MSU
Faculty Emeriti Association
Steering Committee Meeting Minutes
209 Olds Hall
Attendees: Stone, Reid, Forsyth, Medick, and Harper-Jones
I. Welcome
Chair Stone welcomed the group and noted that the next meetings of the Steering Committee will be on:
May 23
June 20
July 25
August 22
The Steering Committee can determine at the next meeting if there is a preference for meeting during all months of the summer.
Stone noted that the next Seminar would be on April 26 and be presented by Dr. Robert Banks. The topic would cover the changes that have taken place over his years at MSU particularly the role and duties of faculty.
Stone said that the FEA brochure had been completed and copies were distributed to those in attendance. The brochure was distributed to all those in attendance at the Retiree lunch. Also, at the luncheon the Provost presented the awards for the MSU Faculty Emeriti Association and it was well done. Hopefully, the Provost will agree next year to continue the practice of presented the FEA awards at the luncheon.
II.
The minutes of the
III. Report on the Faculty and Academic Council Meetings.
A number of meetings have taken place and many diverse topics have been discussed. It was noted that such topics as gender diversity, proposed changes in the Academic Governance structure, promoting civility on campus and how to address the violence problems on campus such as were recently faced at Virginia Tech. were discussed.
Stone said that he had met with the Academic governance Committee on April 5 to discuss the future role of the FEA on Committees. He discussed the need for permanent changes in the Bylaws so that emeriti faculty would automatically be granted a seat on the Academic and Faculty Councils. Presently, these groups have to make a special rule at the beginning of each semester to permit our representation. He received an email from Dr. Christina DeJong, the committee chairman on April 8 notifying him that the UCAG had voted unanimously to recommend the needed Bylaw changes. There are a number of meetings of these committees each month and it was mentioned that in the long-run, the FEA would need to determine who and how many representatives would be needed for these committees. They meet once or twice each month and it is important that we have representation at them.
IV. FEA Bylaws
Because of the small turnout for the meeting it was decided to postpone a detailed discussion of how to implement the newly passed Bylaws. A discussion took place as to the importance of implementing the bylaws and putting in place the priorities for the upcoming year. A motion was made and passed stressing the importance of the next FEA meeting to set up a Nominating Committee, determine the procedures for electing the Steering Committee and setting up the FEA Officers for 2007. The next meeting will primarily discuss Bylaws.
V. Updates:
A. Lecture/Seminar Series
Professor Stone said that Dr. Gliozzo agreed to introduce Dr. Bob Banks at the April 26 seminar. The Dr. Robert Banks topic title will be: Changing Life and Times of MSU Faculty: A 40 Year Perspective.
Stone said that Dr. Michael Thoennessen , Professor of Physics and Astronomy will be the speaker for the next seminar which will be held in May or June. Dr. Thoennessen will be contacted to see which date works in his schedule. His topic will be: The Future of Nuclear Physics at MSU: The Isotope Science Facility.
B. Awards Committee:
The Awards Committee worked very well this year with the members actively involved in the selection process. The FEA needs to discuss several refinements in the process. The Awards Committee did have a discussion on should “special recognition” be given to excellent nominations that did not receive the primary award and also a discussion developed as to whether the awards should go only to faculty members. The FEA needs to discuss these topics prior to moving forward on next years awards.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 3:30