LCSC Faculty Senate
Minutes
December 11, 2003

I.                    The Chair, Kathie Wilcox called the meeting to order at 3:17 PM.  Senators present:  Lynne Bidwell, Jim Tarter, Okey Goode, David McCullough, Anita Darrington, Scott Brainard, Leanne Parker, Clay Robinson, Gary Mayton, Jason Blazzard, Virginia Weber, Marilyn Heckendorn, Susan Odom, Bill Clouser, Eric Martin, Jeff Matthews, Mike Vernon, Linda Coursey

II.                 Introduction of visitors: Diane Johnson, Dr. James Hepworth

III.               The minutes from the November 20, 2003 meeting were approved as amended.  The amended minutes with the Curriculum actions will be posted on the web page.

IV.              Treasury Report: 

A.      As of November 30, 2003, the balance in the Allocated account was $2087.65. 

B.     As of November 30, 2003, the balance in the Faculty Association Service Account $4588.59.

V.                 Chair’s Report

A.     Items from President’s Council: 

1.       We received a note from the Provost thanking the Senate for the Thanksgiving card and wine.

2.      President Thomas attended the November meeting of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities.  She reported anecdotal information that none of the participants had faculty who had been without a pay raise for two years.  This information will be included in our communication with the legislature.

B.     ICHEF reported on the programs that higher education institutions are providing state corrections institutions.  This report was presented to Governor Kempthorne.

C.     SBOE meeting at ISU: Student body presidents supported fee increases of no more than 5% to 7.3%.

D.     Change in Employee Compensation Committee:

1.       The Chair asked faculty to correspond with that committee before the January meeting. 

2.      The Chair asked for volunteers to write the members of this committee before the 9^th of January. 

3.      It was reported that some of the Legislators believe that college and university faculty got a 10% raise two years ago. 

4.      The Chair will research what the increases were in fact and will send a copy of her letter to all Faculty Senators who expressed a willingness to write to the State Senators.  

5.      To those writing letters: It is important that we recognize that the faculty received a raise in 2001.  Each volunteer will have the name of a particular State Senator.

E.      Faculty Association Meeting Thursday, January 15, 2004 at 3:00PM in the Williams Conference Center.

F.      The Faculty Senate approved the following resolution:  Whereas, the condition of the world is benefited by enhanced communication and expanded links to peoples everywhere,

Whereas, the purpose of higher education and part of the mission of Lewis-Clark State College is to foster links with the world and increase understanding;

Therefore be it resolved that the Faculty Senate of LCSC commends and congratulates Professors Ramey and Tarter for their selection as Fulbright Fellows and their contribution to mutual understanding and respect in Rumania and Taiwan.

VI.              President/Provost’s Report:

1.       CAO has developed statewide linkages between colleges and universities. 

2.      Prerequisites will be enforced during spring registration.

·        Prior to advance registration, the advisors will have access to a student’s midterm grades in a prerequisite course.

·        Students may enroll online in the advanced courses with a C- or better midterm grade.

·        Students will be disenrolled if they do not obtain a final grade of C or better in the prerequisite course.

·        Divisions who offer the course will be the arbiters for exceptions for Fall 2004 registrations.

VII.            Old Business

1.      Employee Recognition Committee Report: no report

2.      Trip to Boise and Legislative luncheon:

·        The luncheon date is set for January14.

·        LCSC will send a delegation to the luncheon.

·        The Chair urges at least one representative from each division to attend the luncheon.

·        A van will be available for transportation.

·        The van will leave on the 13^th and return by the evening of the 14th.

·        The Chair requested that Senators recruit from their divisions, and contact her before Christmas break.

b.      Benevolence Fund: 

·        Twenty-eight have signed up for payroll deductions.

·        Also there has been $305 in onetime cash donations.

·        The Fund account is active.

·        Flowers have been sent to a faculty member in T & I.

c.       Search for Academic Dean: 

·        The Search Committee voted to review thirty-six completed applications.

·        A short list of 3 – 5 persons will be chosen.  These candidates will be invited to campus for interviews.

·        The committee will make recommendations.

·        The Provost will have final approval.

·        The Search Committee is checking references of six of the candidates.

·        The invited candidates will be on campus early in spring 2004 semester with a time for Senators to meet with the candidates. 

VIII.         New Business

A.  Standing Committee Reports

1.       Administrative Procedures – Patricia Keith: In meeting with the Provost several items were discussed:

·        Proposed changes to the language of compensation for the Chairperson section of the Constitution.

·        Consider the issue of appropriate terminal degrees for Advancement in Rank as a question of faculty philosophy.

·        Consider issues of harassment, specifically student harassment of faculty.  The current policies in the Student Codes of Conduct may be sufficient to cover incidents of faculty/staff harassment by students.

2.        Faculty Affairs – Jeff Matthews

·        The consequences of the proposed forgiveness policy were discussed.

·        A draft for proposed changes to the Employee Reaction to Administration is being developed.

·        The Committee continues its work on the SRI revision process.

3.       Budget Liaison – Kathie Wilcox: Currently in process is the research into salaries at other institutions which includes: a) step plan, b) longevity, c) merit for salary increases, and d) the salary implementation process.

4.      Faculty Development – Susan Odom

·        The funding for eleven faculty development grants was approved for a total of $11,061.40.

·        There is a balance of $13,726.95 available for Spring 2004 faculty development proposals ($2000 maximum / faculty member).

·        Five sabbatical proposals were reviewed and ranked.  Three sabbaticals will be funded by the Provost’s office, two for one semester and one sabbatical for a full academic year.

·        The Committee will revisit the issues of the small number of sabbaticals awarded each year; lack of guaranteed funding for sabbaticals, costs of full year sabbaticals vs. one-semester sabbaticals, and the pros/cons of sabbatical funding when the faculty member has also received external funding.  The Committee would like to propose a “Thinking Through Lunch” faculty forum on January 23, 2004 to elicit faculty input on this issue.

5.      Curriculum – Mike Vernon

·        There was a motion to approve the Curriculum Committee Report as presented.  Following a discussion of the curriculum proposals, the motion was approved.

·        The Curriculum Committee report with details of all submitted proposals is in the attachment to these minutes.  For more complete information on individual proposals, please check the Curriculum Committee site on the Faculty Senate webpage.  
Report of Curriculum Actions for Academic Year 2003-04, December 2003

6.      Student Affairs – Wayne Carroll, as reported by Linda Coursey, Faculty Senate secretary from the 12/05/03 minutes of Student Affairs Committee meeting.

·        The committee discussion focused on the consequences of the proposed forgiveness policy with a request for a joint meeting with representatives from the Faculty Affairs Committee to discuss perceived contradictions.

·        The committee acknowledges that there will still be continued problems with late graduation applications and felt that the solutions were: 1) the use of technology to improve faculty advising and 2) increased efforts by the faculty to meet with and advise students.

·        A subcommittee will meet with the Provost to discuss ideas for improving campus life with emphasis on multicultural diversity and gender issues.

·        Issues of dangerous intersections will be discussed with the Lewiston police chief since the college has no jurisdiction on the streets.

·        Also discussed were the perceived disadvantages of the policy of plus/minus grading.

7.      Technology Advisory – Gary Mayton

·        The committee continues to discuss how faculty uses computers in classrooms and offices.

·        All technology funding comes from the Divisions.

·        It is important for Divisions to share with each other what they are doing.

·        The committee will collect information to insure that the right equipment is housed in the right places. 

IX.              Adjournment  4: 35 PM

Respectfully submitted,

Linda Coursey, Secretary