NEW MEXICO INSTITUTE OF MINING AND TECHNOLOGY

MEETING OF THE FACULTY SENATE

Tuesday, March 6, 2007

4:00 P.M.

Workman 101

MINUTES   

1. Call to order. Dr. David Burleigh, Vice Chairman, called the meeting to order at 4:07 p.m., following adjournment of the Institute Senate meeting.

2. Approval of the minutes of February 6, 2007 (attached). Approval of the minutes as written was moved and seconded, and the motion passed.

3. Ann ouncements. Legislative Update, delivered at the meeting of the Institute Senate - Dr. Peter F. Gerity. Gerity updated the group on the 2007 Legislative session, saying, however, that nothing is final until Governor Richardson signs off on the bills. Pending are a 5 percent raise not including compensation, and a .75 percent increase in Institutional benefits. New Mexico Tech is in line for just under $5 million for the hot water loop project - the request had been for $14 million. Also in the works is $2 million in planning money for the new Bureau of Geology building and the proposed Wellness Center . Gerity said the planning funds are critical if the university is to seek capital funds through a General Obligation bond issue in November 2008. Also pending are funds for the ongoing aerospace program, and a statewide library measure which would provide the Skeen Library with some $60K to $90K.

A. Student Appreciation Award - Chelsea Buffington. Nomination forms for the Student Appreciation Award are available in SCOPE and on Tech's website, said Buffington, director of Career Services. Undergraduate and graduate students are eligible for the award which honors student workers who go beyond the basic duties of their job, such as being active in clubs or volunteer work. "It's not based on academic merit," she said. March 19 is the deadline for nominations. Usually, one award goes to a club, and several others go to individuals. Of 19 individual nominations last year, seven awards were given. "We'd like to have a similar number this year," said Buffington.

B. Distinguished Teaching Award - Scott Zeman. Zeman asked that nominations for the 2007 Distinguished Teaching Award be sent to him, along with any supporting materials, by March 20. The award will be presented at Commencement ceremonies on May 12. In a separate matter, Zeman as director of the Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning (CITL) announced the winners of the individual and department awards for 2007 - Dr. Wim Steelant for a biochemistry laboratory that included a segment on folk medicine ($4,000) and the Chemistry Department for redesigning its first-year courses to more of a discovery-based learning format ($8,000). CITL received six proposals, Zeman said.

C. Cheryl Wilson - Superintendent, Socorro Consolidated Schools . Dr. Mike Topliff introduced Wilson, who was invited to speak at the invitation of Dr. Richard Sonnenfeld. Wilson is a native New Mexican with 13 years classroom experience and author of a mathematics textbook. As part of her presentation, Wilson referred to a handout with statistics on student achievement and other facts, and cautioned that the charts reflected only two years of data. " New Mexico is kind of new to this game," she said, referring to standardized tests mandated by the No Child Left Behind federal act. "We are above the line," she said; however, the district must address issues related to "poverty" as defined by families eligible for the free lunch program. With 72 percent of K-5 students classified as living in poverty, the issue is significant. Wilson said No Child Left Behind tests students in math, language arts and science. "That's what we're held accountable for," she said. On the good news side, ACT composite scores have improved over time, and two-thirds of the graduating class takes the exam. Wilson, acknowledging that some faculty parents live away from Socorro for educational options; but said students in local schools can have as much of "an awesome experience" as they can elsewhere. Public education is "tough but important work," and schools should be able to meet multiple needs within the classroom. "We have pockets of brilliance throughout Socorro schools," said Wilson, adding, "but we are not systemically organized to be (totally) brilliant." Unfortunately, she said, "a lot of Socorro students don't believe in opportunities." She suggested collaborative work with New Mexico Tech in professional development, and offered to meet with the entire university community. "I could create grant topics for you," Wilson said, noting the academic community's penchant for applying for NSF monies.

D. Other. Gerity announced that the final deadline for catalog changes is March 7, or March 8 at the latest, and reminded faculty that New Mexico is now on a two-year catalog schedule. Registrar Luz Brian Barreras added that course offerings for Fall 2007 are due March 9, and that the new schedule is going to the printer at the end of March. Barreras said she and her staff will be reviewing the course schedule this week. "A few departments have not responded at all," she said. Replying to a question from Dr. Brian Borchers, Barreras said that faculty can verify their course offerings through Rose Baca-Rivet, Ina Crawford or herself. In other Registrar business, Barreras reminded faculty to order their caps and gowns for spring Commencement; and that mid-term is March 7, with web entry of grades open until March 24.

Librarian Owen Ellard announced a presentation from 2 - 3:30 p.m. on March 24 by Dr. Robert Fugate on "Researching the Sky: The Revolution in Ground-Based Astronomy" in the Library's Tripp Conference Room.

4. Nominating Committee - Tom Kieft (see attached memo). Dr. Bill Rison has agreed to fill the slot of a member of the Faculty Senate Academic Freedom and Tenure Committee who recused himself from hearing a particular case, said Kieft, who moved that Rison join the committee until said case is resolved. The motion was seconded and approved.

5. Old Business. Dr. Rick Aster asked if Borchers had figured out the paycheck issue as addressed at the Feb. 6 meeting, involving ERB and TIAA-CREF contributions. "I believe I understand what the law is," replied Borchers, adding that he has requested a written memo outlining contributions for the next several years, but has not received a reply. The compensation percentage increased to 7.1 percent last July 1, he said, "but in my case, it stayed at 6.4 percent . . . You would all be well advised to check your own paychecks." Borchers suggested inviting Lonnie Marquez, Vice President for Administration and Finance, to the next Faculty Senate meeting. Burleigh then suggested that Borchers pursue the issue.

6. New Business. Sonnenfeld moved to host a "Community Conversation" with Superintendent Wilson and students, faculty and staff, and the motion was seconded and approved. Burleigh suggested that Sonnenfeld and Wilson work on a meeting date and time.

7. Adjournment. A motion was made and seconded to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed and the meeting was adjourned at 4:57 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Valerie Kimble