Minutes of the University Senate Meeting

Anderson, Ernest

Anderson, Suzanne

Antonova, Slavka

Baker, Mary

Benoit, Joseph

Berger, Albert

Bowman, Frank

Brekke, Alice

Campbell, Kate

Doze, Van

Drewes, Mary

Elbert, Dennis

El-Rewini, Hesham

Fershee, Kendra

Francis, Clare

Gerbert, Shane

Guy, Mark

Hall, Judith

Higgins, James

Iiams, Michele

Jeno, Sue

Keengwe, Jared

Kenville, Kimberly

Kistner, Brian

Kitzes, Adam

Kubatova, Alena

Laguette, Soizik

Larson, Claire

LeBel, Paul

Liepold, Loren

Mayzer, Roni

McBride, Rosanne

Minnotte, Krista

Moen, Joseph

Mosher, Sarah

Munski, Doug

Murphy, Eric

Noiva, Jennifer

Onchwari, Grace

Rakow, Lana

Rand, Kathryn

Rice, Daniel

Routon, Claudia

Runge, Robin

Schauer, Roger

Smart, Kathy

Smith, Bruce

Stofferahn, Curt

Stolt, Wilbur

Stone, Jan

Sturges, Denyse

Suleiman, Nabil

Tiemann, Kathleen

Tyree, Elizabeth

Ullrich, Gary

Watson, William

Worley, Deborah

Anderson, Julie

Badahdah, Abdallah

Bakke, Matthew

Blackburn, Royce

Bonner, Kelly

Bonner Melissa

Casler, James

Dunlevy, Jane

Flower, Ann

Gonsalez-Smith Suzanne

Halgren, Cara

Hauschild, Grant

Heitkamp, Thomasine

Jackson, Jon

Jehlicka, Brenden

Johnson, Corbin

Johnson, Phyllis

Kelley, Robert

Kenney, Lynda

Lei, Saobo

Marasinghe, Kanishka

Oversen, Kylie

Riedy, Joshua

Seddoh, Amebu

Semke, William

Senn, Ryan

Smith, Wesley

Swartz, Kristi

Urton, Raina

Wynne, Joshua

Young, William

The following announcements were made:

Mr. LeBel updated the senators on the status of Legislative matters. He indicated that there is not much to report right now. Reports of the various hearings that have been held are published. The bill to freeze tuition received a do not pass and the bill regarding use of the old REA was defeated. House appropriation presentations were different this year, the campuses made presentations before system. Most of the questions at the hearing were on budget. Mr. LeBel indicated that Alice Brekke testified, explaining the budget and other financial matters, in a manner well received by legislators. He indicated that later in the session, the crossover to Senate will raise additional issues. Finally, he indicated that he testified about the value of non-resident students. Alice Brekke reported that there were a number of bills introduced about tuition setting and fees. They are not all consistent, but there were good conversations regarding the matters. She also indicated that at the appropriations hearings, the process of having all eleven institution’s perspectives was helpful to legislators and the institutions. The general message was that nothing can be counted on at this time.
Mr. Munski requested and moved that Josh Fershee be allowed to speak. The motion was seconded and approved unanimously. Mr. Fershee explained that he is chair of the Legislative Affairs Committee. The Committee has been dormant over the last few years and is now being revitalized. The purpose of the Committee is to educate, not advocate. They will be providing information on policies and bills. Many bills have been acted upon already. Additionally, many bills represent a fundamental change in how the state would operate.
Mr. Murphy updated the senators on the Intellectual Property Committee progress on the UND Intellectual Property (IP) Policy. The Committee is working through the interim IP policy. In the first meetings, there was discussion that was mostly philosophical. The discussion then moved to the details of the interim policy. The decision was made to separate the policy into two sections, policy and procedure. Mr. Murphy reported on the substantial changes to date. He expects to have a final draft of the policy and procedure to the Senate at the March meeting.
Mr. Leopold reminded senators of the Emerald and Ice Gala, February 19 at the Alerus. Tickets will not be available at the door.

Ms. Smart asked for corrections or additions to the minutes of the December 2, 2010 meeting; hearing none, the minutes were approved as distributed.

The question period was opened at 4:25 p.m.

Mr. Berger asked Mr. LeBel about the House bill that proposes removal of the Chancellor’s authority and proposed to adopt a new funding model with the NDUS institutions split into three tiers. Mr. LeBel indicated that there is discussion but it doesn’t have much traction. There is also a bill in the House to move tuition and fee setting back to the Legislature. That bill also does not seem to be well received. Legislative questions regarding the lack of institutional accountability has been met by a strong indication of institutional accountability. Mr. LeBel also shared that some of the strongest testimony has been from students.
Mr. Gerbert asked Mr. LeBel about UND credibility. Mr. LeBel said that UND has good credibility and legislators listen. Ms. Brekke indicated the same, saying that the legislators are listening and UND is responding.

The question period closed at 4:30 p.m.

Ms. Smart presented the annual reports of the Senate Legislative Affairs Committee, Standing Committee on Faculty Rights, Senate Essential Studies Committee, and the Senate Summer Sessions Committee, asking if there were questions about the reports. Hearing none, Mr. Stofferahn moved adoption in toto. There was a second by Mr. Munski. The motion was approved.

Mr. Stofferahn moved the addition of a resolution to the business calendar. Mr. Gerbert seconded, and the motion passed with a vote of 45 for, 5 against and 1 abstention.

Ms. Campbell presented the Curriculum Committee report and moved approval. Mr. Munski seconded the motion and the report was approved unanimously.

10.

Margaret Moore Jackson presented information for an honorary doctoral degree to be awarded in May 2011. Mr. Murphy moved approval. Mr. Stolt seconded the motion. The Honorary Degree was approved unanimously and will be sent on for the additional steps in the process.

11.

Mr. Kitzes moved permission for Tom Steen to speak. The motion was seconded by Mr. Gerbert and approved with a vote of 51 for and 1 abstention. Mr. Steen described the process over the last two years in the development of the North Dakota General Education Council, first by the various NDUS institutions and now including the tribal and private institutions. The group has developed a constitution that is being reviewed and ratified by the various institutions. He reported that the Essential Studies Committee has voted to ratify the constitution. Mr. Steen requested that the senators ratify the North Dakota General Education Council Constitution and thus support the establishment of the group. He described three outcomes of ratification: 1) a central group for faculty development efforts in general education; 2) a forum for discussing conceptual issues for treating general education as a program in and of itself; and 3) a forum for general education discussions across the state. Mr. Murphy asked about the lack of a president-elect, which could contribute to the loss of institutional memory. Mr. Steen accepted the comment, but the document must be approved as a total document. Mr. Kitzes moved ratification. Mr. Stofferahn seconded, and the constitution was ratified with a vote of 52 for and 2 against.

12.

Mr. Stofferahn presented and moved adoption of a resolution regarding the nickname and logo. Ms. Rakow seconded the motion. Mr. Stofferahn described the resolution that is a re-draft of the Student Senate document in opposition to the three House bills, 1208, 1257, and 1263. Mr. Murphy indicated his opposition to the third whereas paragraph on athletics. There was discussion of the paragraph. Mr. Moen moved to amend the resolution and strike the third whereas clause. The motion was seconded by Mr. Gerbert and approved with a vote of 42 for, 7 against and 2 abstentions. After additional discussion of the resolution, the vote was taken and the resolution was approved with a vote of 45 for, 1 against and 5 abstentions.

13.

The meeting was adjourned at 5:00 p.m.

Suzanne Anderson, Secretary to the Senate