northam, Jim Schmidt, Cecilia Rokusek [Absent], Gab Manrique, David Gresham [Absent].
Others: Ann Rethlefsen, students.
1. Agenda Additions
10. LOU of Severance (IFO Addition)
11. Learn and Service (American Higher Learning Education) Grant (Administration Addition)
12. Memorial Expansion Pre-design Updates (Administration Addition)
2. Undergraduate Course and Program Approvals
The administration was informed (via e-mail attachments) that Faculty Senate approved a course and a revised program from the November 16, 2005 A2C2 meeting (see Senate minutes 11/21/05, Item COM-A).
The administration acknowledged receiving the information via e-mail last week.
3. Changes in Policy on Graduation with Honors
The administration was informed that Faculty Senate approved new standards for graduation with honors (see Senate minutes 11/21/05, Item COM-A).
Beginning with the May 2010 Commencement, the GPAs required for bestowal of honors of Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, and Summa Cum Laude be raised as follows:
Cum Laude currently 3.250 3.499, raise to 3.50 3.649
Magna Cum Laude currently 3.500 3.749, raise to 3.650 3.799
Summa Cum Laude currently 3.750 4.000, raise to 3.800 4.000
The administration acknowledged the information.
President Ramaley liked the proposal and would like to see discussions from A2C2 and Faculty Senate.
M. Kesler and A. Rethlefsen will forward appropriate information on faculty discussions.
4. Committee Appointments
The administration was informed (via e-mail attachment) that Faculty Senate approved faculty appointments to a number of committees, including the Program Review Task Force, the National Student Scholarships Application Review Committee, the videotaping task force, and several of the Core USP Assessment committees.
The administration acknowledged receiving the information.
5. Comments on Vice President for Academic Affairs Materials
The administration was ask about the following regarding the VPAA organizational charts and notice of vacancy:
A. Didn't we get rid of the Honors program? Why is it on both organizational charts?
B. L21 should be listed as part of responsibilities on VPAA Notice of Vacancy.
Administration comments/responses:
1. Agreed that WSU no longer has Honors on the books, but not sure whether it was shelved or removed forever.
2. Different WSU departments have individual Honors program.
3. Will check on status of WSU’s Honors program.
4. Agreed with comment B, search committee will revise accordingly.
5. HR will have official position description on file. NOV will list a user-friendlier version.
6. Inauguration Committee
The administration was informed that Faculty Senate approved the Inauguration committee and forwarded it to Committee on Committees for solicitation; One comment about it was whether a community member ought to be included (although the Foundation and Alumni members might be community members).
President Ramaley concurred that having a community member is an excellent idea and will add the additional member to composition.
7. Center of Excellence Structure
The administration was informed that Faculty Senate had a lengthy discussion about the Center of Excellence document forwarded to Senate by Christine Barajas and finally empowered the WSUFA Executive committee to act for the Senate at the next Meet and Confer meeting regarding the nature of faculty participation in all matters as described in the CIHSEP document (document emailed to Senators on Nov. 21). The discussion came from realization that CIHSEP could contain contractual implications for faculty.
Administration comments/responses:
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1. Starting a new model of multi-institutional collaborations, trying to figure out how to incorporate faculty into new structure.
2. Two year process, need to get started quickly to make future case for funding, therefore need to generate early success.
3. New model are beginning in very general terms.
4. Because of the many collaborators involved, new model is based on skills. So teams are based on sets of skills. Design team will clarify and design early aspects of the center. Unsure at this point on gets to decide on composition of Design Team, but should be a smaller group, people on Design Team should be those who understands the Center of Excellence, will be talking to all partners to decide on make-up of Design Team. Industry partners are used to very short time-lines. Faculty on Design Team or Advisory Group in choosing members on Design should have knowledge of IFO contract since IFO contract ramifications could be within scope Design Team discussions. The WSUFA President or someone from the WSUFA exec committee could be appropriate.
5. With many institutions involved: one 4-year institution (WSU), several 2-years schools, and several industry partners. Design Team could be too large.
WSUFA exec questions/comments: (exec’s caucused to talk about membership appointment and participation)
1. Two groups identified in proposal are Design Team and Implementation Teams, but there also appears to be a small review group in reviewing and selecting interested candidates for the Design Team.
2. WSUFA Exec. Committee will name 2 or 3 faculty from exec committee to consult and work with C. Barajas to review pool of interested candidates for the Team Design and to provide input on contractually related questions. Suggest having one WSU faculty appointed on the Design Team. The WSUFA (via exec or Senate) will appoint WSU faculty on the Design Team. WSUFA gets to appoint any WSU faculty on any committees; i.e. the Design Team.
3. Since only one 4-year institution, and WSU being the leading institution, why should it a problem to have one WSU faculty member appointed on Design Team?
4. Even though this is a new Model, the WSUFA would appreciate reports (if there are any) during each Meet and Confer.
5. The WSUFA exec's will encourage faculty with appropriate skills to apply for the Design Team.
6. It is the right of the WSUFA to appoint WSU faculty on any committees, teams, etc, that would affect the terms and conditions of employment within the IFO contract.
