I.                    The meeting was called to order by the Chair, Kathie Wilcox, at 3:21PM.  The Chair announced that there is more sad news for the LCSC community:  Dr. David Sears passed away this afternoon.  Discussions are ongoing about ways to commemorate both Vicki Cerutti and David Sears.

Members present: Lynne Bidwell, David McCullough, Anita Darrington, Dave Massaro for Wayne Carroll, Leanne Parker, Clay Robinson, Jason Blazzard, Marilyn Heckendorn, Susan Odom, Chris Riggs, Bill Clouser, Alan Marshall, Jeff Matthews, Mike Vernon, Heather Rogers, Arnold Caines, Robbie Reno, Diane Johnson

II.                 Introduction of visitors:  Dr. Tony Fernandez

III.               The motion to approve the minutes of December 11, 2003 minutes was approved.

IV.              Treasury Report: As of December 31, 2003 the balance in the allocated account was $1542.15.  As of December 31, the balance in the service account was $4135.22 with $1650.00 to be deducted to cover the expenses for Boise trip.

V.                 Chair’s Report

A.     Items from President’s Council: On January 31 from 10AM to Noon, Representative Mike Mitchell will be at LCSC for a “Coffee Talk.”  Plan to come (faculty/staff/students) to let him know what we are accomplishing.

Higher Education Week will be highlighted with visits to legislators in Boise with other events planned.

B.     ICHEF & Legislative Luncheon: It was a great experience with colleagues and a successful luncheon with legislators.  Eighty out of one hundred-ten legislators, including leaders of the education committee and other legislative leaders were able to attend the luncheon.  The legislators were very receptive to educational issues.  Faculty met with people in their offices and then met them again at the luncheon.  A special thanks to all who wrote letters to the legislators.  There seemed to be legislative support for a 2% to 2.5% “merit” raise so that individual institutions would be able to decide how the money would be awarded.

C.     Study Abroad: There will be a meeting in MLH on Thursday, January 29 from 3:00PM to 4:00PM to discuss creating opportunities for our students to study abroad.

D.     The ICHEF website is up and running…Thanks to Lynne
www.lcsc.edu/faculty/ICHEF/home.htm

E.      ICHEF is investigating opportunities to coordinate between programs and faculty at our state institutions.  The goal is to develop “cooperative programs” between institutions.

VI.              President/Provost’s Report: 

·        The chief academic officers in conjunction with IT directors have established Intranet connections between institutions.  The discussions are currently addressing how much beyond these institutions should the net be expanded, for example, should it also include all school districts.  Our Coeur d’Alene campus in addition to our on-campus needs between LCSC and other state institutions are being addressed.  Provost Fernandez asked that faculty with special needs communicate them to their Division Chair or Dean.

·        The Candidates for Academic Dean will be on campus for meetings and interviews.  The Search Committee, chaired by Dr. Mary Flores, reviewed more than thirty applicants.  The three finalists are Dr. David Hayes, Chair of the Division of Education at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, PA; Dr. Deborah McCarthy, Chair of the Department of Chemistry and Physics at Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame, ID; and Dr. Christine Pharr, Chair of the Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics at Lewis-Clark State College.  The following dates have been arranged for the candidates’ interviews:

Ø      2/19 Dr. Christine Pharr

Ø      2/23 Dr. Deborah McCarthy

Ø      3/4 Dr. David Hayes

·        The Senate meeting will be moved to 4:00PM on 2/19 and 3/4 to accommodate meetings with the candidates.

VII.            Old Business

A.      Employee Recognition Committee Report: no report. This item will be removed from future agendas.

B.     Benevolence:  There are links from the Faculty Association webpage to the Benevolence webpage.  Because of the quick response of concerned faculty, the fund has been able to respond to immediate needs.

VIII.         New Business

A.  Standing Committee Reports

1.   Administrative Procedures – Patricia Keith no report

2.      Faculty Affairs – Jeff Matthews

·        The Faculty Affairs Committee will meet with Student Affairs to reconcile differences in the forgiveness policy.

·        The second issue that the Committee will address is to establish a method for continuous evaluation and revision policy for the SRI.

3.      Budget Liaison – Kathie Wilcox 

·        The Budget Liaison Committee and the Compensation Review Committee Chair, Whitney Pugh, are meeting to coordinate possible ways to allocate any pay increase we may get as a result of legislative action.

4.      Faculty Development – Susan Odom 

·        There will be a workshop on 1/23 facilitated by Sean Cassidy to address writing Faculty Development Grants.

·        Thinking Through Lunch on 1/30 will discuss Sabbatical policies and procedures.

·        Faculty Development grants proposals will be available on line by Fall 04.

5.      Curriculum – Mike Vernon

·        There was a motion to approve the Curriculum Committee report with clarification of T04-273.  Following a discussion of the curriculum proposals, the motion was approved. 

·        The three proposals approved were: A04-272: Native American Awareness; A04-274: Algebra, Trig, and Stats with apps; T04-273, change in program title.

·        For more complete information on individual proposals, please check the Curriculum Committee site on the Faculty Senate webpage.

6.      Student Affairs – Wayne Carroll; no new information at this time.

7.      Technology Advisory – Gary Mayton; no report

8.      General Education Task Force:  Alan Marshall; Sub-committee of Curriculum:  Currently under discussion:

·        The elements of a General Education curriculum. 

·        People’s commitment to the curriculum makes more difference than changes alone. 

·        The goals of a core curriculum.

·        The Committee is laying the groundwork for possible changes to be in effect by 2005. 

IX.       Adjournment 4:10PM