October 2016 Minutes

Call to order – 9:00 AM

• Mission: Missouri State University-West Plains is a teaching and learning institution providing quality post-secondary educational opportunities to the communities, we serve.
• Additions and Approval of Agenda
  • Approved by Kip Rugutt; second Phil Howerton
• Approval of minutes from previous meeting
  • Faculty Senate minutes – September 9, 2016
    • Approved by Alex Pinnon, second Kip Rugutt

Chancellor's Update

• Game Day info; report/thanks regarding State of the University given by President Smart
• Attended Rural Community College Alliance recently; opportunities for online professional development via National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development
  • The funds to pay for this come from Faculty Development (FD) budget that is unused (has historically been 1/3 of the FD budget)
  • Some faculty don't use FD budget not because they don't take the initiative, but because the funds often don't cover travel/registration to national meetings; asks if funds can roll over to two years and double the budget
  • Dean's office can up with the balance amount in certain circumstances; Philanthropic Women for Education (PWE) or Annual Fund may also provide support
• ALICE training available online very soon
• Questions regarding speed bumps along street between Melton and Lybyer

Administration Council Updates

• Faculty professional development and competitiveness – One-third Faculty Development (FD) budget is returned (Opportunities through online professional development and National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development)
• Rajiv mentioned that FD funds have increased from $ 1100 to 1500.

Old Business

• American Association of University Professors (AAUP) updates – Jason McCollom
  • Missouri's American Association of University Professors (MOAAUP) Fall retreat cancelled; MOAAUP Spring annual meeting will be held in West Plains
• Common Reader Updates – Alex Pinnon
  • Common Reader event Nov. 4 East Wind visiting
• Inter-Disciplinary Studies (IDS) Updates – Jerry Trick
  • Meeting early Nov. to discuss following semester; asking for any and all input
  • Previous meetings updates

New Business

• Inspirational Recruiting Video (Screening) – Paul Majkut
  • The video will be displayed at local movie theater between 10/28-11/28
• Laboratory pay for per course faculty – Bobbi Dykes
  • Current lab pay will be taken on by Budget Committee; seeking 1-1 rather than two-thirds
• Missouri State-West Plains hosting Missouri Postsecondary Agricultural Student Organization (PAS) Conference Nov. 9-11. – Linda Wulff-Risner
  • Post-Secondary Agricultural Society; 150-200 students will be attending on our campus
  • Asking for faculty volunteers to be judges and help out; sign-up sheet going around
• Missouri State-West Plains will host 2017 American Association of Geographers (AAG) Annual Meeting of West Lakes Division – Oct 19-21, 2017 at the Civic Center. – Rajiv Thakur
  • 200-300 attendees expected
  • Inviting faculty to participate and help with putting the conference together.

Committee Updates

• Academic Concerns – Cindy Smith
  • Meetings planned
• Assessment – Amy Ackerson
  • Meeting today at 1 PM; no news to report
• Curriculum – Joyce Jennings-Pineda
  • Three program revision proposals; need more time to discuss the Physics position
  • Motion to bring up revision proposals next meeting; motion passes
• Faculty Budget Priorities (Salary Benchmark update) – Ed Birdyshaw
  • Meeting yesterday
  • Several points
    • Administration is also going to create benchmarks, along with faculty
    • Two alternatives: use existing survey data; create our own survey
    • Need input from faculty
    • Deadline is next Faculty Senate meeting: Nov. 4; will present options to faculty for our decision
    • Another meeting planned between now and Nov. 4
  • Concerns: faculty needs time to examine proposals; Rajiv will formally request admn provide proposals to faculty with time to examine
• Faculty Evaluation – Craig Albin
  • Reminder that Reappointment, Promotion and Tenure (RPT) folders should be submitted electronically (Chalk & Wire) to the Divisional Personnel Committee (DPC) by Nov. 1
  • Recommends extending time period for division chairs to evaluate candidates, write recommendations, meet with candidates, etc. Extend period from Dec. 15-Jan. 31
• Faculty Handbook – Kip Rugutt
  • Assignment to the Faculty Handbook (FH) Committee: take faculty evaluation report from Faculty Evaluation Committee and check to see if it is in compliance with FH
• Public Affairs – Gary Phillips
  • Meeting soon
• Student Advisement – Jerry Trick
  • Meeting later this month Oct 21st or Oct. 28th
• Institutional Analysis – Kathy Morrison/Joyce Jennings-Pineda
  • Faculty are welcome to submit concerns. However, these concerns will not be accepted if not submitted ASAP and before the end of Fall semester.
• Service Learning – Cathy Boys
  • No news
• International Issues – Rajiv Thakur
  • Study Away Program, Costa Rica/Summer 2017 - Video Presentation – Ana Estrella
    • Faculty agreed they would rather be in Cost Rica right now
    • Perhaps some of the Faculty Development funds should go towards the Study Away program
    • The main challenge for Ana is recruiting students
    • We should work to have two faculty members for each Study Away program

