NORTHEASTERN STATE UNIVERSITY
Minutes of Faculty Council Meeting
Friday, March 3, 2006

A.  Call to Order

The meeting was called to order by President John Yeutter in UC 228.  There was ITV access at Muskogee, Broken Arrow and Tahlequah.

Council Members in attendance: Harriett Hobbs (Library), Peggy Kaney (Library), Mary Kremmer for Terri Baker (Liberal Arts), Rick Matzen (Science & Health Professions), Alan McKee (Optometry), John Milbauer (Liberal Arts), Thomas Salmon (Optometry), David Scott (Liberal Arts), Lallie Scott (Liberal Arts),  Dan Sisk (Science & Health Professions), Robert Taylor (Education).

Council Members in attendance in Broken Arrow: None.

Council Members in attendance in Muskogee: Joyce Van Nostrand (Muskogee).

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

Guest:  Tom Jackson (Graduate College)

Guest, Tom Jackson, presented information from Research and Sponsored Programs and the Graduate Dean's Office.

HEAC - Human Research policies:  The web site has been revised.  The Institutional Review Board has been expanded to ten members and is meeting monthly.  There are three levels of review: exempt, which is most surveys and can be reviewed in days; expedited, which can be reviewed in days; and full board review, which meets monthly.  Applications are due on Friday before the posted meeting date.

Research and Sponsored Programs: Can provide help with proposals, find funding sources and get letters of support.  Contact Kate Felzien as soon as you identify a funding source you want to apply for.  They need a ten day window to get approvals through our system.

Research Misconduct Policy: There is a draft based on the US Dept. of Health and Human Services and the US Public Health Service models.  He wants faculty input.

He also reported on the VP for Academic Affairs search committee. There will be open forums with each candidate for faculty and student questions.  Vitas will be at the open forums and rating sheets are encouraged from attendees.

A. Committees and Standing Reports

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

    1. Minutes of February 3, 2006.

    Dr. Milbauer moved that the minutes be approved.  Dr. Taylor seconded the motion.  After discussion, the motion passed.

     2. Treasurer's Report

    The account balance is $4,162.93.

    3. Faculty Welfare Committee Report

    There was no report.  

B. New Business

    1.  Gen. Ed. Task Force - select 2 members

We need members of a focus group on general education issues related to students taking Gen Ed classes.  Bill Nowlin has the Deans' recommendations for the committee.  We recommended Dr. Mike Rogers and Dr. Terri Baker.  If Dr. Baker does not wish to serve, we had two alternative names.

    2.  TABOR

There are enough signatures for the measure to go to a ballot.  What can be done now is grass roots communication.  AAUP has discussed the issue and has some ideas for a forum about the topic.

    3.  Peer Evaluations

A general overview was presented.  These would be related to pay increases at the end of the semester.  Most department chairs use the Annual Activity report from faculty for making these decisions.  It was suggested that the more people who evaluate, the better the evaluation.  AAUP took a proposal to Janet Bahr several months ago along the same lines.  There was some discussion of how it would work.  It was suggested that we take it to the Chairs Council for the April meeting.  We need a written proposal at our next meeting, April 7th.  A draft email will be sent to Faculty Council delegates.

C.  Old Business

    1.  OTRS

   Bill White was scheduled to present information about bills before the house at a meeting on March 27th.  The purpose of the bills was to change the benefits formula somewhat for members before 1995.  There are 40 bills in the legislative process relating to OTRS.  Some of these address the under funding issue.

    2.  Word Perfect/Quatro Support

There will be more discussion on this topic at a future Academic Technology Committee meeting.  The long term plan from that committee currently only addresses Microsoft.  They are looking at the strategic plan by the end of the semester.  There is a Netnotes form to increase the size of employee space on the L drive:  http://netnotes/webforms/filerspace.php

    3.  Employee Fringe Benefits

The proposals for Tuition wavers and Fitness Center fees have been sent to VP Cherry.  The tuition proposal includes a 100% waver for retirees, employees, spouses and dependents. 

D. Other Business

    1.  Circle of Excellence

   Dr. Yeutter sent out a last call for nominations.  Letters have been sent to nominees.  They have until March 27th to deliver packets.  The guidelines for submission are on the Faculty Council web site:
http://arapaho.nsuok.edu/%7Efaculty%5Fcouncil/circle.html

E.  Adjournment

The meeting adjourned at 4:22 p.m.

Submitted by Linda West, Secretary-Treasurer
04/06/06