UNIVERSITY SENATE MINUTES
September 14, 1998
The University Senate met at 3:30 p.m. in Room 338 of the Memorial Union
with Dr. J. Gerst presiding and the following members present: Baiocchi,
Barnhart, Buckhoff, Chang, T. Christensen, V. Clark, T. Colville, J. R. Cook,
Corry, Danbom, Esslinger, A. G. Fischer, Gessel, Hageman, D. Hawley,
Hellevang, Helweg, Hershberger, Horvik, Jackman, Khan, Leitch, J. H. Lorenzen,
Martens, McCaul, McCourt, J. A. Miller, W. Nelson, Novy, R. O'Connor,
N. A. Olson, Padmanabhan, Pieri, Riley, Rottman, R. C. Schnell, W. Slanger,
Srivastava, N. Waldhaus, D. White, Youngs, D. Bakken, Bernstein, J. Greene,
M. H. Hubbard, T. M. Jackson, S. T. Rahman, and T. Topero.
Substitutes: Garrison for S. Jacobson, Statler for P. Jensen, J. Wagner
for C. D. Peterson, D. Tallman for Sibi, and L. Miller for T. Mercer.
Parliamentarian Appointed
The appointment of Dr. Donald Galitz as parliamentarian was accepted.
Previous Minutes
MOTION (T. Topero/Horvik): to approve the minutes of May 4, 1998. MOTION
CARRIED by unanimous consent.
General Announcements
1. Interim President Fischer's Priorities
Interim President Fischer thanked everyone for attending the state of the
University address on September 10, 1998. He reviewed his priorities for
the year as follows:
ø Faculty, staff, and students will be the primary focus. In support of
this priority, funds have been set aside for faculty and staff development.
Also, research administration percentages have been adjusted to put more
dollars into the hands of the faculty.
ø Retention and recruitment will receive more attention. Junior and senior
high school students within a 100-mile radius will be specifically targeted
through a marketing campaign by Flint Communications. Fischer noted, however,
that retention and recruitment efforts are everyone's business.
ø Building projects will be pursued during the next legislative session,
as well as public funding allocations for NDSU which are comparative to other
institutions in the University System.
2. Vice President Schnell's Announcements
a. Winter Commencement Scheduled
The first official winter commencement has been scheduled as follows:
DATE: Friday, December 18, 1998
TIME: 4:00 p.m.
WHERE: Bison Sports Arena
b. Budget Planning
Schnell reported that various budget plans are in their final stages
of preparation. These include the Governor's 95% plan and the Board
of Higher Education needs-based plan.
c. Six-Year Plan
Schnell stated that a report on NDSU progress toward goals set for the
University System Strategic Plan 1998-2004 will be due to the University
System office in the near future.
d. Evaluation of Faculty and Staff for Salary Adjustments
Schnell announced that he is seeking Senate input on refining guidelines
for faculty and staff evaluations used as a basis for salary adjustments.
He has discussed the issue with academic deans and is planning to meet
with department chairs and faculty groups. Schnell specifically requested
feedback on the following suggestion: Use the period from January to
December as a basis for evaluations so a full year could be reviewed.
Deans would then submit their recommendations by January 15 so logical
salary decisions may be made. Also, suggestions for increasing uniformity
would be welcome.
e. Evaluation of Teaching
Schnell reported that the Teaching and Professional Service committee
will be asked to seek ways to improve the evaluation of teaching component
of the promotion, tenure, and evaluation process. Currently, the only
data point is student evaluation. Although important, other evaluations
are needed as well.
3. Presiding Officer Gerst's Announcements
a. Teaching and Professional Service Committee
Presiding Officer Gerst announced that Dr. Ronald Stammen volunteered
to serve as a consultant to the committee regarding their task of
improving the evaluation of teaching. Gerst also suggested that the
Faculty Caucus could work with Stammen on this issue.
b. NCAA Representative for NDSU
Dr. Thomas Riley will serve as the new NCCAA representative for NDSU.
c. Next Senate Executive Committee Meeting
The next Senate Executive committee meeting is set for September 28.
Committee Reports
1. Academic Affairs
Dr. Donna Terbizan, committee chair, reported that the new academic affairs
course proposal form is on the Academic Affairs committee WWW site. She
also announced that one of the committee goals is to formalize a policy
regarding the minimum requirements for course syllabi. Faculty are encouraged
to discuss this and provide feedback to the committee.
MOTION (Helweg/Jackman): to approve the name change from Department of
Biochemistry to Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. A
discussion of pros and cons followed.
MOTION CARRIED with 20 for, 17 against, and 16 abstentions as follows:
Barnhart, V. Clark, A. G. Fischer, Helweg, Jackman, Khan, J. H. Lorenzen,
McCaul, Novy, Riley, Rottman, R. C. Schnell, D. Tallman for Sibi, W. Slanger,
Srivastava, D. Bakken, J. Greene, M. H. Hubbard, T. M. Jackson, and T. Topero
voted yes. Baiocchi, Buckhoff, T. Colville, J. R. Cook, Danbom, Esslinger,
Chang, Hershberger, Horvik, Garrison for S. Jacobson, Statler for P. Jensen,
Leitch, J. A. Miller, R. O'Connor, N. A. Olson, D. White, and Youngs voted
no.
MOTION (Garrison/Horvik): to approve the change in course number as shown
in Attachment 1. MOTION CARRIED by unanimous consent.
2. General Education
On behalf of the General Education committee, Gerst shared a handout of a
report that the committee is imposing a moratorium on accepting any additional
templates requesting approval as a general education course. A copy of the
report is shown in Attachment 2 (attachment is available by calling the Office of the Registrar at 701-231-7988).
3. Faculty Caucus
Dr. Mark McCourt reported that this year the Faculty Caucus would experiment
with holding topic forums on the week between the meetings of the Executive
Committee and University Senate to provide input on Senate agendas. Senators
were encouraged to promote participation in the forums.
New Business
1. Ad Hoc Bylaws Committee to be Formed
Gerst announced that Dr. Michael Garrison agreed to serve as chair of an
ad hoc Bylaws committee. Although the current edition of the Constitution
and Bylaws includes amendments through May 4, 1998, more changes are needed.
Garrison cited the need to incorporate the Faculty Caucus into the governance
system and the need to review committees and their membership, such as the
Assessment committee. Volunteers to serve on the ad hoc Bylaws committee
are welcome and encouraged to contact either Gerst or Garrison.
2. Call for Nominations
Gerst (gerst@badlands.nodak.edu) called for nominations to replace
representatives on the following:
a. Council of College Faculties
A one-year replacement is needed for Dr. Sharon Greeley.
b. Standing Committee on Faculty Rights
A one-year replacement is needed for Dr. Kevin McCaul.
3. Approval of Spring Graduates
MOTION (Helweg/M. H. Hubbard): to approve the spring graduates as listed
in Attachment 3 (attachment is available by calling the Office of the
Registrar at 701-231-7988). MOTION CARRIED by unanimous consent.
4. Senate Meeting Time
A question was raised about changing the time for University Senate meetings.
Gerst stated that any change in meeting time would require a change in Part
VII, Section 6 of the Bylaws.
Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 4:15 p.m.
Alberta M. Dobry, Ph.D.
Secretary
