Faculty Senate - October 2025 Minutes

Call to Order: 3:30 p.m.

Housekeeping:

• Approval of Agenda - Dr. Vandehey motioned, and Dr. Stiles seconded. All approved.
• Approval of Minutes - Dr. Powell motioned, and Dr. Miller seconded. All approved.
• Introduce Staff Senate Representative Dr. Phillis Bunch

Special Guests:

1. Q & A with Mr. Barry Macha, President Stacia Haynie, and Provost Marcy Brown Marsden regarding Announcement on Compliance with HB 229 et al.
   • Dr. Slavens introduced our guests and asked for questions regarding compliance with the new compliance orders.
   • Dr. Vandehey asked how to address this in psych/soc courses that have said content in the textbooks. Dr. Brown Marsden said that many faculty don’t teach or test on all the textbook content. That should be the explanation: We’re not covering or testing over content that is not in compliance.
   • Dr. Leimer asked for more specific guidance than was provided by the memo. Will the Provost be interpreting the bill and that we should seek guidance there. In comparison with Angelo State, the guidance that we received is really unclear. Mr. Macha said that guidance is coming, and Dr. Brown Marsden said that in the meantime, faculty should consult with Chair and/or Dean until further guidance is provided.
   • Gender identity came up in critique multiple times today. We have a number of students who are trans or queer, and they’re making work that explores topics pertaining to their identities. How should faculty engage with this? Dr. Brown Marsden affirmed that faculty should consult with Chairs and Deans. Dr. Leimer also asked about planning for spring, and Dr. Brown Marsden said that we expect to have clearer guidance for spring.
   • Dr. Vandehey asked if we’re allowed, in faculty senate settings where there is not a quorum, to critique provided legislation and definitions of sex? Mr. Macha said that he can’t provide specific guidance, but that outside of the confines of class, that may be acceptable.
   • Professor Powell asked how protected are we in our own personal social media or public discourse? How might that influence our ability to keep our jobs? Mr. Macha said that he is not able to provide guidance on that at this time.
   • Professor Powell asked, in this gray area we’re in, how accountable can we be held if we have nothing to grasp onto? Mr. Macha said that we’ll be glad to pass that along. President Haynie said that they are asking the same questions.
   • Dr. Stiles mentioned that in a previous meeting, we were advised to answer questions about banned topics, we should say, “that’s not a part of our curriculum.” Dr. Haynie said that we’re still unclear about system guidance regarding such circumstances.
   • Dr. Stiles said, it seems like it would be safe to tell the truth and say, “the current government says that it cannot be a part of our curriculum.” Mr. Macha agreed.
   • Prof. C Fulton asked if dual credit students who are minors have additional limits or requirements. Mr. Macha said the requirements are the same.
   • Dr. Stiles asked if administrators are as fearful about being able to hire people. Dr. Haynie indicated that she is always concerned about hiring and retaining faculty.
   • Dr. Coenen asked if there’s a timeline for additional forthcoming guidelines. Mr. Macha said that he is not certain but expects it to come in the next week or two.
   • Dr. Miller asked if we could establish a way for people to share questions as they come up. Dr. Slavens said that we could pursue an alternative to chairs in case faculty feel like they aren’t being heard.

Current Business/Information Sharing

1. Piper Award Nominee
   • Dr. Slavens announced that we are nominating Dr. Lauren Jansen (Gunn College), who has been contacted by the Provost's office regarding completing the application.
2. Criteria for Nominees for Faculty Award from Colleges
   • Dr. Slavens announced the nominees for the Faculty Award: Dr. Adam Lei for Dillard, Jason Bly for Fain, Dr. Robin Lockhart for Gunn, Dr. Jon Price for McCoy, Dr. Mary Draper for Prothro-Yeager, and Dr. Dan Frazier for West.
   • For the future we should indicate a date by which the winner is decided. She proposed Oct. 31st. We need to get a plaque by graduation, so that date gives us a month. There were no objections or alternative suggestions.
   • The faculty award criteria have not previously been entirely clear, but the award states that it is for a full-time faculty member who demonstrates excellence in teaching and university service.
   • Dr. Stiles said that the explanation used to be provided for voters. Dr. Slavens said that we can include that in our materials for future distribution to colleges. However, some colleges complete nominations in Spring, while others wait until the fall. Dr. Slavens said that she’ll encourage colleges to make elections and nominations in the spring. Dr. Slavens said that we should make explicit who gets to vote. Should it be just full-time faculty? Most agree.
3. Budget & Enrollment Updates
   • Dr. Slavens explained that from exec committee, we received the following updates:
     1. Met Goal for record breaking FTFT class - 975
     2. Retention down .8 from the prior year
        • SSC to focus on at risk students
        • Looking for position in Communication from SSC & MEC
        • Dr. Bunch said that there will be a name change that combines their focuses.
     3. Increased requests for part of term courses from 4 to 15
        • Benefits students who had to drop, military-connected students, and adult-ed students
        • Ethics courses added
     4. Budget built on 59,000 SCH & we have 59,622 SCH for F25
        • Allows for more hiring of students & other positions
   • Dr. Elsharafi asked if we could get breakdowns by college. Dr. Coenen indicated that those details may already be available on the Dashboard from Institutional Effectiveness.
   • Dr. Slavens explained that there is no longer a Budget Oversight Committee because budgetary decisions are made within their units and programs. Dr. Slavens said that Dr. Haynie has continued to say that raises are a priority, and she encouraged us to ask Chris Stovall to give a full & transparent presentation on budget issues. Senators agree that a presentation from Mr. Stovall would be helpful. There is some discussion about types of raises: step, merit, and COLA, but we don’t have a sense of what kinds of raises will be prioritized.
4. COPLAC Status
   • Dr. Slavens explained that Dr. Haynie said that COPLAC was increasing their fees, and that only very few faculty and students benefitted from participation. Dr. Haynie redirected funds to support employee participation in the Texas Leadership Academy.
   • Dr. Stiles expressed that there was value in being named and identified as a COPLAC school. Dr. Leimer agreed. Dr. Leimer also explained that as someone who attended a COPLAC Institute and brought what she learned back to her department when she was chair, she was really grateful for the opportunity to network and learn from other COPLAC leaders who dealt with similar issues at other institutions.
   • Dr. Machado asked if they solicited feedback from faculty about this decision. Dr. Coenen indicated that it was mentioned at executive committee last year, but feedback was not requested.
   • Dr. Diltz asked if this may have something to do with our relationship with Texas Tech. Dr. Machado asked what about the faculty who want to participate in these leadership opportunities.
   • Dr. Leimer said “we are a liberal arts institution,” and we had a faculty forum a few years ago focusing on what that means and how we apply our mission in our teaching. That was a really valuable conversation and event.
   • Dr. Miller said that COPLAC’s online undergraduate research conference, which was only $5 per student to present, was an important part of EURECA that we’ll lose by no longer being a member institution. Dr. Miller said that her office was hoping to host the conference next year, and now our students won’t even be able to attend.
   • Several senators expressed dismay about not having had the opportunity to give some input and express concerns about this change, and several were disappointed to have lost the designation.
5. Shaded Pathways Update
   • Dr. Slavens indicated that we briefly spoke with administration about this, and they were receptive, especially regarding Legacy Hall and bus stops. The did address that planting trees near sidewalks is not likely to be prioritized because it can damage sidewalks. Administrators and Kyle Owen said that they may be able to install more umbrellas on tables or add tables with umbrellas. Dr. Slavens asked for suggestions for spaces where umbrellas would be wanted.

