NORTHEASTERN STATE UNIVERSITY
Minutes of Faculty Council Meeting
FRIDAY, March 4, 2011
Call to Order – 3:20 (as a result of technology
issues)
The meeting was called to order by
President Denise Deason-Toyne at 3:03 p.m. in
Tahlequah (SCI 129). There was ITV
access at Muskogee (SYNR141), Broken Arrow (B225) and Tahlequah (SCI 129).
Council Members in
attendance: Ron Cambiano (COE); Kristopher
Copeland (COLA); Carolyn Cox (COLA); Susan Woitte
(Library); Brandon Oberg (Library); Isaac DiIanni (B
& T); Dan Sisk (Science & Health Professions);
Tia Bennett (COE); Denise Deason-Toyne (President);
Dan Savage (Vice President)
Council Members
in attendance in Broken Arrow: Anita Ede (Education); Buster Hall (COLA);
Pamela Louderback (Library), John Newhouse (B &
T); Glenda Seiter (substituting for Julia Kwok)
Council Members in attendance in Muskogee: Ryan
Fenska (Optometry); Diana Mashburn
(substituting for Joyce Van Nostrand)
Council
Officers in attendance: Denise Deason-Toyne
(President), Dan Savage (Vice President), Pamela Louderback
(Secretary/Treasurer).
Guests:
Tahlequah: Ernst Bekkering (B & T);
Deborah Hyde
Guests: Broken Arrow: None
Invited Presentations (None)
A. Committees and Standing
Reports
1. Review/Approval of Minutes of the 02/18/11 meeting
February minutes was reviewed. There were no additions, deletions, or
corrections made. Cambiano entertained a motion
to approve the minutes, it was seconded by Bennett. The motion passed;
the minutes were approved.
2. Financial Report/Budget for 2011-.
No budget items.
COMMITTEES/STANDING REPORTS
President
Deason-Toyne noted several committees had no updates:
§ CIRCUS (None) –
President Deason-Toyne stated we really need to get this process moving so we can determine which committees can be combined. If you need assistance, please contact President Deason-Toyne. It was noted that the NSU Campus Tree committee may be placed in the Sustainability Committee. There is a list of all the committees available for anyone who may wish to consult it.
§ Bylaws – The proposals were emailed to Faculty Council delegates (None)
§ Faculty Welfare – including New Faculty Orientation
Bennett sent an email with suggestions for the New Faculty Orientation committee – Bennett will try to meet prior to the end of the semester to come up with some plans by the summer semester
§ Curriculum/Program
Review Committee (None)
§ Nominating
Committee -
President Deason-Toyne offered that she would be willing to run again if
there is enough consensus. Please put feelers out for nominees for the
three positions of President, Vice President, and Secretary/Treasurer. NSU is scheduling an Election Day in April –
we need to get something out to the faculty at large regarding this
process. Cambiano
pointed out that traditionally the Vice President position would be cultivated
to the President’s role. President Deason-Toyne does not
recall any such conversation taking place regarding this point, but noted that
this process usually takes place.
B. OLD BUSINESS/PENDING ISSUES:
·
Shared Governance position paper –
President Deason-Toyne emailed out the newly revised position paper on shared governance while taking into account the comments made at the last Council meeting. Newhouse sent out an email that had additional comments with concern regarding Paragraph 7, Section A. Specifically, the phraseology/wording of “collegial process use of political entities” created concern with some faculty members who read into the proposition as objecting to things that are agreed upon through the collegial process. The concern is whether it may be perceived as a legal binding document. President Deason-Toyne noted it is not a legal contract; its purpose is merely to solidify our process. We will abide by it by holding up our core values, but not necessarily in the form of an agreement. There are rules that faculty have to abide by, there are procedures that must be followed.
It was noted that the intent of the document is not the problem that needs to be addressed; the wording of the document is what needs to be addressed. Hall further noted that both paragraph Sections A6 and 7 both require rewording. President Deason-Toyne entertained Hall’s suggestion on both paragraphs. President Deason-Toyne will contact Rick Matzen to provide key insights and changes on how to come up with more appropriately worded sections. Matzen will forward on his modifications to both President Deason-Toyne and Hall. Fenska was also concerned with the wording as it referred to the NSGA and suggested the Council may wish to mirror similar wording that is used for faculty. President Deason-Toyne will take a look at it to consult the Faculty handbook to see what the handbook reflects.
·
Definition of “Student Centered”
President Deason-Toyne
informed the Council that she has received 2 or 3 responses thus far; she is
still working on compiling additional descriptions. “Meeting the students where they are” is one
example provided. Continue to send
definition suggestions to President Deason-Toyne. All suggestions will be compiled and sent out
to members.
·
Marketing of Programs – President Deason-Toyne has not yet made contacts with Marketing/PR to
come visit Faculty Council. Some
departments are engaging in self-marketing endeavors but NSU as a whole is not
marketing our institution as well as they could be. We must consider what our expectations are
and what the Marketing department can do for us.
C. NEW BUSINESS:
Date
for Election – April
Voting will take place on each campus. Voting on the recent modified bylaws may change the dates for election. Changing the makeup of the Council to the Senate creates changes. We may plan to have April elections and either shorten or lengthen the term at that point. The early part of week would be an ideal time to have elections for the Muskogee campus. Wednesday elections will be optimal for the BA campus. April 13th was suggested as a possible date. President Deason-Toyne and Savage will get together to work on the Council to Senate portion of the document. Bekkering suggested voting by mail as an alternative to face-to-face elections. However, since voting by secret ballot is in the bylaws – this process may be a challenge. Ede suggested we provide elections via electronically through a Survey Monkey instrument. President Deason-Toyne noted that the bylaws would need to be consulted. As well, it is not a topic listed on the agenda, so the Council may not be able to take action today. Ernst will look into this where emails will be sent to appropriate faculty.
·
ANNOUNCEMENTS
On April 16, Saturday, there will be an Awareness Fundraiser entitled – “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” – to raise awareness and money for local domestic violence issues. It will be an annual event at NSU. It would be good to try to host a fundraiser in Broken Arrow as well. In Tahlequah, the event will begin in Norris Park at 10 a.m. President Deason-Toyne noted this is a good example to model the way as faculty members. Hall will solicit his Criminal Justice students to participate in the walk. Hall will check with local shelters to determine where to send proceeds.
·
ADJOURNMENT BY 4:16 P.M. NEXT MEETING April 1, 2011
ITEMS
BEING MONITORED-
·
Location
for Faculty Gathering – All campuses –
Location
of Circle of Excellence Bricks
Worker’s
Comp. advocate/liaison
Submitted by Pamela Louderback, Secretary-Treasurer
03/10/11
--------------------------------------------------------------