APOLOGIES: Eberhart and Mitcham (on sabbatical until 3/04)

VISITORS: Nigel Middleton - Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA) and Dan Lewis - Athletic Department Observer

Harrison called the meeting to order.

COMMENTS FROM VPAA MIDDLETON:

1. December 15 -19, 2003 will be the dates for the five-day winter break pay period. To be paid for this week, faculty must submit a HRS form to payroll by the 10th of December. This week replaces the 15th week of summer research pay.
   
2. The results from the student survey of national engagement are in. This survey was conducted last spring and looked at attitudes of freshmen and seniors. The intent was that a comparison could be made between how freshmen viewed their experiences at Mines and how seniors viewed their experiences. Aggregates are available for comparing CSM with national Carnegie institutions and other research extensive institutions. The results point out both strengths and weaknesses of CSM in the five major areas of Carnegie institutions. Middleton will give presentations to those that are interested in learning more about this survey.
   
3. CSM is migrating from the use of social security numbers to a different identifying numbering system. Beginning 2004, a Federal law prohibits the use of social security numbers as an identifier number. This will also apply to faculty and staff in the future.
   
4. Continuing members of the Promotion and Tenure Committee are David Matlock, Wendy Harrison, Ken Larner, and Annette Bunger. The new members who will begin there three-year term are Willy Hereman, Terry Parker and Tom Furtak. The chair for this coming cycle will be David Matlock.
   
5. There is a proposal in the state legislature to move higher education to a voucher system. This would move a large block of money from Tabor expenditure limits and eventually would move all of higher education from Tabor legislation. No one has considered graduate students in this scenario; therefore they will continue to be funded by research grants. CSM administration supports the voucher system.
   
6. The governor’s office is proposing to sell the tobacco settlement trust. The intent is that $720M of that trust would go to the state’s general fund for a “rainy day” fund and part of the remaining $80M would go to higher education to avoid additional budget cuts.
   
7. Strategic Planning Committee at their next meeting will discuss the admissions requirement memo from Bill Young, Director of Admissions.

REPORTS:

1. Board of Trustees Meeting (November 2003) - Santi reported that the Board received a presentation on CSM’s master plan. The BOT commended the Senate and the Faculty for working in a positive direction on the strategic plan, and recognized that the plan was not in its final form.
   
2. Senate meeting with student leaders - Wolden reported that the students had met with President Trefny and were hopeful that their input would be taken seriously. The students would like to meet with the Board of Trustees next semester and also talk with the Governor and legislature concerning the budget cuts and how it directly affects them as students.
   
3. Undergraduate Council - Kelly Miller reported for Eberhart who was ill. A motion made by Harrison and seconded by Santi was passed by the Senate with one abstention that the recommendation of the Undergraduate Council and the Core Curriculum Committee that the engineered systems courses SYGN 201, SYGN 202 and SYGN 203 be removed as a core requirement. Harrison will notify the Undergraduate Council of the Senate’s action.
   

   The Senate also requested Harrison recommend to the Core Curriculum Committee and Undergraduate Council that they review the entire core curriculum.

4. Handbook Committee - Ross reported that this committee has not meet since the last Senate meeting but will be meeting three times before the next Senate meeting in January.
   
5. Evaluation Committee - It was the consensus of the Senate to reconstitute this committee and move forward with the evaluation of department heads/division directors.

APPROVAL OF THE GRADUATION LISTS

1. A motion made by Dean and seconded by Santi, that based on successful completion of all requirements for the BS degree, those undergraduates listed are approved to receive a Bachelor of Science degree from the Colorado School of Mines was passed unanimously.
   
2. A motion made by Voorhees and seconded by Wolden, that based on successful completion of all requirements for their respective degree, those graduates listed are approved to receive the degree listed from the Colorado School of Mines was passed unanimously.

STRATEGIC PLAN DRAFT
Honeyman reviewed the Strategic Plan as presented at the last Strategic Planning Committee meeting. Their discussion centered on whether research should be a separate goal, the definition of research and if the word “research” should appear in the vision/mission statement. Also, each goal should have a title.

A motion was made by Honeyman and seconded by Wolden that the Faculty Senate resolves that the Colorado School of Mines Strategic Plan should specifically highlight a goal focusing on expanding and promoting research scholarship. The motion was passed unanimously.

The meeting adjourned at 3:55 PM.