The February meeting of the University Senate was held at 4:05 p.m. on Thursday, February 6, 2003 in Room 7, Gamble Hall. Jan Goodwin presided.

The following members of the Senate were present:

Alleva, Patti
Anderson, Angie
Bagheri, Fathollah
Baker, Adam
Bartsch, Brent
Benoit, Joseph
Blackburn, Royce
Boyd, Robert
Bridewell, John
DeMers, Judy
Drewes, Mary
Elbert, Dennis
Elsinga, Lillian
Ettling, John
Fivizzani, Albert
Gallager, Robert
Gerber, Anne
Goenner, Cullen
Goodwin, Janice
Hanhan, Sara
Hansen, Kenneth
Heitkamp, Thomasine
Hildre, Nate
Hoffmann, Mark
Hume, Wendelin
Jackson, Jon
Jenniges, Sharleen
Jeno, Susan
Jerath, Sukhvarsh
Jose, Matt
Kenville, Kimberly
Krogh, Nancy
Kupchella, Charles
Lee, Randy
Lovseth, Jon
Marshall, David
Nichols, Elizabeth
Norman, Katherine
Okunishi, Takeshi
Perry, David
Petros, Thomas
Porter, James
Porter, Kimberly
Rakow, Lana
Rice, Daniel
Ruff, Nick
Ryan, Steffen
Shaeffer, James
Shaeffer, Margaret
Skramstad, Allan
Smith, Bruce
Stanlake, Lowell
Stofferahn, Curtis
Stolt, Wilbur
Sukalski, Katherine
Thompson, Myra
Thureen, Faythe
Tiffany, Mark
Tschacher, Walter
Venhuizen, Brett
Watson, John
Zidon, Margaret

The following members of the Senate were absent:

Alfonso, Peter
Downie, Morgan
Effertz, Kayla
Gagnon, Gregory
Hikins, James
Knight, Barbara
Levang, Chris
McBride, Rosanne
Murphy, Eric
Potvin, Martha
Romanick, Mark
Romero, Alan
Sheridan, William
Wilson, H. David
Zierdt, Candace

The following announcement was made:
A.  Ms. Thureen announced that the 15^th annual Nobel Peace Prize Forum will be held at Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota on February 14 and 15, and gave information for registration, which can be found at www.peaceprizeforum.org.

The chair asked for corrections to the January 16, 2003 minutes. Ms. Hume asked to correct the name in item number 6 from Ms. Norman to Ms. Hume. Ms. Rakow asked that the words "the President's Committee" be changed to the "President's Advisory Council on Women." Mr. Fivizanni moved to accept the minutes as corrected. It was approved unanimously.

The chair opened the question period at 4:11 p.m. Mr. Marshall made an announcement congratulating the President and Vice Presidents for the speed of administration in Twamley Hall.

Mr. Lee moved that the annual report of the Academic Policies and Admissions Committee be received and filed. The motion was approved unanimously.

The chair announced the addition of business from the Honorary Degrees Committee to the business calendar as item number 8.

Mr. Kupchella addressed the Senate about the harassment policy. He began by providing background. He stated that policies regarding harassment are subject to the laws enforced by the Office of Civil Rights. After a recent visit, this office recommended that we develop a clear policy that is explicit about not tolerating racial harassment. They also required the University to provide training about tolerance to all employees. An early draft of a harassment policy was sent to the Senate, but was tabled. The policy was not returned to the Senate for consideration before completion because of the short amount of time available to send it to the Office of Civil Rights to close their recent inquiry. While the policy did not go through Senate review, the President assured the Senate that policies are always open for discussion. Ms. Rakow asked about a change in the policy regarding where harassment cases would be heard. Mr. Kupchella stated that some of the revisions were required by State Board of Higher Education policy, but reminded the Senate that any policy can be examined. Mr. Lee asked if the notice that has been distributed on campus is the official policy and if the harassment policy and grievance policy have been combined. Mr. Kupchella answered that these two policies were separate. Ms. Rakow moved to direct the Senate Executive Committee to find an appropriate body or mechanism for review of the harassment policy and report back to the Senate. The motion carried.

Mr. Kupchella summarized the process for selecting commencement speakers. The President directed the Senate to the agenda attachment detailing the criteria for selection for winter, spring, and summer commencements and asked for their recommendations for future speakers.

The President briefed the Senate about the University funding recommendations before the current legislative session. He reviewed the UND biennial budget request including projected cost increases and the percent of tuition increase needed if appropriations do not increase. He pointed the Senate to a PowerPoint presentation which was created to tell the legislature what the University of North Dakota provides to the State. Mr. Hansen asked about plans in the legislature for employees to pay a premium for health insurance. He asked the legislature to consider reducing pay rather than premiums to save the cost of social security taxes. Mr. Okunishi asked about the difference in cost of living and the cost of inflation. Mr. Kupchella replied that we need better than the rate of inflation for increases in salary to keep the level of talent needed for UND faculty. Mr. Watson asked whether cost of living differences were figured into the averages. The President answered no, but that the point has been made that we are not that different from other markets.

Ms. Sukalski, chair of the Honorary Degrees Committee, presented a vita nominating a candidate for an honorary degree. The nomination was approved unanimously.

Mr. Stofferahn presented the changes proposed to the Code of Student Life by the Student Policy Committee. The Senate discussed. Ms. Kenville moved to accept the proposed changes to the Code of Student Life. Discussion continued. The motion carried.

Mr. Lovseth and Mr. Baker gave a demonstration of Pick-A-Prof. Mr. Lovseth introduced it as a web-based system purchased by student government for UND student use. This system provides compiled scantron results from course evaluations and schedule information. They gave a summary of the benefits student government foresees from this product and took many questions from Senators.

Mr. Jackson moved to extend the meeting by 15 minutes to 5:45 p.m. The motion was approved.

The discussion about Pick-A-Prof continued.

Mr. Tiffany moved to extend the meeting to 6:30 p.m., and the motion failed. Mr. Petros moved to extend the meeting to 6:00 p.m. and the motion carried.

Discussion about Pick-A-Prof continued. Mr. Stofferahn moved to table the discussion and the motion carried.

The chair recognized Mr. Doug Marshall, chair of the University Curriculum Committee, to present curriculum changes for Senate approval. The motion to approve the changes carried unanimously.

Mr. Petros introduced a resolution regarding the adoption of the Pick-A-Prof system. He moved to approve this resolution as a request to student government to stop the posting of Pick-A-Prof. Discussion ensued. Mr. Lovseth moved to table. The motion was defeated. The main motion was called and the motion carried.

The meeting adjourned at 6:00 p.m.

Nancy Krogh
Secretary to the Senate