Minutes waiting to be approved by Faculty Senate
Faculty Senate Meeting
Gaines 043
May 14, 2025
3:15pm-4:15pm
|
Senators |
Represents |
Attended |
|
McCalla, Stephanie |
Chair |
X |
|
Maher, Rob |
Chair-Elect |
X |
|
Barrett, Campbell |
Extension/Off-campus |
R |
|
Bartkowiak, Ania |
EHHD/Counseling |
X |
|
Boles, Jennifer |
AR/Film and Photography |
R |
|
Coffey, Jerry |
Emeritus Faculty |
R |
|
Cowan, Susanne |
AR/Architecture |
X |
|
D’Urso, Brian |
LS/Physics |
R |
|
Giusti, Ada |
LS/Modern Languages |
R |
|
Goosey, Hayes |
Extension/On Campus |
X |
|
Hammersla, Marg |
Nursing/On Campus |
X |
|
Hodge, David |
EN/Chemical Engineering |
X |
|
Janzen, Gesine |
AR/Art |
X |
|
Kalonde, Gilbert |
EHHD/Education |
R |
|
Knight, Kelly |
LS/Sociology & Anthropology |
X |
|
Little, Jeannie |
AR/Music |
R |
|
McCalla, Scott |
LS/Math Sciences |
X |
|
McDermott, Tim |
AG/Land Resources |
R |
|
McKelvey, Hannah |
Library |
X |
|
McPhee, Kevin |
AG/Plant Sciences & Plant Pathology |
X |
|
McWethy, David |
LS/Earth Sciences |
X |
|
Miller, Zach |
AG/Research Centers |
R |
|
Neufeldt, Sharon |
LS/Chemistry & Biochemistry |
X |
|
Posbergh, Chris |
AG/Animal & Range |
R |
|
Stowers, Steve |
AG/Micro Cell Biology |
X |
|
Swensen, Isaac |
AG/Agricultural Economics |
R |
|
Tomayko, Emily |
EHHD/FSNK |
R |
|
Alternates |
Represents |
Attended |
|
Bradley, Star |
Library |
X |
|
Creel, Scott |
LS/Ecology |
X |
|
England, Jennifer |
AR/Music |
X |
|
Geyer, Lukas |
LS/Math Sciences |
R |
|
LeCain, Tim |
LS/History & Philosophy |
R |
|
Miller, Carrie |
Nursing/On Campus |
X |
|
Orendorff, Karie |
EHHD/FSNK |
R |
|
Bennett, Robert |
LS/English |
X |
|
Lachapelle, Paul |
LS/Political Science |
R |
|
OTHER ATTENDEES |
Represents |
Attended |
|
Ellis, Colter |
Faculty Affairs |
X |
|
Leary, Myleen |
JJCBE |
R |
|
Menalled, Fabian |
LRES |
R |
|
Mokwa, Robert |
Provost |
X |
|
Rassi, Rebecca |
Nursing |
R |
|
Schure, Mark |
HDCH |
R |
|
Sewell-Lasater |
University Studies |
R |
|
Sobek, Durward |
Provost Office |
R |
|
Wurz, Stephen |
Nursing/Great Falls |
R |
I. Call to Order
a. The meeting was called to order at 3:16pm.
II. Public Comment
a. None
III. New Business
a. Resolution:
Resolution to endorse the statement from the American Association of Colleges and Universities entitled “A Call for Constructive Engagement,” dated April 22, 2025.
Resolved, that the Faculty Senate of Montana State University:
(1) endorses the statement promulgated by the American Association of Colleges & Universities (AAC&U) entitled “A Call for Constructive Engagement,” dated April 22, 2025;
(2) urges the President of Montana State University to sign the AAC&U statement, as more than 620 current leaders of colleges, universities, and scholarly societies have done.
Adopted May 14, 2025
i. Scott Creel moves to open discussion. Dave McWethy seconds. None Opposed. No abstentions. Resolution is open for discussion.
1. Concerns about academic freedom.
2. Endorsing the resolution would be a good thing for us to support.
3. Resolution has some support from Nursing, but there is some opposition.
a. Parts of the resolution are not true for MSU.
b. Not everyone has the same views on how funding is allocated.
4. Majority of Extension faculty are opposed.
a. A resolution doesn’t hold much impact.
b. If something illegal has occurred, a lawsuit should be filed. If something illegal has not occurred, the AAC&U letter is factually incorrect.
5. Endorsing the resolution. The President would have to sign it.
6. If there is a lawsuit going, should Faculty Senate be endorsing that?
a. Question went unanswered.
7. The public schools that signed the resolution all appear to be from states where a majority voted against the current federal administration.
8. Earth Sciences can’t use “climate” or plant “diversity” in their work. Encroaches on academic freedom.
9. The resolution does not state that a law has been broken.
10. It shouldn’t have to happen to us for it to matter to us.
11. Feel that both outgoing and incoming president should sign it.
12. Marg Hammersla moves to vote today. Ania Bartkowiak seconds. None opposed, no abstentions. Voting today is approved.
a. 22 in favor of resolution. 2 opposed. 5 abstaining. Motion passes.
IV. Senator Open Discussion
a. Students cannot be hired if they are off campus. Causing issues with hiring in some departments.
V. How do we support untenured faculty if grant funding rates are suddenly significantly lower? If some colleges address this and some do not, it will cause confusion. Current discussions happening on this around campus.
VI. Adjourn
a. Marg Hammersla motions to adjourn. Scott Creel Seconds. Meeting adjourned at 3:54.