The Colorado Mesa University Faculty Senate focused on changes in faculty evaluation and how that affects morale during their Oct. 18 meeting. The changes in evaluation result in changes in merit payments and are a source of contention in some departments according to the senators from those departments.

Academic Affairs Vice President Kurt Haas was present at the meeting to provide insight to the senate on Administration’s mindset. Haas explained the changes were meant to distinguish exceptional faculty members from others by making those members be exceptional in all four categories of evaluation.

“That’s the distinction that’s trying to be made; between the high-tier level and the next level,” Haas said. Haas then referenced his own career, in which he always achieved exceptional rating, and acknowledged that some years he really was exceptional while others he was merely good enough to be marked in the high-tier category.

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A bonus merit payment of $1,000 would be awarded to the faculty members that achieved an exceptional rating with less money awarded for lower ratings.

Faculty Trustee Chad Middleton commented the change in evaluation and merit payments would likely result in savings from previous totals of merit payments. Middleton asked, “where is all this money going?”

“We don’t know how much money it’s going to save,” Haas said. He told the senate that for Administration, it was about philosophy, not money. “The intent is not to take money out of faculty.”

Meredith Lyons, representing Theatre Arts, suggested move remaining funds to faculty professional development fund. Haas said that seemed fair and it was appropriate to talk about such things.

“I get attacked by my constituents over this,” Social and Behavioral Sciences Senator Michael Delaney said. He said he’d like to see where the money was going because at the moment, members of his department “look at it like you’re taking money out of their pocket.”

Haas said the discussions about where the money is going still need to happen. As far as faculty perceiving something is being taken away, “it’s perception versus reality,” Haas said. “You can only do so much to combat that perception.”

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“I’m very concerned,” Middleton said. “I do believe that morale is down.”

Middleton said top-tier faculty would continue to be overachievers, so the changes would not necessarily affect their performance. However, he was concerned with how it would affect the next level down. Faculty perceiving that exceptional status was not possible could potentially lose motivation and the portion of the workload they carried could decrease, meaning more work for everybody, particularly the overachievers.

“The number of ears that will hear it loud and clear is the number of people that went from A students to B students,” Miffleton said. “As a result, the impression of that is not what I suspect is what was desired.”

Haas acknowledged that any time pay formula and descriptors were messed around with, it could be stressful. He said he didn’t want to diminish that and didn’t blame faculty for feeling anxiety.

“The hope is to make it a more accurate descriptor,” Haas said. “I do think folks will adapt.”

Faculty Vice President Josh Butler asked Haas if they could invite him back after senators had a chance to discuss the matter within their departments. Haas agreed to return for discussion at a later date.

In other business:

After modifying wording to Proposed change to Faculty Senate Policies Manual for Faculty Senate Standing Committees, the senate passed it unanimously.

Associated Student Government Vice President Jeff Vela updated the senate on the process for selecting a new director of Student Life during the student government report. Vela also told the senate ASG will vote on the biennial budget on Dec. 5 to give to the Board of Trustees next spring.