Present:

J. Murphy, R. Timko, C. Moulton, L. Iseri, P. Junius, M. Moore, K. Verno, T. Murphy, S. Hensley, M. Loeschke, M. Renner, P. Keller, D. Erickson, R. Stanley, V. Jenkins, S. Stein, A. Ghods, G. Carson, J. Sim, D. Mason, N. Werner-Burke, L. Rashidi, W. Keeth, R. Dodson, M. Materese, J. Bosworth, S. Kasperek, I. Newman, S. Brown, L. Schankman, P. Richmond, T. Madigan

J. Murphy called the meeting to order at 4:03 p.m.

President Loeschke addressed senate:

She has gotten wonderful, positive feedback about our MU faculty from students and alums and is deeply respectful of the work and service faculty do. Service plays an especially big part here because of the smaller size of this university. She is aware of our load. She is grateful for our willingness to change in the last year and feels good about where we are as an institution.

With the recent 2 million dollar increase annually, Cabinet determined to invest in securing our financial future, to build revenue. The formula may be revised in the future; with a new Chancellor coming in, she suspects the formulae will change. She will do everything she can to ensure that the smaller institutions get a good portion of the allotment each year.

Our priorities:

1. Increase enrollment and retention. There is no way our enrollment can drop – we will be in dire straits if it does. She is hoping the $2 million will help to offset any difficulty we may face in the future.
2. New strategic plan (Spending 2 million in the best way possible)
3. Building on our leadership brand
4. Increase revenue
5. Increase campus safety

A Strategic Planning Committee is being put in place for strategic planning and assessment. This is a new kind of committee; because we have been cutting for so long, strategic and deliberate financially planning has not been an issue. The main focus is on the 5 year plan. It is time to determine who we are and what we are. Input from faculty and staff is most welcome. This administration is not just handing down plans from the top… input is always welcome. There are many, many places where individual faculty can provide input. She asks that a Senate member be included with the planning committee. They are trying to ensure that there is diversity on the committee. VP Reid will be on it, as well as C Renner, and 3 students.

M Renner: Nominations will be called for very soon

Last week’s Emeriti Tea was very successful. There is a plaque now dedicated to them. Our Emeriti are important to her. She wants our emeriti and alumni to be included back into specific things in our departments and the university.

Questions for President Loeschke:

Desired enrollment increases?
3500 FTE students is our goal (11% increase). We want to increase good, on-line grad level courses – this is a great market. We really need 4000 FTE to not be cutting our programs and resources again and again. The dropping demographic is a problem, there are less and less high school students to draw from. We are 3 years ahead of the rest of the state in our dropping demographic, so we are in the middle of it.

How does sprint football fit into this plan?
Very nicely. We could not put a million $ into our previous football program. Sprint football fits our budget and our size and our mission much better. This sport is for young men at a certain weight (less than division II football) which covers 50% of our male students. There are no scholarships allowed (we could not compete in the scholarship area before). The cost is about a fifth of division II football. This is a major recruitment tool for us. This is one of the few institutions in the nation with sprint football. Athletes must have a certain GPA to play.

Why is campus safety such a priority?
Ever changing conditions of the world have made it necessary to update our systems to ensure that we are more secure. We are not in major danger (all current systems are in good shape right now; now we must test system with students). But it is time to raise the level of preparedness.

Is $2 million a permanent change?
Yes, annually we will get $2 million, unless the formula is redone with the new chancellor (Matt Baker will work against that).

Online programs?
Masters in Leadership with tracks in Business and Education. This could be a goldmine. Library Science is a great example of what we need to do and do well. Online nursing is a good program that we are now going to market.

How will online courses be affected if the current contract language goes through (if there is no economic incentive)?
Cannot give specifics right now because she doesn’t know the details to be able to comment on it.

(Address ended: 4:27)

I.

Approval of University Senate minutes of September 20, 2007 Approved (Werner-Burke, Moore)

APPROVED

II.

Treasurer's Report (L. Iseri)

Current balance is $135. Received $30.
Remind your departments to pay Senate dues ($10)

To Contents

APPROVED

III.

Announcements (J. Murphy)

President's approval of curriculum actions: The president approved our recommendations from last meeting (Business program change and new courses).

To Contents

IV.

Committee and Other Reports

Academic Planning (M. Moore)

No report. Meeting again next week.

B.

Administrative Affairs & Elections (K. Verno)

• Elections started on Tuesday. Want to hold elections for just one week, to get people in positions sooner.
  
• South Hall is coming along. Anticipate opening FA08 semester. Contrary to rumors, no one is moving in over winter break.
  
• Plans for Allen were rejected, over budget.
  
• Constructions should be some time next semester. Grant Science requested $9 million in renovations. Sent bid to DGS, is waiting to hear back from them.
  
• New walkway will start in summer 08. Will cover the area behind Manser, North Hall, and the areas leading to Belknap, Retan, and Grant. Will install stamped concrete walkway and new railings.
  
• Classroom security - movement to start electronic locks. The door alarm will go off if the door is propped open. Log in process will be in place. Chuck Colby is beginning the process with the Residence Halls. We hope that it will spread to other classrooms soon after.
  
  Air Conditioning questions:
  Will air quality be insured if the doors cannot be propped open?
  Could a central air conditioning system to installed in Elliott? Keeping windows open on the side facing Rt. 6 is extremely noisy and disturbing to classes (A. Ghods). Some offices in Elliott do not have windows, so AC would be greatly appreciated (L. Iseri).
  Requests: Faculty parking spaces are not clearly marked and are always occupied by students (There are finally tickets and boots going out). Request for a sign in front of every reserved space, especially where the spots are reserved for student teachers.
  Parking garage? A parking garage is out of our budget (Renner).

To Contents

C.

Student Affairs & Admissions (L. Labuski-Brown)

No report.

D.

Information Technology (S. Hensley)

No report.

E.

Library Advisory (T. Murphy)

Visiting scholar was a success. The committee welcomes faculty input.

F.

Provost (M. Renner)

Overall, fall enrollment is almost exactly the same as last year.
No performance funding news yet.

Academic Affairs (P. Junius)

No report.

V.

Old Business

None.

VI.

New Business

None.

VII.

Meeting adjourned at 4:38 (T. Murphy/Rashidi).

Minutes respectfully submitted,

Christine Moulton, Senate Secretary