NORTHEASTERN STATE UNIVERSITY
Minutes of Faculty Council Meeting
Friday, October 5, 2001
Members in attendance: Kenny Paris, Alicia Casas, Julie Sawyer, Mimi Bentley, Bruce
Kotowich, Grant Alexander, Charles Veith, Jackie Schumaker, Rick Matzen, Gary Wickham, John
Milbauer, Lallie Scott.
Substitute Delegates: Ken Willis for Vanessa Hardbarger, Edie Long for Dan Glasgow,
Kippi Wyatt for Michele Bither
Other faculty in attendance: John Yeutter, Chuck Ziehr, Luke Foster.
A. Committees and Standing Reports
1. Minutes of September 7, 2001 meeting
The minutes of the September 7, 2001 meeting were approved with one amendment; correction of the
spelling of Jackie Schumaker's name. Motion: Milbauer, Second: Alexander
2. Treasurer's Report
Secretary-Treasurer Julie Sawyer no change in the account balance from the
last meeting. Paperwork has been submitted to pay James Alexander's award
of $1000 and the printing costs of $131.50 for Freshman Convocation.
3. Appointment/Assignment of Faculty Welfare Committee
Vice President Alicia Casas announced the slate of members to serve on the Faculty
Welfare Committee. Members are Rodney Osborne, Arts and Letters; Michael Toyne, Business and
Industry; Kathy Hixon, Education; Vickie Sheffler, Library Science; Doug Harrington, Math, Science
and Nursing; W.C. Maples, Optometry; Linda Davies, Social and Behavioral Sciences. Casas said that
topics of concern expressed thus far have included change of insurance premiums at mid-year, environmental
health issues, preventative health issues, and commuting.
B. Old Business
1. Noel-Levitz Workshop
President Kenny Paris reported the Dr. Pate had requested that Faculty Council pay the consultant's
fee for the upcoming Noel-Levitz Workshop. Paris indicated to the Vice President that there were not
enough funds in the Faculty Council budgets to cover this fee. Paris agreed to pay for additional
workbooks and provide coffee and donuts for the Friday morning meeting. After discovering Faculty
Funds cannot be used to pay for food or beverage, Paris asked the Council if they were willing to
make a monetary contribution to the advising workshop. A motion was passed to offer up to $1,500 to
assist in the payment of the Noel-Levitz consultant. Motion: Wickham, Second: Veith.
2. Faculty Council Office
President Paris reported that the new Faculty Council office will be located in the Administration
Building in Room 103. The office is being renovated at present and should be ready for occupation
soon.
3. On-line Survey
Paris reported that the draft of the on-line survey dealing with faculty perceptions of Faculty
Council is not complete. He has checked into the anonymity/confidentiality concerns expressed
at last month's meeting. A currently used software package and submission process will be used
to protect confidentiality. Paris will forward a draft of the survey to delegates when completed.
4. Follow-Up Regarding College of Math, Science, and Nursing
President Paris asked delegate Rick Matzen to update the Faculty Council on the issue of the
removal of Doug Harrington as Dean of the College of Math, Science, and Nursing. A number of
faculty members from the College attended a Council meeting last spring and requested that the
Faculty Council play a role in responding to the situation. Chris Owen, Council President at that
time, invited members of the College faculty to confidentially communicate their response to him, and
Owen reported the results of those responses to President Williams and Vice President Pate. The majority
of those responding to Owen's request for information supported Dr. Harrington. Matzen stated that a
follow-up meeting with the College faculty was conducted by Dr. Pate. The gist of the meeting was
that the action had been taken as administration wanted a "new direction" for the College, and the
decision would not be changed.
C. New Business
1. Office Hours
John Milbauer proposed a change to the faculty handbook concerning the requirement to hold office
hours five days per week. He stated that instructors that have classes three days a week could
use their time more productively for research if they did not have to report to campus on the days
they do not teach. Currently, exceptions to the five day rule may be made by the College Dean, but
it was reported that such requests are often denied. Suggestions for addressing the problem ranged
from drafting a resolution to change the requirement in the handbook to creating a committee with
faculty and administration representation to review exception requests. Members stated that
accountability issues were of concern; faculty not present on campus one or more days a week need
to account for the manner in which the time was spent and needed to make certain students still had
reasonable access to the faculty member. The Council requested the John Milbauer draft a resolution
for the Council to consider at the next meeting.
2. Faculty Awards Committee
The Council approved recommendations submitted by the Faculty Circle of Excellence Awards Committee
last spring. Recommendations as submitted were:
-The committee should be appointed immediately after the start of the spring semester in January.
-The committee membership should not turn over completely each year. About half of the committee
should serve two-year terms.
-The committee chair should be appointed first as "Chair Designate" and should serve in that
capacity for the first year, then as chair for the second year.
-James Alexander is developing guidelines for what people should turn in. The whole committee will
look at them and adopt some sort of guidelines to be followed in the future.
-We will follow this time-line:
-15 Jan- send out e-mail requesting nominations. We will also put boxes for nomination forms in
classroom buildings and run notice in the NORTHEASTERN.
-5 Feb- deadline for nomination
-15 Mar- deadline for submitting applications
-10 Apr- select winners
Motion: Milbauer, Second: Scott
3. Emeriti Faculty Office
President Kenny Paris stated that faculty member Joan E. Bell had suggested that office space for emeriti
faculty be made available perhaps with computer access. Council members did not feel the suggestion was
realistic due to the lack of office space for current faculty, and were curious about the volume of demand
for computer access. Paris will check with the alumni office to determine what services are currently
available to emeriti faculty.
4. Statewide Conference on Student Retention and Graduation
President Paris announced that the Statewide Conference on Student Retention and Graduation is scheduled
for Friday, November 2, 2001, at Rose State College. Those desiring more information can e-mail Kenny.
5. Meetings with President Williams
Kenny Paris announced that President Williams will hold informal meetings with the faculty of each College.
Paris stated that he had facilitated the scheduling of these meeetings to give faculty members an opportunity
to communicate directly with President Williams. Information on the meeting date and time for each College has
been sent to the College dean.
6. Textbook Concerns
Kenny Paris stated that he has received many complaints about the bookstore this semester, including a letter from
Mary Stanley in the English Department which he read to the Council. Many complaints concern under-ordering of books
and discrepancies in answers when queries are made about when books are to arrive. Many Council attendees related
stories about problems with textbooks. Paris will solicit specific information about problems with the bookstore as
well as ideas for improvement and report back to the Council.
7. Tenure/Promotion Eligibility
Tabled to next meeting
D. Other Business
E. Adjournment
The next meeting of the Faculty Council will be held on Friday, November 16, 2001 at 3:00 p.m. at a
location to be announced.
Motion to adjourn: Milbauer, Second: Wickham
Submitted by Julie Sawyer, Secretary-Treasurer
Questions or Comments?
Please e-mail the council
president
or the secretary/treasurer.
