UNIVERSITY SENATE MINUTES
                               December 8, 1997

The University Senate met at 3:30 p.m. in Room 338 of the Memorial Union 
with Dr. M. Garrison presiding and the following members present:  
S. D. Anderson, Barnhart, M. Brown, Buxton, Caton, A. Cattanach, 
T. Christensen, V. Clark, R. Collins, Danbom, A. G. Fischer, Gerst, Gessel, 
C. Gross, Hellevang, Helweg, Homen, K. R. Johnson, Khan, Knoepfle, 
C. W. Lee, Leitch, J. H. Lorenzen, H. R. Lund, Martens, Mathsen, R. M. Nelson,
W. Nelson, Padmanabhan, Pieri, Rottman, Sarabakhsh, R. C. Schnell, W. Slanger,
Soloviev, Steffenson, Trittin, Varma, J. Wagner, D. White, R. Williams, 
W. Wilson, Wittrock, Youngs, M. H. Hubbard, D. L. Huber, J. D. Kottke, 
T. Mercer, and P. Tessmann.

Substitutes:  Lall for J. R. Cook, Lifton for Horvik, Terbizan for Jackman, 
Statler for P. Jensen, Dauner for A. Kostecki, R. J. Jones for J. A. Miller, 
Cheng for Novy, D. Miller for C. Peterson, Lifton for Riley, G. McCarthy 
for Sibi, and E. Leier for J. Isaacson.

Previous Minutes

MOTION (Knoepfle/D. L. Huber):  to approve the minutes of November 10, 1997, 
as distributed.  MOTION CARRIED.

General Announcements

1.  Vice President for Academic Affairs Schnell

a.  Policy on Course Fees
    The policy on course fees has been broadened to include courses as well
    as laboratories.  A new format for application forms has been developed,
    which is to be used for requests for new or increases in fees.  Fees
    are to be for experiences not otherwise covered and only for the
    designated course.  The revised policy will be listed in the policy manual
    on the web.

b.  Deadline for Grades
    Fall semester grades submitted on traditional forms are due at noon on
    December 23, 1997, in 110 Ceres.  Faculty who enter their grades
    electronically on RG78 have until 5:00 p.m. on December 23, 1997.

c.  Course Attendance Policy
    The current policy on course attendance has been referred to the Academic
    Affairs committee for review.

d.  Honorary Degree Nominations
    A notice requesting honorary degree nominations has been distributed
    across campus. 

e.  Annual Winter Commencement Celebration
    Everyone was encouraged to attend the annual winter commencement
    celebration scheduled for Saturday, December 13, 1997, at 2:00 p.m. in
    the Bentson/Bunker Fieldhouse.

f.  Blue Key Honors Jo Ann Miller
    A congratulatory round of applause was offered in honor of Jo Ann Miller,
    who has been named the 1997-98 Blue Key Distinguished Educator by the
    Blue Key honor society.

g.  Tuition per Credit Issue
    Schnell reported that tuition per credit and several options are under
    consideration and discussion by the State Board of Higher Education.
    In response to questions regarding campus involvement, Schnell stated
    that he expects the Board to ask for reactions before making a decision.

2.  ND University System Compensation Committee

R. S. Krishnan, chair, reported that the committee was formed in April 1997 
and consists of members from the University System office and faculty and 
staff, with each campus represented.  Their task is to study data on such 
things as turn-over rates, salary comparison, and salary compression and 
make recommendations for faculty and staff salary and compensation.  The 
committee report is due in February to the State Board of Higher Education. 

Based on the six-year plan, current salary considerations include an increase 
of 1% over inflation (estimated at 3%) for two years, followed by a 1.5% 
increase for the next two years, and a 2% increase for the last two years. 
An internal re-allocation across the University System over the six years 
could provide 5% of the increase.  Also recommended is that institutions 
be allowed freedom in implementation.  Compensation considerations include 
sabbatical and developmental leave for faculty and staff and increase tuition 
waivers and flexible staffing options.

Faculty and staff are encouraged to get involved in discussion of the ideas. 
One of the problems faced by the committee is what to put in the report, 
which is targeted for two audiences:  legislators and State Board members. 
Minutes of the committee meetings are forwarded to the Presiding Officer 
of the University Senate.  Krishnan will also put the committee report on 
the listserve (SU-SENATE@LISTSERV.NODAK.EDU).

3.  Student Government

On behalf of Student Government, P. Tessmann wished all a happy holiday. 
He also thanked the senators for their support regarding tuition limits. 
The State Board for Higher Education removed all references to tuition 
increases in the six-year plan.

