MSU FACULTY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
April 23, 2003
Members Present: Marlow for Gipp, Sherwood for Giroux, Kommers,
Schlotzhauer, Leech, Taylor, Seymour, Jones, Yoo, Nehrir, Conant,
Weaver, Levy, Bogar, Jelinski, Pratt, Fisher, Lynes-Hayes,
Prawdzienski, Knight.
Members Absent: Young, Morrill, McDermott, White, Anderson, Linker,
Howard, Stewart, Lefcort/Bradley, Amend, Locke, English, Bond,
Idzerda, Lynch, Kempcke, Hoffman.
Others Present: Bandyopadhay, Dooley, Fedock.
The regularly-scheduled meeting was called to order by Chair Elect
Warren Jones at 4:10 PM. A quorum was present. The minutes of the
April 16, 2003, meeting were approved as distributed.
Chair's report - Warren Jones.
- As of Monday, there were 235 responses to the survey of MSU
employees regarding tuition scholarships for their children. The
data gathered will be used to help make a decision about the
scholarships.
- The University Planning, Budget and Analysis Committee (UPBAC)
met yesterday for a macro-analysis of the FY04 budget.
- The budget base and fixed costs increases, in addition to
amendments for market equity and promotion and tenure
adjustments, were included in the proposed budget.
- Close to $2 million in quality improvements is included
for the biennium.
- The proposed budget will require a tuition increase of
about 12.25% each of the next two years. However, since the
current tuition surcharge will not carry into next year, the
actual increase for FY 04 will be small. When ASMSU Senate
meets April 24, they will discuss the proposed increase and
the structuring of it over the biennium. Tuition increases
must be approved by the Board of Regents, but the President
and Provost will make a strong case for MSU's increase,
based upon available data and the intent of the university
to maintain quality and access.
- A public forum to discuss the budget if scheduled for May
6, 1:30 PM, in SUB Ballroom B.
- During discussion by the Council, the issue of faculty salary
increases was raised. Although the Bozeman Daily Chronicle may
have indicated otherwise, the university administration has not
in the past and still does not have a philosophy of limiting
faculty raises to state employee raises. However, in this
biennium, because of the economics within the state and the
substantial tuition increase needed to offset decreases in
funding from the state, across-the-board raises have not been
included in the budget.
Faculty Affairs Committee report.
- In the absence of the Faculty Affairs Committee Chair, Chair
Jones reported that all of the Faculty Handbook amendments
forwarded to President Gamble have been approved by him and will
be included in the Faculty Handbook as of July 1, 2003.
- There are two amendments (The Role of Faculty Serving as
Department Heads and Role, Scope, Criteria, Standards, and
Procedures Documents) which cannot be approved by the end of this
semester because of time limitations. However, they can be
established, with the approval of Faculty Council, as interim
policies.
University Governance Council Nominating Committee report.
- Chair Jones distributed the ballot for nominations of faculty
for university-wide committees and for Faculty Council positions.
The election will take place at the April 30 Faculty Council
meeting.
- Shannon Taylor was nominated as Chair Elect. Professor Taylor
outlined his extensive experience on the campus and throughout
the state, working on or chairing various commissions and other
groups. Through these groups and other associations, he has
become acquainted with a cross-section of people on campus and
around Montana.
As there was no further business, the meeting adjourned at 4:50 PM.
Joann Amend, Secretary Warren Jones, Chair of the April
23 meeting