NORTHEASTERN STATE UNIVERSITY
Minutes of Faculty Council Meeting
Friday, February 2, 2007

A.  Call to Order

The meeting was called to order by President John Yeutter in SL129.  There was ITV access at Muskogee, Broken Arrow and Tahlequah.

Council Members in attendance: Ernst Bekkering (Business & Technology), Jennifer Edwards (Liberal Arts), Harriett Hobbs, (Library), Rick Matzen (Science & Health Professions), Alan McKee (Optometry), John Milbauer (Liberal Arts), Bill Rosener (Business & Technology), Thomas Salmon (Optometry), David Scott (Liberal Arts), Lallie Scott (Liberal Arts), Dan Sisk (Science & Health Professions), Denise Deason-Toyne (Business & Technology),  Dawn Yonally (Education)

Council Members in attendance in Broken Arrow: Mayrene Bentley (Liberal Arts), Pam Christol (Science & Health Professions), Pamela Louderback (Library), Marilon Morgan (Education), Joan Wipf (Education)

Council Officers in attendance:  John Diamantopoulos (Vice President), Linda West (Secretary/Treasurer), John Yeutter (President).

Guests:   Dalton Bigbee (VP Academic Affairs)

Invited Presentations
 [Council will set aside time at the first of each meeting to visit with President Williams, VP Academic Affairs Bigbee and/or VP Administration Cherry should they be able to attend.]

Vice President Bigbee took part in the meeting agenda.

A. Committees and Standing Reports
     1. Minutes of December 8 meeting. 
Minutes of the November meeting were reviewed and a typo was corrected.  Deason-Toyne moved to approve the minutes as corrected, it was seconded by Matzen and the motion passed.

    2.  Financial Report
As of December 31, 2006 we have over $2,000 in operating and over $500 in travel.  We received rollover money in January totalling $820.

B . New Business
    1.  Open Meetings Policy (see attached)
   
       There was discussion of the proposal to support using the Open Meetings Act for university standing committees and all college level meetings.  There was a suggestion to use the university calendar on the web site to post meeting information, agenda and minutes.  We would need one person as a central location for all these documents.

There was more discussion of the university wide calendar idea.  It would need specific proposals, but it is a good idea in general.  Yeutter will come back to the next meeting with a more specific proposal.

VP Bigbee commented that the calendar was a good idea, but may be held back because of cost.  We need schedules of meetings all in one place.  This would help with schedule conflict.

    2.  Administrative Restructuring Review (see attached)

There is a suggestion to form a committee to assess the effect of the restructuring.  It would look at any needed changes, the good and bad of the restructuring and any adjustments that need made.

There was discussion of the blended departments that have been using unofficial coordinators because of lack of expertise in big departments.  It was proposed to add program chairs/coordinators to the committee. 

The committee could use a survey instrument to find out the feelings of the faculty.

Some of the reasoning for the change was to save money.  After three years, it is time to look at how it works and any changes that need made. 

A parallel proposal was sent to the Chairs' Council.  Lallie Scott moved that a committee be formed to review the restructuring and how it could be improved.  The motion was amended by Matzen to add two program chairs/coordinators to the committee.  The motion would be sent to VP Bigbee and the Administrative Council.  The motion was approved.  VP Bigbee will carry it forward.
          
C.  Old Business

    1.  Circle of Excellence

          It is time to solicit nominations.  Yeutter will send out an announcement.  Yonally will fill the Education slot and Salmon will chair the committee.  Nominations can be sent to Salmon or Yeutter.

    2.  OTRS
          We are planning a joint meeting with Tahlequah Schools and Tom Beavers.  We need to raise community awareness.  There was a recent Tulsa World article that called attention to the problem.  Other groups could help sponsor, AAUW was mentioned.  We need to look into whether our budget can be used to rent the Armory building for $125.

          VP Bigbee mentioned a bill that is in the legislature that would solve the problem, but cause problems for NSU.  It proposed to tax the institutions to fund the gap.  NSU's portion would be 2 million dollars.

    3.  Tenure Timing
          There is ambiguity about when the tenure clock starts running.  First year can be tenure or probation.

          VP Bigbee talked about the five year tenure period.  At the beginning of the 6th year, someone applies for tenure.  The board meets in April.  If not granted, they would have one more year in the seven year limit.  People have received temporary contracts, some with promises about tenure track.  Some have back dated tenure to an earlier point.  He is looking for assistance to get this more in line.  He has just reviewed the P&T files and has seen the varied tenure periods in the files.  We have good faculty and they have done things we can be proud of.
       
    4.  Update on Health Care

          There is a RUSO committee looking at health care.  We have one faculty and one administrator on the committee.  They are trying to get a proposal.

D. Other Business
      
       1.  None

E.  Adjournment

The meeting adjourned at 4:00 p.m.

Next meeting, Friday, March 2, 2007, 3:00 p.m.

Submitted by Linda West, Secretary-Treasurer
4/12/07