NORTHEASTERN STATE UNIVERSITY
Minutes of Faculty Council Meeting
Friday, October 4, 2002
Members in attendance: Kenny Paris, Alicia Casas, Julie Sawyer, Thom Wier, Mayrene Bentley,
Vanessa Hardbarger, Gary Wickham, John Milbauer, Bruce Kotowich, Jackie Schumaker, Linda
West, Rick Matzen, Diana Mashburn
Substitute delegates: John Yeutter for Grant Alexander, Amber George for Dan Glasgow, James
Alexander for Lallie Scott
Other faculty in attendance: Chuck Ziehr
A. Committees and Standing Reports
1. Minutes of September 6, 2002 meeting
The minutes of the September 6, 2002 meeting were approved without amendment.
Motion: Yeutter, Second: Mashburn
2. Treasurer's Report
Secretary-Treasurer Julie Sawyer reported that no additional money had been spent, and
the balance as of September 11, 2002, was $4,374.00. Kenny Paris explained that the
$1000 award to Paul Westbrook for his address at Freshman Convocation had been
moved to the travel budget rather than paid directly. Westbrook requested the funds be
disbursed through travel, and he plans to use these funds for two trips.
3. Welfare Committee Report
Vice President Alicia Casas stated that the Welfare Committee is moving forward with the
NSU dining experiences and ergonomics surveys. The surveys will be sent first to the
Faculty Council for comments and suggestions.
B. Old Business
1. Faculty Teaching Evaluation Instrument
Committee Chair Julie Sawyer reported that the committee overseeing the revision of the
faculty evaluation instrument had met to consider the input submitted by faculty. She
stated that the committee hopes to have an updated version for the council's consideration
at the November meeting.
2. Privacy Task Force
Paris asked John Yeutter, chair of the Privacy Task Force, for an update. Yeutter stated
he had nothing to report at this time.
3. OTRS Executive Secretary
Paris stated that Tom Beavers, Executive Secretary of OTRS, will be at NSU on Tuesday,
November 14, 2002. Meetings have been scheduled for 9:30 a.m. and for 2:30 p.m.
4. Faculty Status of Part-time Administrative Staff
Paris reported that he had discussed with Vice President Pate the concern expressed at the
previous meeting about the faculty status of part-time administrative staff. Paris stated
that he felt there would not be an effort by the administration to define faculty vs. non-faculty. Paris commented that the only place in the faculty handbook that makes a clear
reference to the distinction is in the constitution of the Faculty Council. He stated that the
council can consider changing the definition of faculty in the constitution. No action was
taken.
5. Composition of tenure committees for departments of less than 5
Paris stated that he had also discussed the issue of composition of tenure committees for
departments with less than five tenured faculty with Dr. Pate. Paris said that Pate had
reminded members of the Deans' Council about the deadline for tenure applications at a
recent meeting. Paris also reported that the vice president agreed that it makes sense for a
tenure candidate to know the composition of his/her tenure committee prior to submission
of the professional file. Paris said that a revised timeline was discussed in which faculty
eligible for tenure would be notified by July 1 and the tenure committee would be
appointed in August. Paris will continue to work with Dr. Pate regarding this issue.
6. Departmental criteria for tenure/promotion (Handbook Sec. 3.361)
At the last meeting, the Faculty Council asked Paris to make a request to Vice President
Pate that the wording in the faculty handbook concerning discipline specific criteria for
tenure and promotion be changed. The handbook currently states that departments "may"
create discipline specific criteria; it was suggested that the word "may" be changed to
"shall". Paris stated that Pate agreed to make the change.
7. Faculty concerns related to memorandum regarding grade distribution for General
Education courses
Paris reported that he had talked to Associate Vice President Bahr about the memo that
was distributed to the deans concerning grade distributions in General Education courses.
Paris said that Bahr indicated it was not her intention to tell faculty how to teach or what
grades to assign, but rather to share information.
C. New Business
1. Joint COI/FAC Committee Recommendation Regarding Faculty Personnel Issues
Paris reported that the regents asked the Joint COI/FAC Committee to draft
recommendations on the issue concerning requests for written feedback in the case of
termination or denial of tenure. The recommendations of the committee were forwarded
to the Presidents' Council. Paris stated that the Presidents' Council had reservations
about the recommendations, and sent it back to the Joint Committee. It appears that the
Joint Committee was going to ask the Presidents' Council to provide more specific
information about their reservations.
2. Keys Policy Committee Volunteers
Paris asked for volunteers to serve on a committee to look at the policies related to how
keys are distributed on campus. Gary Wickham and Bruce Kotowich volunteered to
represent the Faculty Council.
D. Other Business
1. Paris reported that President Williams had emergency surgery on Monday, September
30 for a vision related problem. The council signed a get well card provided by Gary
Wickham wishing the president a speedy recovery.
2. Paris announced that the Faculty Council is co-sponsoring an Advisement Series. The
first workshop, "Advising 101: Who, What, When, Why," will be presented by Kin
Thompson and Bonnie Giese on October 9 at 3:30 p.m. in PA 220 and October 10 at 3:30
p.m. in B 226 in Broken Arrow.
3. John Yeutter brought a draft resolution to the Faculty Council concerning Domestic
Violence Awareness Month. Thom Wier made a motion which was seconded by Gary
Wickham to adopt the following proclamation:
Domestic Violence Awareness Proclamation
Whereas, domestic violence is widespread and affecting over 4 million Americans each
year; and
Whereas, one in three Americans have witnessed an incident of domestic violence; and
Whereas, anyone can be a victim of domestic violence regardless of age, sex, ethnicity,
sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, or religion; and
Whereas, drugs and alcohol may play a part in abuse, they are used as an excuse not a
reason for the abuse; and
Whereas, dating abuse is defined as "a pattern of coercive control that one person
exercises over another in order to dominate and get her/his way. It is behavior that
physically harms, arouses fear, prevents a person from doing what she/he wants, or
compels her/him to behave in ways she/he does not freely choose"; and
Whereas, one out of five college students have reported at least one incidence of
premarital abuse in their relationship varying from slapping and hitting to more life
threatening violence; and
Whereas, all young adults have the right to be free of fear, to state her/his opinions and
express their feelings, to be treated fairly and honestly, to share equality in decision-making, to decide whether or not to engage in sexual activity, to have privacy and time for
their self, to cultivate friendships of their choice; and everyone has the right to end a
relationship; and
Whereas, it is fitting to set aside a special time to bring this issue to the attention of all
Oklahomans, and all members of the Northeastern State University community so they can
become better informed and involved in programs to eliminate this epidemic from our
society; and
Whereas, the Oklahoma Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault and
Help in Crisis, Inc. are joining forces with victim service programs, criminal justice
officials and concerned citizens throughout Oklahoma and across the country to observe
Domestic Violence Awareness Month;
Now, therefore, be it resolved, that The Faculty Council of Northeastern State University,
calls upon all faculty, staff and students to respond to domestic violence by creating a safe
environment for all.
4. Thom Wier asked that the council discuss the process by which changes are made to
the faculty handbook. After some discussion of the function of the current handbook
revision committee, Paris suggested that the issue be put on the agenda for the November
Faculty Council meeting.
5. Gary Wickham inquired about the possibility of conducting a survey on satisfaction
with the insurance plans available to faculty. It was suggested that this might be an issue
to be explored by the Faculty Welfare Committee.
E. Adjournment
The next meeting of the Faculty Council will be held on Friday, November 1, 2002 at 3:00 p.m. in
the NET Tower Room.
Submitted by Julie Sawyer, Secretary-Treasurer
