Minutes waiting to be approved by Faculty Senate

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Faculty Senate Meeting  

Harrison Hall 123 

August 27, 2025 

3:15pm-4:30pm 

I.            Call to Order

a.      Meeting was called to order at 3:16pm.

II.            Approval of FS Minutes from April 23, 2025

a.      Chris Posbergh moves to approve. Marg Hammersla seconds. None opposed. No abstentions. Approved.

III.            FYI Items

a.      Welcome new members!

b.      Senator lunch with the President: Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025, 11:30AM-1:00PM, Alumni Legacy Lounge (SUB) (senator only; alternate if senator not available)

c.       Faculty Senate representatives needed for university committees and councils

i.      ADA Facilities Advisory Committee (ADA-FAC)--last Tuesday of each month, from 3:00 PM to 4:00PM.

ii.      Core Committee--every other Monday 3:00-4:00PM (next 9/8/25)

iii.      Assessment & Outcomes Committee—every other Wednesday 2:00-3:00PM (next 9/10/25)

iv.      Others

d.      Reminder about P&T reviewer training

e.      Canvas learning management system—how is it going?

i.      Reactions are “so-so.”

ii.      Would like to have time for a discussion on this at the next meeting.

f.        MyInfo changing with Banner 9 update. More info to follow.

g.       Campus Recreation Center faculty memberships:  $500 annual; optional locker+towel $125. Trial membership: $30 for 30 days.

IV.            Information Updates

a.      Visit and greeting – MSU President Brock Tessman

i.      Questions

1.      Cost of housing in Bozeman is a deterrent to those thinking of moving here. How will you deal with that?

a.      Goal should be to drive down the cost of education. Tuition, housing, textbooks have costs associated with them. We try and keep them as low as possible. We cannot, on our own, solve the issue of housing costs in Bozeman.

2.      How do you like to be addressed?

a.      Brock.

3.      What is your commitment to shared governance, and possibly expanding it?

a.      Have experience as a faculty member. Have been elected chair of faculty senate at another university because I care about shared governance. Look forward to working with faculty senate.

4.      What are your thoughts on AI as it relates to our strategic plan.

a.      Confident in our ability to navigate things inside the classroom as far as assessment goes.

b.      How can we operationalize AI to help improve life on campus?

c.       There is an opportunity for us to expand research on the global map.

d.      Being reactive to workforce needs, we need to equip our graduates with skills. Get ahead of it and become a national player.

b.      Faculty Senate orientation and introductions

c.       Honorary Doctorate Recommendation – Susan Luparell (joining at 4:15PM, Senate will go into executive session)

V.            Undergraduate Courses and Programs

a.      Courses—First Reading

i.      BIOM 426 : Advanced Plant Pathology

ii.      HSTR 388 : The United States and the World Since 1945

iii.      MCH 105 : Exposure to CNC Machining

b.      Course Inactivations — First Reading 

i.      BIOB 484 : Population Genetics

1.      There are no plans to offer this course in the immediate future. This course overlaps considerably with Conservation Genetics, and Ecology and PSPP should consider restructuring the Conservation Genetics offering to be Population and Conservation Genetics, and possibly to replace population genetics with another course offering that would benefit Genetics minors and graduate students.

ii.      US 135 : Veteran Academic Strategies

1.      No student enrollment since 2018. Decision to inactivate course has been discussed with the Director of Veterans' Services. Students are still able to access a learning and academic strategies course if needed or desired.

 VI.            Graduate Courses and Programs 

a.      Courses—First Reading 

i.      EMAN 525 : Manufacturing Management Systems

b.      Course Changes — First Reading

i.      PHSX 566 : Mathematical Methods for Theoretical Physics

1.      Title changes from Mathematical Physics I

2.      This course is getting a name change to better reflect the course content.

ii.      PHSX 567 : Computational Physics

1.      Title changed from Mathematical Physics II

2.      This course is getting a name change to better reflect the course content.

c.       Course Inactivations—First Reading 

i.      PHSX 573 : The Science of Sound for Teachers

1.      This course has struggled to make required enrollment numbers for the past few years. This year, it has 0 students registered. Due to lack of demand, we would like it to be inactivated.

ii.      PHSX 576 : World of Force for Teachers

1.      In 2022, PHSX 576 World of Force for Teachers course was integrated into the PHSX 574 World of Motion and Force course to offer MSSE students a 2-credit course in the physics of motion and force.

iii.      PHSX 577 : Physics of Renewable Energy for Teachers

1.      PHSX 577 Physics of Renewable Energy for Teachers was recommended as PHSX 577 in 2017. Since that time, the rubric was changed to PHSX 597 with the title Physics of Renewable Energy for Secondary Teachers. PHSX 577 is no longer active.

iv.      PHSX 585 : Physics by Inquiry: Electric Circuits

1.      PHSX 585 Physics by Inquiry: Electric Circuits is no longer offered through the MSSE program because of low on-campus summer enrollment. The content of this course was integrated into PHSX 571 Electric Circuits and Magnetism, an online offering.

v.      PHSX 595 : Teaching Mechanics Using Research-based Curriculum

1.      PHSX 595 Teaching Mechanics Using Research-based Curriculum is no longer offered through the MSSE program because of low on-campus summer enrollment. The content of this course was integrated into PHSX 574 World of Motion and Force, an online course taught in the MSSE program.

vi.      PHSX 596 : Teaching Electricity & Magnetism for Teachers

1.      PHSX 596 Teaching Electricity & Magnetism for Teachers is no longer offered through the MSSE program because of low on-campus summer enrollment. The content of this course was integrated into PHSX 571 Electric Circuits and Magnetism, an online offering.

VII.            Senators’ Open Conversation

a.      Procurement

i.      M&IE is still seeing software purchases delayed because of the "new" procurement procedures causing disruptions to classes and research. This includes software that

1.      we thought had already passed the checks in '23 and

2.      new software from vendors we already have agreements with, where the length of delay seems unwarranted

ii.      There doesn't seem to be a lot of transparency or forewarning of what will be impacted and when.

iii.      M&IE has recently run into issues with SmartBuy, where multiple vendors already exist in the database with non-MSU entities, and the vendor email address cannot be duplicated. A workaround the university has used for us is to allow a vendor's personal email address. The dept. is concerned about the optics and liability with that "policy."

1.      Start with UB

b.      Parking: Bringing up the “issues” with parking. Seems very congested in certain parts of campus.

i.      We can have Randy Crandall talk with us about parking and catch us up.

1.      He did say that the rollout last year did not go as it should have. He said he would come back and update us. Would like to hold him accountable and ask him back.

VIII.            Public Comment

a.      Provost Mokwa: Thank you for your service on senate. It is an important role. Enjoy working with FS leadership. Look forward to this year.

IX.            Jim Meyer moves to go into executive session. Susan Cowan seconds. Executive session begins 4:16pm.

a.      Committee was unanimous in their recommendation.

i.      Marg Hammersla moves to move the nomination forward. Jim Meyer seconds. None opposed. No abstentions. Motion passes.

X.            Adjourn

a.      Jim Meyer moves to adjourn. Hayes Goosey seconds. Meeting adjourned at 4:26pm.