Announcements

• ALICE training update
  • Online video coming soon
• Due date for annual fund and Philanthropic Women for Education (PWE) grant application is October 15. For forms visit https://wp.MissouriState.edu/UniversityAdvancement/forms.htm Also, this information is in your email inbox of 09/13.
• Open enrollment period: October 3 – December 1, 2016
• All benefit eligible employees are invited to Missouri State University's Benefits Fair on Wednesday, Oct. 12 from 1 to 4 p.m. in Lybyer 104-105. No registration required.
• The 2017 Cafeteria Plan enrollment is now open at http://www.mocafe.com/; the deadline to enroll is Dec. 1.
• Flu shot season is here! Sign up to ensure enough vaccine is available: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0C4AA9AD28A6FF2-flushot
  • Tuesday, Oct. 18 – 8:30 AM to Noon, Looney Hall Room 203
  • Monday, Oct. 24 – 12:30 to 4 PM, Looney Hall Room 203
  • Tuesday, Oct. 25 – 8:30 AM to Noon, Looney Hall Room 203
  • Tuesday, Oct. 25 – 4:30 to 7 PM, Shannon Hall in Mountain Grove
• Several new student, faculty and staff spotlights posted at https://www.missouristate.edu/spotlights/default.aspx?fromWP=true#spotlights
• Presidential Debate Watch Party is October 9 at 8 p.m. in the West Plains Civic Center Theater
• Rajiv Thakur and Mary Ann Davis are leading a student group (4) to 2016 American Association of Geographers (AAG) Annual Meeting of West Lakes & East Lakes Division, Oct 13-15 at the Northern Michigan University, Marquette, MI.

Budget Discussion

• Discuss Faculty Development (FD) funds rollover beyond a single year
• Discuss have FD funds not disappear after Fiscal Year
• Gary motion: Faculty Development fund be converted to designated account to allow rollover; and that individual faculty accrue 2 years; after that, multiple years' (more than 2 years) accrue in a separate pool and faculty can apply for additional funds if needed. Kathy seconded motion. Unanimous support.

Closed session

* Vote to go into closed session: Motion moved by Rajiv and seconded by ?

• Update on Faculty and staff position hiring prioritization – Rajiv Thakur
  • Meeting with chancellor/dean/faculty senate representativss and others, summarized
  • We must prioritize, with positions and for salary benchmarks
  • Not efficient to make decision in Faculty Senate; Division chairs should get together and discuss needs/priorities
  • History position shouldn't be put into the category of prioritization; it was a pre-existing position, was preserved as a line item; the History position should be a tenure-track assistant professor position
• Faculty professional ethics and due process (Recent institutional/systemic issues and a plan to recommend concrete solutions) – update – Renee Moore
  • Jacob Poulette has offered to compile faculty suggestions/solutions via Google spreadsheets
• Update on Alex Pinnon's personnel issue – Rajiv Thakur
  • Discussion regarding Higher Learning Commission (HLC) technical qualifications for Alex's course teaching schedule

Dean's Update

Adjourn

Motion to adjourn by Rajiv. Seconded by ?

Next Meeting: Friday November 4, 2016, 9:00 AM - 12:00 Noon (with Dean's Update).