1.  The meeting was called to order at 11:45 a.m. by President Wickham in the NET Tower Room.

Council Members in attendance:  Terri Baker (Liberal Arts), John Diamantopoulos (Science & Health Professions), Rick Matzen (Science & Health Professions), Latricia Pack (Optometry),  David Scott (Liberal Arts),  Lallie Scott (Liberal Arts), and John Yeutter (Business & Technology).

Council Officers in attendance:  Gary Wickham (President), Andrew Vassar (Vice President), and Chuck Ziehr (Secretary-Treasurer).

Guests in attendance:  Ernst Bekkering and Jackie Schumaker.
 

II. NSU Administrative Officers

[We usually set aside time at the first of each meeting to visit with President Williams, VP Academic Affairs Pate and/or VP Administration Cherry should they be able to attend.  Today, we’ve asked Dr. Tom Jackson to give us a brief report about the Graduate College.  We will not have sufficient time to visit with any other university officers.]

Dr. Jackson noted that there are 18 master's programs.  The Graduate Council meets monthly and has developed a five-year strategic plan.  He has met with each graduate program coordinator.  There are $25,000 in graduate scholarships.  The College has developed a web-based graduate student tracking procedure and has updated procedures for admission to candidacy.  Dr. Jackson has attended a dozen recruitment fairs.  There is an on-going review of graduate faculty status.  A new M.S. in Kinesiology has been approved.

A delegate asked if Graduate Council meetings are open.  Dr. Jackson replied that they are; the Graduate Council meets from 3-5 p.m. on the first Thursday of each month. 

He was questioned about graduate faculty status.  He noted that there is regular, temporary, and adjunct status.  Regular status requires a "scholarly pulse."  He was asked how the Boyer model is applied to graduate faculty status.  He noted there has been a shift toward research and scholarship, but he recognized the limitations of heavy teaching loads.   In response to a question he clarified that creative activity is included and varies with discipline.

He concluded by noting the year had been very rewarding and that there was consensus building on the Graduate Council.
 

III. Committees and Standing Reports

1.  Minutes of the April 8, 2005 Faculty Council meetings were not available.

2.  Treasurers Report  -- no report

3.  Faculty Welfare Committee Report -- no report
 

IV.  Old Business

1.   Award for Previous Faculty Presidents
President Wickham reported that a nice ceremony to honor previous Faculty Presidents was held last week.

2.  Plagiarism -- draft statement -- none
    a.   New Software Available by License Through Teaching and Learning Center

3.  Circle of Excellence
The awards ceremony held last week and was well attended.  This year's recipients were:
Dr. Kippi Wyatt (Optometry) - Teaching
Dr. Christopher Malone (English) - Research
Dr. Denise Deason-Toyne (Business) - Service

Rick Matzen, chair of the Faculty Awards Committee, distributed a draft proposal for how to streamline the Circle of Excellence selection process.  He noted that there had been 80-90 nominations this year with 35-40 applicant packets turned in.

President Wickham asked the Council to review the proposed guidelines and to make a final determination in the fall.  He requested a digital copy from Dr. Matzen which will then be sent to all delegates.

4.  Finding Officers for 2005-06 - We have an announced presidential candidate!
The current Council officers have put forth considerable effort in trying to recruit candidates for new year's officers.  Dr. John Yeutter has agreed to serve as president.  Terri Baker moved and Rick Matzen seconded that John Yeutter, as the only candidate to come forward, be elected by acclamation.  The motion passed unanimously.  There was discussion that perhaps there should be an election anyway.  It was noted that there are no provisions in the constitution or by-laws for this "one candidate" situation.  By-law 10 was revised (following a motion by Terri Baker, seconded by David Scott, and approved unanimously) to include:  "If there is only one candidate for any office that person can be elected by acclamation of a Council quorum at a regular meeting."  Following that vote, Dr. Yeutter was again elected by acclamation.

President Wickham noted that the only candidate to come forward for Secretary-Treasurer was Linda West.  Terri Baker moved and John Yeutter seconded that Linda West be elected by acclamation.  The motion passed unanimously.

President-elect Yeutter will continue to seek candidates for Vice President over the summer.

5.  OSEEGIB Questions
The Faculty Advisory Council (of the State Regents) met with Health Choice executives last night.  It is hoped that revisions would be made soon.

6.  Faculty Association Constitution Changes, New By-Laws and Two Pending Suggestions.
The Council reviewed the ten by-laws that were passed at the April 8, 2005 meeting; most of which were revisions of existing by-laws.  The by-laws will be distributed to the faculty via e-mail and will be published in the Faculty Handbook and on the Council's webpage.

7.  Appellate Committee Election: April 26, 2005, Tahlequah 8 a.m.-3p.m.. Broken Arrow  3-7 p.m.
President Wickham announced the results of the election for the Appellate Committee.  Forty (of 116 eligible) tenured faculty members cast votes.  Results were:
Dr. Carl Farinelli, 31 votes
Ms. Sarah Brick Archer, 30 votes
Dr. John Milbauer, 27 votes
Dr. Joyce VanNostrand, 25 votes

Dr. Roger Collier, 18 votes
Dr. W. C. Maples, 13 votes

According to the instructions on the ballot, Ms. Brick Archer and Drs. Farinelli, Milbauer, and VanNostrand were elected to two-year terms as members.  Dr. Collier will be the junior alternate for a two-year term.  Dr. Maples is the senior alternate for one year.

8.  40% WDF standard -- no report or discussion

9.  Revisit: Can we use Faculty Council funds for release time for the Council President?
Not yet determined.

V. New Business 

The tenth item of new business was addressed first.

10.  Appointing University Committee Members    
The Council selected the following faculty members for various committees.
      
Campus Parking - four faculty members
John Diamantopoulos
Harriett Hobbs
Jackie Schumaker
Rick Matzen

Curriculum and Educational Policies - four faculty preferably from different colleges
Terri Baker
Grant Alexander
Rick Matzen
Latricia Pack

Faculty Development - one faculty member
David Scott

Faculty Research - two faculty members
Lallie Scott
Ernst Bekkering

Publication Board - one faculty member
John Yeutter

Strategic Planning - two faculty members
Chuck Ziehr
Jim Phillips

Student Conduct - ten faculty nominees (from which four will be selected by President Williams)
David Linebarger
David Scott
Harriett Hobbs
Denise Deason-Toyne
Katie Ellis
Amy Aldridge
Karl Kruczhek
Dan Sisk
Latricia Pack
Dan Glasgow

1.  Can faculty who are actively involved in research (as evidenced by grants, data collected, etc.) get a one course load reduction?
Dr. Pate said last month that this was possible if written into your research grant.

2.  New Life Insurance RFP
This is being requested by BOROC.  It would allow faculty to buy more life insurance at university rates.  The RFPs are due back May 23.

3.  Campus Parking Committee  -- no report

4.  Rewards for Increasing Enrollments and Academic Integrity?
No discussion for lack of time.

5.  OSRHE Tuition Hearing, June 2, 2005
President Wickham addressed the Regents on behalf of the Faculty Advisory Committee.  He noted that increased tuition costs are a burden for students, but that the money must come from somewhere since expenses are going up.

6.  Faculty Development Funds Available
There is still some money available for May and June.

7.  Recommendations from Circle of Excellence Committee
This was discussed earlier in the meeting (see IV. 3. above)

8.  Mission Task Force
This task force has been appointed.

9.  Faculty Handbook Revision Committee
The work of this committee is currently ongoing.
 

VI.  Other Business
 

VII.  Adjournment

The meeting adjourned at 1:20 p.m.