February 28, 2018 Minutes

Faculty Senate Agenda

February 28th, 2018
SUB 235; 3:10- 4:30

I.  Call to Order – Call to order by Chair Babcock at 3:11

II.  Approval of the February 14th meeting minutes

·         Motion to approve minutes. Seconded. Minutes approved.

·         Remind senators of the role of Faculty Senators. Who they represent. What their vote means.

·         Roberts Rules of Order does not exclude anyone from voting.

III.  Old Business

Continuation of debate on CRAEA Center Proposal

·         Montana Open Meeting Law prohibits secret ballots

·         Can vote by paper ballot if requested, but not a secret ballot

·         Report from Faculty Senate Steering Committee

·         Debate-

o   Debate included–

§  Center designation may be beneficial, all centers should be reviewed and processes should be in place to prevent misuse.

§  Is this center the first to be funded by private sources? Unsure

§  Information given shows no obvious red flags to research,

§  Not sure what review process is, what data will be used for, maybe there should be a review procedure put in place where alternate funding is encouraged in the long run.

§  Institutionalization of centers is a concern – MSU administration working on center regulations

§  It isn’t just about research, it is also how the project might influence the curriculum as well. Workshops given, students taught [reference to letter submitted to BDC, student reference to class with curriculum laid out by Koch Brothers]. Need a safeguard regarding who is developing curriculum. Wendy Stocks – response to curriculum development. No curriculum piece in proposal. Letter referred to class taught over 10 years ago.

§  Faculty impressed with the safe guards that have been put in place, but not sure about the external influences coming to bear

§  Creating a center may serve to dilute the sources of funding . Advantages of creating center may be to dilute influence of Koch Brothers

§  Centers in other departments search for external diversified funding. May suggest that diversified funding is the goal

§  Center doesn’t seem to be addressing the concerns of the senators. Can center self-regulate and follow rules?

§  Research publications does not mention that funded by Koch Brothers in citations –Wendy Stock responded - Viewing Koch funding as seed grants. All researchers required to apply for additional funding. Citations from other centers vary. Has reached out to faculty and asked their views

on what other measures need to be in place but have not received any response.

§  In absence of document outlining process to regulate center, the arguments are more political and emotional.

§  Faculty wants to see some action by faculty senate to address documentation.

§  Unreasonable to assume centers required to have diverse funding before they can be developed

§  All Centers are reviewed annually by research council. Processes and review measures are in place, although not as robust as it might be. External review board has also been proposed

§  Not enough info to make a vote yes or no. What are the rules? How can it be reviewed and measured?

§  It’s about who the funding is coming from. Koch’s are not friendly to others research

§  Binding criteria? Faculty Senate’s power? What can they be doing to measure and regulate?

§  Diversified funding for Koch brothers centers made not be possible.

§  Center designation process is volunteer based. If it’s a Center, can be regulated more closely than it would be otherwise. All suggestions presented may serve purpose of review and regulate

o   Motion to end debate, seconded.– motioned failed

o   Motion to suspend the rules to have public comments section moved to this point in agenda. Moved and seconded. Motion passed. Limited to 15 minutes.

o   Public comments moved up in agenda–

§  Dell Richter – donor and alumnus – concerned that it is a political issue and losing focus as to how to manage a center like this. How does it stay objective. Research needs to be objective.

§  Nancy Ostlee – faculty member spouse - good movements towards developing standards and procedures to manage centers. However, private funding from single source that is nefarious is not good for MSU

§  Peter Beirhouse – College of Nursing – Medicare issues and social regulations. Sees some

§  Claire – student – science policy advocacy group – in support of center

§  Lloyd Catlett – degree from Iowa State – Materials Lab – concerns regarding accepting money from political entities that may not have university’s best interest at heart.

o   Motion to extend debate and seconded. Vote to continue debate at next meeting. Passed.

IV.  New Business

·         Faculty Senate Leadership Items –

o   Nominations for Chair-Elect of faculty senate for the 2018-19 academic year is open.
o   Self-nominations (or nominations with permission) are due to Chair-Elect Richards by Monday March 19th.

o   Elections will occur at March 21st Faculty Senate Meeting.

·         Approved Courses Undergraduate

o   CULA 104: Professional Chef II
o   DDSN 236: Product Design Challenges

o   SIGN 120: Sign Language I

o   WRIT 001: Co-Req Support for WRIT 101W

o   ACT 174: Introduction to Backpacking

o   HTR 107: Introduction to Hospitality Management

o   HTR 330: Event Management

o   LS 103: Gateway to Sustainability Studies

·         Approved Courses graduate

o   ACTG 522: Accounting Information Systems II o BIOH 595: Anatomy and Physiology For Teachers o CHMY 587: Exploring Chemistry for Teachers

o   CHMY 593: Kinetics, Equilibrium and Thermodynamics for Teachers
o   CHMY 595: Chemistry of the Environment for Teachers o CHMY 596: Exploring Organic Chemistry for Teachers o CHMY 597: Exploring Biochemistry for Teachers

o   CHMY 598: Exploring Biochemistry: Metabolism for Teachers

o   CHMY 599: An Atoms-First Primer for AP/IB Chemistry Teachers

o   CSCI 581: Computer Science in the Classroom: Computational Thinking for Teachers

o   CSCI 582: Computer Science in the Classroom: Joy and Beauty of Data for Teachers

o   EELE 508: Solar Cell Basics for Teachers

o   ERTH 521: Geology of the Moon for Teachers

o   ERTH 525: Landforms for Elementary Teachers

o   PHSX 595: Teaching Mechanics Using Research-based Curriculum

o   PHSX: 596: Teaching Electricity & Magnetism for Teachers

·         New Courses:

o   BIOE 535 : Topics in Biodiversity and Nature's Services

·         New Programs

o   TCH-MA : Master of Arts in Teaching

§  Dr. Seifert spoke regarding new program. Supports land grant mission. Needs in rural areas for teachers in both elementary and secondary schools. Program for place-based people who have a bachelor’s degree and see a need. Program meets their needs and recognizes rural area’s needs. Funding set aside for development and for teaching. This program will be more relevant to those with bachelor’s degree. Faculty in Education has experience is distance learning and are very efficient and effective. Well grounded.

·         Informational Items on agenda will be moved to the next meeting

o   • Student policy revisions (Dean Matt Caires)

o   • Emergency alert system (VP Jerry Sheehan)

VI. Adjournment at 4:34

Senators debating:
 

 A downloadable PDF of this information can be found here.