NORTHEASTERN STATE UNIVERSITY

Minutes of Faculty Council Meeting
Friday, April 6, 2012

Call to Order

The meeting was called to order by President Deason-Toyne SCL 129.  There was ITV access at Muskogee, Broken Arrow and Tahlequah.

Council Members in attendance in Tahlequah:  Ron Cambiano (Education), Shari Clevenger (Liberal Arts), John Diamantopoulos (Science & Health Professions), Isaac DiIanni (Business & Technology), Kendra Haggard (Liberal Arts), Chris Miller (Liberal Arts), Brandon Oberg (Library),  Dan Savage (Liberal Arts for Van Den Handel)

Council Members in attendance in Broken Arrow:  Jeb Briley (Business & Technology), Julia Kwok (Business & Technology)

Council Members in attendance in Muskogee: Ryan Fenska (Optometry), Joyce Van Nostrand (Muskogee)

Council Officers in attendance:  Denise Deason-Toyne (President), Pamela Louderback (Vice President), Linda West (Secretary/Treasurer).

Guests: Ernst Bekkering (Business & Technology), Mark Giese (IR), Les Hannah (Liberal Arts), Jennifer Ivie Barth (CTL), Tom Jackson (AVP), Jerrett Phillips (Enrollment Management) - Tahlequah.  Tom Rink (Library) - Broken Arrow.

Dr. Jackson addressed the Council concerning the HLC visit.  Our visit went very well.  Prior problems were addressed and resolved and there are no areas for focused visits.  We had good community support.  In three to six months we will need to decide which track to take for future assessment.  We have been cited as good examples for other universities going through the process.

A. Call to Order

    1. Review/Approval of minutes of the March 9, 2012 meeting (http://arapaho.nsuok.edu/~faculty_council/minutesmar2012.html)

         Minutes were accepted. 

    2. Budget Report

          The budget is unchanged.

D.  New Business

    1.  Dr. Les Hannah

          Dr. Hannah read the Council a letter he had composed concerning treatment of Native Americans on the NSU campuses.  His concerns covered classroom behavior, events, administration and general attitudes.  He also voiced a concern about the site of the NSUBA graduation ceremonies.

          After Dr. Hannah left, the Council discussed his concerns.  Our campus should not tolerate racism and we should be leaders in helping others recognize the problem.  There was some concern that the comments were vague and there was a suggestion that we should look further into the problems.  If there is even one issue, we should be concerned.  It is inexcusable and we should go on record to address it.  It was suggested that Dr. Albin conduct an investigation and find if this is a pattern of behavior or isolated incidences.  Additional training may be needed such as we receive for drugs and sexual harassment.  There were other comments about not knowing what Hannah wanted from us, that the problems should be addressed person to person as they happened, and that we need to be aware that people feel this way.  There was a motion made that Albin develop training concerning racial diversity and tolerance.  DiIanni moved and Haggard seconded.  The motion passed.

B . Committees/Standing Reports 

    1.  Need volunteers to serve on and chair the following:
         
            Nominating Committee- Haggard is the only member so far..
                        
C.  Old Business/Pending Issues

    1.   Establishment of a Learning Community in Tahlequah - Rick Shelton/Jennifer Ivie Barth

            Ivie Barth addressed the Council.  There are many ways of having learning communities.  They can be separate by topic, such as BlackBoard, assessment.  The College of Liberal Arts has one with monthly discussions about learning in the classroom.  Usually the group creates a goal and works towards that.  The community may then break off into smaller groups.  We need an email to faculty about the options available.

    2.  Uses for Faculty Council Budget Funds - Memorial Fund?

             Van Den Handel is making a flyer for the Art Department about a competition to design the memorial. It has been sent, but we don't know what the status is.
       
     3. Potential design/location for Circle of Excellence Bricks - Update
     
             The star design was given to Joe Spence.  It will need scaled to the space.  He will get back with us with an estimate of cost.  It is felt that since the Administration removed the bricks, they should pay to put them back.

    4.  Proposed consolidation of "Celebratory Events" - i.e. Circle of Excellence celebration with all other university ceremonies - Revisited

             We will still have a separate event, but will also be recognized at the other combined event and at graduation.

    5.  UPC Action Plan ideas for 2012-13

             Bekkering brought in several ideas.  One idea was to have student pictures with rosters.  This should be underway in the near future.  Another idea is to review the RTP policies and see how we are following the new guidelines.  Another idea is to create an NSU Faculty Speakers Bureau and provide marketing for faculty to speak on selected topics.  This could be assigned to Research and Sponsored Programs.  The development of a shared governance document will stay as an action plan again.

    6.  + and - for grades - Table until May or later.

  D. New Business
  
    No new business.

   Announcements:      

        May 1st at 5:30 pm will be the combined University awards ceremony.  The Circle of Excellence ceremony will be April 26th at 3:00 pm at the Branscum Alumni Center.
       
       May 4th meeting.  Deason-Toyne will not be here that day.  Perhaps we could find a meeting place in between campuses.
       
E.  Adjournment

The meeting adjourned at 4:12 p.m.
Next meeting: May 4th

Submitted by Linda West, Secretary-Treasurer
4/24/12