Faculty Senate Annual Report 2011-2012
Executive Committee of the Faculty Senate Membership:
David Beck, Native American Studies, Chair(2012)
Jeff Renz, School of Law, Chair-elect (2013)
Annie Sondag, Health & Human Performance (2012)
Liz Putnam, Biomedical & Pharmaceutical Sciences (2012)
Liz Ametsbichler, Modern & Classical Languages (2012)
Ed Rosenberg, Chemistry (2013)
Allen Szalda-Petree (2013)
Program of the Senate
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Continued to develop communication, coordination and cooperation with UM administration
 Appropriate participation in strategic planning/ implementation, budgeting, annual
assessment, accreditation planning, and program review. It is now standard procedure that
the Chair sits on the planning committee and the budgeting committee, while the chairelect sits on the assessment committee.
 The senate chair met with UFA and OCHE representatives to discuss strengthening of the
CBA in relation to faculty governance and shared governance.
 With participation from ECOS, the UFA negotiated additional course release buyouts to be
used for the chair-elect position and the chair of ASCRC.
 Participated in efforts to enhance the quality of education
 Implemented revised evaluation of the administration process. New procedure approved
and sent to administrators for review; administrative evaluations conducted and presented
to Provost and President, who have integrated them into their evaluation processes.
 Met with Dean Barry Good of COT; worked with Provost to begin to define process for COT
to add main-campus department courses to COT offerings
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Continued collaboration with other campus governance groups.
 Worked with the UFA to investigate how salary savings policies have impacted education
quality. Conducting survey of all department chairs and building database for future use.
 Worked with student and staff governance groups on mutual initiatives and concerns. Coconducted a University Council on shared governance; continued process of meeting with
staff and student senate. Attended ASUM meeting where student government resolution to
support cross-listing was approved. Met with incoming ASUM leadership to discuss shared
governance issues for next year.
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Apprised faculty of Board of Regents initiatives and represent the faculty to the Board of Regents
and Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education
 Monitored Common Course Numbering and Dual Credit Programs
 Worked with MUSFAR chairman to ensure UM faculty needs represented at BOR meetings
through breakfast meetings and MUS representation at BOR table
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Conducted faculty senate survey of BOR strategic initiatives; forwarded to MUSFAR
Met with MSU leadership in Bozeman to discuss common issues
Brought Commissioner Christian and Two Year Education administrator Cech to faculty
senate meetings for presentations and discussion.
Attended BOR meetings and presented faculty issues during open forum discussion.
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Monitored shared governance efforts (Crosslisting, Prerequisite Checking, and TARA)
 The chair and chair-elect met with Commissioner Christian who pledged that OCHE would
support UM’s solution to the cross listing problem. The Provost’s office, based on last year’s
senate recommendations, moved forward with the project to bring back cross listing, which
is now in its pilot stage. This involved cooperation from faculty, IT and administration.
 Sharon O’Hare, Executive Director, Office for Student Success and Chair of the Prerequisite
Working Group gave a presentation to the Senate at the October 13th meeting. Updates
documents were provided on February 9th and April 12th. The chair and two past chairs of
the senate sat on the prerequisite committee which established the process for the current
pilot project to enforce prerequisites. This involved cooperation from faculty, IT and
administration.
 A committee investigated issues in the Registrar’s Office and made recommendations for
improvements. The committee’s report was provided to the Senate in October.
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Statewide cooperation
 In addition to work with OCHE, BOR and MUSFAR, the senate leadership of both MSU and
UM asked our provosts to develop a plan whereby students can study at the other flagship
university through a “semester abroad” type program in order to take advantage of unique
strengths at each institution.
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Conducted Center Review and Interim Assessment of New Programs and streamline process
 Interim Assessment of New Programs – Communicative Sciences and Disorders, 12/8/11
The following Centers were reviewed – results reported to the Faculty Senate April 12th and
May 3rd.
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O’Conner Center for the Rocky Mountain West
Montana World Trade Center (Jeff/ Ed)
Rite Care
Center of Ethics – Dissolving
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Participated in Online Education strategic planning.
 ECOS met with Dean Maclean and Professor Hughes on February 23rd. All agreed that it is
necessary to clearly define faculty rights in the development of online course development
procedure.
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Senate Business
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The senate and ECOS began operating under the newly changed by-laws and policies and
procedures.
The chair worked with the administrative associate and HR to upgrade the classification of
the admin position.
Preparation for 2013 Legislative Session
 The Chair-elect has worked on a variety of fronts to position the faculty senate to contribute
to the statewide efforts to bring greater support to higher education.
Additional Business Items
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Committee nominations- ECOS nominated faculty to serve on various university committees.
Curriculum review and related items from ASCRC, Graduate Council, and General Education and
Writing Committee (see committees annual report for detailed information)
o Approved curriculum consent agendas
o Procedure review and revision
 Compressed Courses (new)
 Service Learning Curse Designation (new)
 Curriculum Review Overview (revised)
 Credit Maximum (revised)
 Special Topics / Experimental courses (revised)
 Bertha Morton Fellowships / Scholarships (revised)
 Graduate Certificate Program Guidelines (new)
 General Education Framework (provisions revised slightly)
 Common Course Numbering Workflow (new)
o Approved catalog language defining satisfactory completion of a prerequisite
o English Writing Skills Catalog Language revision
o Add / Drop Catalog Revision
o Spring review of general education groups (Ethics and Human Values, Expressive Arts,
and Social Sciences)
 Approved degree candidates in November and April.
 Approved candidates for honorary degrees in February
 Approved Montana Institute of the Environment in November
 ECOS decided on the Service Award – Steve Lodmell
Communication Items:
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The Senate received various updates from the President and Provost as well as ASUM and the
UFA
o Budget summary
o Non-tenurable Faculty Report (10-13-11)
o Biennial Priorities for 2014-2015 (2/9/12)
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The new Associate Vice President of Human Resource Services introduced herself and provided
a summary of services at the September meeting
Cherie Peacoc, PE, LEED AP Sustainability Coordinator gave a presentation regarding the Climate
Action Plan.
Intercollegiate Athletics Report given at the November 10th meeting by Athletic Director Jim
O’Day and Faculty Athletic Representative Jim Lopach
Global Leadership Presentation in December by Associate Walker-Andrews
Brand Strategy presentation by UM Foundation Vice President Beth Hammock in February
The New Commissioner for Higher Education, Clay Christian addressed the Senate in March.
There was also a listening session for senators on January 25th.
The Deputy Commissioner of Two-Year and Community College Education, John Cech addressed
the Senate in April.
Technology Strategic Plan was presented to the Faculty Senate in April
ECOS met with the Dean of the College of Technology in April
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