Students will be voting in January on a proposal for instituting a formal 
winter commencement at NDSU.

4.  Presiding Officer

Presiding Officer Garrison introduced Dr. Vijendra Agarwal, Special Assistant 
to Chancellor and ACE Fellow of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities,
who is visiting.


Committee Reports

1.  Academic Affairs

Terbizan, committee chair, reported that the committee removed from 
consideration at this time the first course listed on the agenda.  Thus, 
only three courses are recommended.

MOTION (Terbizan/P. Tessmann): to approve three new courses (as shown in 
Attachment 1 of these minutes).  MOTION CARRIED BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT.
Attachment available by calling the Office of the Registrar at 701-231-7988.

2.  General Education

DeHaan, committee chair, presented the course recommendations and reviewed 
the report on the assessment plan, which is proposed as a pilot effort for 
the Spring 1998 Semester.

MOTION (Barnhart/Sarabakhsh):  to approve the course recommendation and the 
assessment plan as shown in Attachment 2.  MOTION CARRIED BY UNANIMOUS 
CONSENT.
Attachment available by calling the Office of the Registrar at 701-231-7988.


3.  Policy Coordinating Committee

Gerst presented the recommendation for an amendment to section 5.1.8 of Policy
152, External Professional Activities, on behalf of the committee chair, 
Teri Thorsen. 

MOTION (Gerst/Barnhart):  to approve the amendment as shown in Attachment 3. 
Attachment available by calling the Office of the Registrar at 701-231-7988.

Discussion focused on two main issues:
ø Estimated cost of the liability
ø Interpretation of the proposed amendment

MOTION (Hellevang/Caton):  TO TABLE the issue and refer it back to the 
committee.  MOTION CARRIED with all votes cast affirmative.

4.  Interim Report on University Senate

D. Miller, chair, reported that the committee looked at governance as a broad 
issue and identified weaknesses of the current University Senate.  Four main 
weaknesses, which are detailed in Attachment 4, were presented:
ø Current bylaws provide no institutionalized forum for discussion exclusively
  among faculty.
ø Faculty don't feel part of key decisions.
ø The committee structure is unwieldy.
ø Procedural issues hinder effectiveness.

Committee recommendations respond to each weakness.  The first recommendation 
is to establish a faculty caucus as a counterpart to the student senate and 
the staff senate.  Discussion highlights included the following:

ø How is the proposed caucus a counterpart to the student and staff senates
  when those are elected bodies and the caucus is open to all faculty?

ø What is the criteria for success of the caucus?

ø Is the problem with the structure of the University Senate or is it with
  the fact that some people are reluctant to speak when others are present?

ø Can faculty on the University Senate who are elected from their colleges
  effectively serve as college representatives and represent the faculty
  caucus as well?

ø The caucus may function as a catalyst for faculty to engage in the issues.

ø The recommendation is worth trying as an experiment to see how it works.

MOTION (R. Williams/R. H. Lund):  to accept the report shown in Attachment 4 
and establish a faculty caucus on an interim basis during Spring 1998.
Attachment available by calling the Office of the Registrar at 701-231-7988.

Discussion about when to meet resulted in the suggestion to schedule faculty 
caucus meetings on the Wednesday prior to each University Senate meeting.  
If the caucus begins immediately, the first meeting could be January 7, 1998. 
D. Miller would be responsible for sending a notice and presiding at the 
first meeting.  

Barnhart, M. Brown, Buxton, Caton, T. Christensen, V. Clark, R. Collins, 
A. G. Fischer, Gessel, C. Gross, Hellevang, Homen, Lifton (for Horvik), 
Terbizan, Statler, K. R. Johnson, Khan, Knoepfle, Dauner, C. W. Lee, Leitch,
H. R. Lund, Mathsen, R. T. Jones, R. M. Nelson, W. Nelson, Cheng, Padmanabhan, 
D. Miller, Lifton (for Riley), Rottman, Sarabakhsh, R. C. Schnell, G. McCarthy, 
W. Slanger, Soloviev, Steffenson, Varma, J. Wagner, D. White, R. Williams, 
Wittrock, Youngs, M. H. Hubbard, D. L. Huber, E. Leier, T. Mercer, and 
P. Tessmann voted yes.  Danbom, Gerst, Helweg, J. H. Lorenzen, Martens, and 
Pieri voted no.  MOTION CARRIED with 48 for and 6 against.

Adjournment

The meeting adjourned at 5:00 p.m.

Alberta M. Dobry, Ph.D.
Secretary