MSU-BOZEMAN FACULTY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES September 26, 2001 PRESENT: Young, Morrill, Sherwood, Engel, Yost for Leech, Howard/Erickson, Stewart, Larsen, Jones, Harkin for Ross, Nehrir, Lansverk, Levy/Bandyopadhyay, Bogar, Jelinski, Idzerda, McKinsey for Pratt, Lynch, Fisher, Lynes-Hayes, Butterfield, Kempcke, Dean Lea Acord. ABSENT: Hatfield, White, Anderson, Kommers, Peed, Linker, Benham, Mooney, Lefcort, Weaver, McClure, Locke, Henson, Griffith, Carlstrom. The regularly scheduled meeting was called to order by Chair John Sherwood at 4:10 PM. The minutes of the September 19, 2001, Faculty Council meeting were approved as distributed. Chair's report - John Sherwood. - Faculty, professionals and classified employees met with Regent John Mercer September 21. Because of the varied interests of the group, there was little time to discuss faculty issues with Regent Mercer. - The Board of Regents meets in Bozeman November 15-16. John will try to arrange a Friday afternoon meeting between regents and faculty. - Regent Mercer spent some time explaining the legislative budgeting process. - At its weekly meeting, UGC Steering Committee discussed the following: - A faculty ombudsman would be of help to faculty when complaints with no obvious resolution through existing channels is available. The possibility of using an ombudsman will be discussed with the President and Provost. The ombudsman is not the "Rumor Meister" mentioned last year, although one individual might be able to serve in both capacities. - The new University Facilities Planning Committee has no faculty representation. Also, procedures to be used in making decisions concerning space allocation within colleges, departments, and other units need to be developed. The concerns will be discussed with the President and Provost. - Craig Roloff has been named Acting Vice President for Administration and Finance. Faculty Affairs Committee report - Ron Larsen. - The committee has completed reconciling definitions of teaching, research, and service in Promotion and Tenure sections of the Faculty Handbook. The information will be forwarded to Steering Committee and to Faculty Council. - Two issues are being considered for further discussion by Faculty Affairs. - Should Faculty Affairs work with the Provost's Office to determine demographics of faculty at MSU and how this will affect the anticipated number of retirements? VP McCoy mentioned that in the past, the College of Agriculture has kept information regarding years of service and retirement system for college faculty. - How can the Promotion and Tenure process be completed more quickly? Indirect Costs - Discussion with Vice President for Research, Creative Activity and Technology Transfer Tom McCoy. - The following information was distributed (and is attached for members absent). - Some General Comments Regarding Indirect Cost Recovery (Finance and Administration) - Research and Other Sponsored Programs at MSU-Bozeman - FY01 Investments from Recovered Finance and Administration - Buy-out for Enhancing Scholarship and Teaching (The BEST Program) - Although a bill enacted by the 1989 legislature states that research grant indirect costs "must be expended for the enhancement of existing research programs, assistance to and encouragement of new research programs, and the general support of research", the growth in research continues to benefit MSU students. - Recovered IDC's from principal investigator initiated competitive grants are distributed to the Vice President for Research, dean of the college involved, principal investigator's department, and the principal investigator. The IDC's are used as provided by state law. They are spent for new faculty start-up packages, equipment, research infrastructure, matching funds, undergraduate research support, graduate students, journals, college and department grants administrative support, and other related needs. - A substantial amount of MSU's G&C activity is in the area of education (science education, science teacher preparation, curriculum innovation). Elisabeth Swanson and her colleagues have just received an NSF Center for Learning and Teaching award for $10 million. - Results of a survey sent to national management research administrators indicate that MSU's IDC distribution is very generous. - During each of the past two years, research and other sponsored programs at MSU-Bozeman have brought about $61 million to the University. - Vice President McCoy is willing to discuss any questions individuals have about research activity or IDC's at MSU. - Provost Dave Dooley will discuss the BEST Program with Faculty Council on October 3rd, as part of the explanation of faculty professional development opportunities at MSU. As there was no further business, the meeting adjourned at 5:05 PM. Joann Amend, Secretary John Sherwood, Chair