communications posted on March 17, 2009 10:11
September 2, 2008
Black Hills State University Faculty Senate Minutes
Meier Hall Conference Rm. / Meier Hall 306
Members present: Laura Colmenero-Chilberg (Pres.), Sheng Yang (VP), Bobbi Sago (Secretary), Jim Hesson, Parthasarathi Nag, Dan Bergey, Annette Ryerson, David Cremean
3:30pm. Senate called to order. Agenda approved. Minutes approved with minor changes.
Old business:
Laura Colmenaro-Chillberg reported on her and past senate president, Micheline Hickenbothem’s May 8th meeting with President Shallenkamp and VPAA Myers. Senate presidents expressed faculty objection the Board of Regents (BOR) proposal for a body of end of course questions to be used for common courses across the regental system. The proposal has since been scrapped. Also addressed was faculty concern about the Student Senate’s campaign to get students to use the IDEA system. IDEA is meant to be a faculty development tool. The faculty feels that the tone of the Student Senate’s message was antagonistic and presents IDEA as a punitive tool that effects faculty members salaries.
The BOR will review curriculum changes at their December and March meetings. Proposals for the December meeting should be to the VPAA by October.
The BOR requests compliance and assessment reports from the General Education Committee for their January 2009 meeting. Tentative realignment of the committee has been completed. Cheryl Anagnopoulos was appointed as chair of the committee.
Faculty did receive summer contracts by June 2nd.
Laura’s next meeting with Dr. Shallenkamp and VPAA Myers is October 16th.
New business:
Meeting times were set for Tuesdays at 3:30 p.m. in order to accommodate Senators’ schedules. Meetings are expected to adjourn at 5:00 p.m. and will be held in Meier Hall 306.
Elections were slated for later that week. Representatives needed are a one-year replacement for Laura while she serves as president and a one-semester replacement for Sonja Pagel as she is teaching during the meeting time.
Laura sent a letter of welcome to new faculty introducing the senate to them.
The question arose as to the status of Java Jacket (J.J.) stocking Free Trade Coffee. Annette Ryerson agreed to follow up on matter. (She has since reported that J.J. was out of the coffee but would order more soon). Faculty discussed launching a campaign to help educate faculty and staff about Free Trade coffee.
COHE member, Kathleen Parrow, will be invited to discuss BOR/COHE negotiations of faculty contract. Some faculty feel that they should be able to see their ranking relative to other members in their department. Some feel that faculty should be able to see what goes into their evaluations.
Senate would like to know what is happening in Senate committees, General Education, Curriculum, and the Library Committee. Senate has requested copies of committee minutes but committees have yet to comply.
Other business:
A need for clarification of the Academic Honesty policy was expressed. There is some confusion about the procedure for faculty to make reports and concern that action may be inconsistent. Creation of a standard form was suggested.
4:53pm. Senate meeting adjourned
Respectfully submitted by Bobbi Sago
Faculty Senate Secretary