Minutes waiting to be approved by Faculty Senate

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Faculty Senate Meeting Minutes

Harrison Hall 123

September 10, 2025

3:15pm-4:30pm

I.          Call to Order 

a.      Meeting called to order at 3:15pm

II.       Approval of FS Minutes from August 27, 2025

a.      Ada Giusti moves to approve. Marg Hammersla seconds. None opposed No abstentions. Approved. 

III.       FYI Items 

a.      Welcome new members!

b.      Faculty Senate representatives for university committees and councils

i.      ADA Facilities Advisory Committee (ADA-FAC)-- Ellen Lauchnor

ii.      Core Committee—Ada Giusti

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

iv.      "Can the Griz” committee

v.      Faculty Senate Bylaws Review – chaired by Doug Downs

1.      Would like a committee of five or six people

c.       Course Inventory Management (CIM) system training

CIM users (Staff or faculty new to MSU who will be working in CIM, or any current CIM users who would like a formal training or a refresh.) 

i.      Option 1: Tuesday, September 23rd, 9:00am-11:00am-SUB 235 

ii.      Option 2: Tuesday, September 23rd, 1:00pm-3:00pm-SUB 235 

iii.      Option 3: Friday, September 26th, 9:00am-11:00am-SUB 235 

iv.      Option 4: Friday, September 26th, 1:00pm-3:00pm-SUB 235

d.      Provost Lecture schedule for 2025-2026

 i.      Oct. 21, 2025: Virginia Bratton, JJCBE

ii.      Feb. 17, 2026: Yves Idzerda, Physics

iii.      March 24, 2026: Douglas Cairns, Mechanical and Industrial Engineering

iv.      April 21, 2026: Julia Haggerty, Earth Sciences

IV.       Information Updates 

a.      UIT: Banner update—MyInfo changing to MyMSU on October 2, 2025 (Julie Clay, Paul Lambeth, Justin van Almo)

i.      See slide presentation

ii.      Replacing Myinfo

iii.      Effective October 2nd

iv.      Questions

1.      Will it work with Windows 7?

a.      Not on campus because Windows 7 is not a supported system on campus. Should work off campus but hasn’t been tested. 

2.      Roll out in middle of semester?

a.      Would have lost our support with company if we waited for winter break. 

3.      Were faculty involved prior to rollout?

a.      No, but the constituency groups (registrar, HR) were doing the testing and they may have involved faculty. 

4.      Will there be overlap?

a.      Will not overlap with Myinfo. You will be redirected to MyMSU or resources page. 

5.      Will there be tutorial videos available prior to October 2nd? 

a.      Yes! They are being developed now.

6.      Will there be a phone number we can call if we need help?

a.      Yes! UIT services desk X1777. They are being trained so that they can answer questions 

b.      A lot of times UIT is too busy to get to you. Will colleges have help at their level?

i.      Yes. 

b.      Faculty Senate orientation and introductions

c.       Council Updates (Grad Council, University Council, Research Council, ...)

d.      Brief report on campus recreation center use by faculty

e.      Brief report on campus parking

V.       Undergraduate Courses and Programs 

a.      Courses—First Reading 

i.      ARTH 409 : Roman Imperial Monuments

ii.      CSCI 444 : Data Visualization

iii.      CSCI 487 : Data Science Capstone

iv.      EGEN 493 : Study Abroad - Faculty Led

v.      NASX 370 : Alaska Native Perspectives

b.      Courses—Second 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

c.       Course Changes—First Reading

i.      GDSN 351 : Quickfire Course

1.      Number change from 265

a.      This change from a 200-level to a 300-level course will assist with Graphic Design BFA student degree completion in a timely manner. It does so by reducing the number of independent studies that will be offered and taken by students who need 1 to 2 credits in their advanced studio area as a result of the varying scale of credits that the GDSN 498 internship course offers. As a result, it helps GDSN students receive the required credits needed in the advanced studio area. In previous semesters, these quick-fire courses did not count toward a student’s graphic design requirements; the course counted as an elective. By changing the class to a 300-level course, the quick-fire courses will count towards the student’s degree and major completion, helping complete the required credits in a timely manner, as requested by the provost’s office.

2.      Minor edits to learning outcomes

 ii.      HTR 230 : Fundamentals of Tourism Management

1.      Major changes to learning outcomes

iii.      NUTR 226 : Food Fundamentals

1.      Major changes to learning outcomes

iv.      WILD 401RN : Fish and Wildlife Capstone

1.      Credit change from 4 to 3

2.      Major changes to learning outcomes

a.      These changes include elimination of the field techniques portion of the course and incorporate Structured Decision Making. Due to high enrollment, we are no longer able to deliver the original field techniques portion of the course as a part of the senior capstone. Additionally, we have incorporated Structured Decision Making to the course.

d.      Course Inactivations — First Reading 

i.      AMST 301 : Reproduction in America

1.      Course no longer offered

ii.      AMST 410 : Religion and the United States Supreme Court

1.      Course no longer offered

iii.      GEO 312 : Dinosaur Paleontology

1.      Has not been taught in 10 years; no faculty member available to teach it now.

iv.      GEO 420 : Hydrogeology

1.      Has not been taught since Spring 13; no faculty member available to teach it now.

v.      HEE 306 : Methods of Teaching Conditioning Activities

1.      Hasn't been taught since Fall 2020 and there aren't any plans to teach it in the future.

e.      Course Inactivations—Second 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—Second Reading

i.      EMAN 525 : Manufacturing Management Systems

b.      Course Changes—Second 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—Second 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 zero 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.      Would like the handbook committee to look closely at the Emeritus information and retirement information. 

b.      Student concerned about activist who was shot and killed on live TV on a university campus. This person was scheduled to come to Bozeman. Students may be upset about this. 

c.       Want to clarify about the person who was fired for talking about LGBTQ topics when it wasn’t a topic of the class. 

i.      Was at Texas A&M

ii.      Would like to revisit this topic at a later meeting. Understanding what the laws are in Montana. How do we encourage free and open discussion?

VIII.            Public Comment 

a.      Provost Mokwa: Thank you to those of you who were able to attend the lunch today. We would like to do more things like that. 

IX.            Adjourn

a.      Maggie Thorsen moves to adjourn. Tim McDermott seconds. Meeting adjourned at 4:34pm