8. Technology Committee Charge for Chief Information Officer
The administration was informed that Faculty Senate charged the faculty members from: the WSUFA Technology committee, the All University Technology Committee, and the State Level Technology Committees, to provide Faculty Senate with a draft of qualities a CIO ought to possess (by end of January). These people include Sohail Subhani (MISO), Kendall Larson (NonTeaching), Rhea Walker (Education), Sudharsan Iyengar (Computer Science), Jin Xu (Communication Studies); Judith Euller (MnSCU Systemwide Technology Advisory Committee);
Marzi Astani (MISO); Lee Gray (Educational Leadership); Mingrui Zhang (Computer Science); and Jim Reineke (Education). Jim Reineke will convene the first meeting.
Administration comments/responses:
1. President Ramaley had several conversations with Hawkins (author of CIO document forwarded to Faculty Senate) and obtained following advices: that the direction Hawkins’ is presently seeing has institutions identify someone internally to apply for CIO position; that person would have the knowledge of that institution’s infrastructure, the culture of technology and the institution; and it appears that knowledge of institutional infrastructure and culture is more important that having a National Search in getting someone who might be more technological advanced but is not savvy locally in that institution’s culture.
2. Internal candidate is ok as long as the person is competent in technological applications.
3. Could start internal search after January, perhaps Technology Committees could start discussions earlier.
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4. Doesn't matter whom CIO reports to, but CIO must be on Cabinet. Suspect there might be internal talent at
WSU.
5. Since CIO affects all of WSU community, all WSU constituencies should discuss Internal versus National search. T. Kruger will need to get clarification on search process/policy.
6. Timeline is flexible enough, but might depend on whether WSUFA technology groups can meet in early January.
WSUFA exec questions/comments: [administration response]
1. Will salary and title attract and compensate internal candidates? [T. Kruger: Must look at hiring policy for internal searches to consider title and salary.]
9. Study Group for Applied Doctorate Degree (Administration)
The administration proposed forming a Study Group for Applied Doctorate Degree, need to get underway soon, and composition is:
3 faculty members from Education Leadership
3 faculty members from Nursing
1 graduate Council Chairperson
1 Director of Graduate Studies
1 faculty member from Counselor Education
2 deans (Gaspar and Rokusek)
1 Administrator (Gorman)
WSUFA exec questions/comments:
1. MnSCU has not mentioned/promised any new funding for applied doctorate programs. If no new funding (i.e. take it out-of-hide), some programs could be negatively impacted.
2. Should just graduate faculty be the only people involved on this committee? How about someone from the Budget committee and/or from the WSUFA exec. Committee?
10. LOU on Severance (IFO Addition)
The WSUFA informed the administration that a letter of understanding (LOU), agreed to by both negotiation parties, states that the survivor of a deceased faculty should not only retain the faculty member’ benefits but also be able to transfer the amount into the Tax-free Medical Account (HRA). Was told early on by MnSCU people that this transfer should be ok with the signing of an appropriate LOU. Chris Dale now states that this might be illegal, refused to sign the LOU, and has referred to General Counsel, further delaying the transfer of benefits. The IFO has intervened with the Chancellor. This LOU was clearly understood/agreed (by both negotiation parties) as a document to be signed by both parties, but apparently MnSCU has now decided not to do so. This has created great problems with spouse of a recently deceased WSU faculty member.
WSUFA exec’s discussed and provided various suggestions to the WSU administration, including one exec member‘s suggestion that President Ramaley talk to the Chancellor about this situation.
The WSU administration will talk to general counsel to see if they can sort out the issue and make it happen; might also look for other options. T. Kruger requested information on the illegality that Chris Dale is stating. M. Kesler will forward Chris Dale statement to T. Kruger.
11. Learn and Service (American Higher Learning Education) Grant (Administration Addition)
The administration informed that the Corporation of National Service has announced a grant opportunity for service learning. The L21 service-learning group is working to respond to this grant opportunity.
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12. Memorial Expansion Pre-design Updates (Administration Addition)
C. Winbush proposed the following committee composition for the Memorial Hall Pre-Design Expansion Committee:
2 Faculty Members from PER
2 Faculty Members from HERS
2 Faculty Members from Counseling Center
2 Health Services Staff
2 Students
1 Fitness Center
1 Intramurals
Additional Administration comments:
1. Have been trying to get this underway even without State funding support, looking very aggressively at other funding options. This committee can also help with that.
2. No administrators officially assigned on committee, but may be Dean(s) can attend as ex-officio.
3. Perhaps the Athletic Director can be part of committee.
4. Consensus approach should be employed by committee.
5. New Science Building Steering committee generally agreed by consensus, but had plenty of input from faculty in each department.
WSUFA exec questions/comments:
1. Solicitation for faculty has already gone out.
2. Dean(s) and/or other administrator(s) can be on this Pre-design committee, but status should be ex-officio, therefore 13 “voting” members.
3. Technical expertise of some faculty has been left out of process (before creation of Pre-design committee).
4. Good luck with consensus approach.
Informational Item:
M. Kesler reported that bats have been hanging on ceilings and have been seen flying around, particularly in Phelps 215.
Adjourned at: p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Bill Ng. (WSUFA Faculty Senate Secretary FY06)
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