New Business:

1. Campus Climate on Mental Health & Support Systems
   • Dr. Jill Young introduced Gunn’s College Council has noticed a decline in overall mental health and increased concerns about students’ mental health and well being.
   • They sent a letter saying that we exist. Dr. Shawver explained that the committee won’t be contacted unless there’s a student whose scholarship on the line.
   • Can faculty senate discuss how they feel about mental health, overload, students’ mental health, and the environment?
   • We’ve had an increase in BIT reports, suicidality, counseling needs and requests.
   • What can we do to gather information on faculty and staff and their preparedness?
   • Dr. Stiles said we spend a lot of time talking about retention of students, but we’re not addressing retention of faculty and staff.
   • Dr. Vandehey said that we need anonymity to provide such feedback so that we can feel safe.
   • Dr. Young said that we’re also being required to participate in recruiting so often, which contributes to the sense of overload.
   • Dr. Machado recommended requesting that Gunn College hire three new personnel to fulfil counseling and social work needs, the third person to focus on social workers and counselors needs.
   • Dr. Bunch said that the Counseling Center only has two full-time LPCs.
   • Dr. Young asked if colleagues would be willing to poll their faculty and students about mental health and overload.
   • Dr. Slavens asks if a poll or survey will be provided. Dr. Young said that Dr. Earley has identified a survey.
   • Drs. Fino, Young, and Machado gave multiple examples of incidents that demonstrate these mental health issues reflect threats to personal or public health. Faculty agree that it’s a problem that we don’t know about such incidents.
   • Dr. Bunch explained that the Canan Food Security program uses institutional funds to add swipes to students cards (founded by local Pat Canan).
   • Dr. Young explained that Gunn College is planning on working on a survey. Faculty Senate is interested in distributing this survey to all faculty once it’s completed, and there may be a separate one needed for staff.

Unfinished Business:

1. Course Evaluation Resolution
   • Dr. Slavens said we’ll delay this conversation until our next meeting because it is ongoing.

Announcements: None

Committee and Other Reports:

1. Academic Council - Dr. Darla Diltz
   All submitted classes passed.
2. Administrative Council - Dr. Dawn Slavens
   No report.
3. Student Allocations Council - Dr. Michelle Hall
   No report.
4. Athletics Council - Dr. Catherine Gaharan
   They sent a letter saying that we exist. Dr. Shawver explained that the committee won’t be contacted unless there’s a student whose scholarship on the line.
5. Student Affairs & Enrollment Council - Dr. Bev Stiles
   No report. Has not met.
6. University Celebration of Scholarship - Dr. Darla Diltz
   No report. Has not met.
7. Emergency Management Committee - Dr. Kimberly Onstott
   No report. Has not met.
8. Leadership Advisory Council - Dr. Dawn Slavens
   If you have ideas for leadership training for faculty and staff at MSU, it can be recommended to this committee.
   Dr. Coenen asked if mental health support would be an appropriate topic for such leadership trainings.
   Dr. Slavens said that she could ask, but she’s not sure if it would be the kind of training they aim to do.
   Dr. Stiles indicated that leadership training is in session now. Prof. C Fulton said that she could provide additional information on a suggested training.
9. Other Committee Reports - None

Meeting adjourned at 4:56 PM. Dr. Miller made a motion to adjourn, and Dr. Stiles seconded.
The motion to adjourn passed unanimously.

Submitted,
Hillary Coenen, Faculty Senate Secretary
Dawn Slavens, Faculty Senate Presiding Officer

Meetings & Deadlines:
The next Executive Committee meeting with the President will be Oct. 10, 2025 at 3 PM.
Agenda items for the next meeting should be submitted to Dr. Slavens by Noon on Oct. 28th.
The next Executive Committee meeting will be Nov. 2, 2025 at 3:30 PM.
The next Faculty Senate meeting will be Nov. 13, 2025 at 3:30 PM.