University Council Minutes
Wednesday, February 4, 2026
8:30 AM – 10:00 AM
SUB, Alumni Legacy Lounge
Printable Minutes
Members:
Brock Tessman, Dean Adams, Fran Albrecht, Justin Arndt, Richard Badenhausen, Sreekala Bajwa, Mike Becker, Matt Caires, Leon Costello, Chris Dobbs, Stephanie Erdmann, Stephanie Gray, Jeannette Grey Gilbert, Brian Gillespie, Brett Gunnink, Alison Harmon, Debbie Haynes, Stefani Hicswa, John How, Greg Kegel, Ryan Knutson, Chere LeClair, Kayla Lee, Terry Leist, Rob Maher, Bob Mokwa, Sally Mudiamu, Doralyn Rossmann, Tricia Seifert, Steve Swinford, Kim Obbink, Kellie Peterson, Sarah Shannon, Cody Stone, Will Thomas, James Tobin, Lenny Triem, Brad White
- Call to Order
Meeting called to order at 8:30am - Approval of Minutes for January 7, 2025.
Motion to approve by Dean Adams
Second by Brett Gunnink
Unanimous Approval - University Wide Information/Announcements
- Off to a great start this semester as an institution
- Accolades to the Library on the Open House
- Founders Day events on February 17
- AI Symposium event that happened
- San Francisco trip with the MSUAF
- Strategic Plan announcement that went out yesterday
- Part of your job as UC is to spread awareness and urge your colleagues to participate – you are being asked/urged to engage
- Email coming soon about state and federal relations for the foreseeable approach
- Mike Veselik – Federal Relations
- Cody Stone – State Relations
- Appreciation to Provost Mokwa for his work
- Next day or so there will be a call for interest in the interim Provost position
- Public Comment
- Joshua Garrigues - - Personal Transportation Devices
- Taylor Pajunen - - Students Against Genocide - Presented their concerns and overview of their topic
- Alex Sokol - - Students Against Genocide - Presented their concerns and presented a list of demands
- Julian Staggs - - Students Against Genocide - Presented their concerns and support of prior speakers
- Homa Masood - - Students Against Genocide – Presented their concerns and support of prior speakers
- Riley Ophus - - Students Against Genocide – Presented their concerns and support of prior speakers
- Old Items
- Reporting Suspected Legal, Regulatory, or Policy Violations (OneMSU)
Justin Arndt, Chief Compliance Officer - Personal Transportation Device
Randy Crandall, Director, Parking & Transportation Services
Motion to approve policy by: Alison Harmon
Second by Lenny Triem
Unanimous Approval - Emergency Management Policy
Tom Luhrsen, Director, Emergency Management
Motion to approve policy by: Terry Leist
Second by: Brian Gillespie
Unanimous Approval
- Reporting Suspected Legal, Regulatory, or Policy Violations (OneMSU)
- New Items
- Information Items
- Conflict of Interest Updates
Justin Arndt, Chief Compliance Officer
Justin presented a PowerPoint and information updates on the changes to the COI policy. - Public Participation Policy
Justin Arndt, Chief Compliance Officer
Justin presented a PowerPoint and information updates on the changes to the Public Participation Policy.
- Conflict of Interest Updates
- Updates
- MSU Billings
- Hoping for a record enrollment for spring semester
- 11 faculty being awarded for their work
- Lyn George - NAH grand funded, but in top 3%
- MOR - tomorrow night they hop into the Frog exhibit (5:30 opening to members)
- Great Falls MSU
- Up 6% in FTE for spring, 8% in head count
- Appreciation to Brock LaMeres for his presentation
- Governor visited to look at work force and dental hygiene program and GFMSU
- Appreciation to Dean Erdmann for her work prior to her retirement
- Research has had a bright start to the semester - Centers and Institutes Day - March 23 from 11-3 and then end of the year research celebration - 3:30pm - 5:30pm
- Crawford Donation from the Cathy Crawford Estate - scholarships to graduate students
- Having a showcase event for the first cohort - April 16
- Cody Stone - excited to take on new role
- Tobin
- Excellence in Service Nominations - Monday email
- Honorary Doctorate Nominations - due February 20
- ASMSU has cancelled Rail Jam, but will still have an event of some sort
- February 17 will have faculty and student awards ceremony and Provost Lecture in the evening at the MOR
- MSU Billings
- Adjourn
Meeting adjourned at: 9:46am
NOTE: NEXT MEETING: WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4, 2026 @ 8:30 AM, SUB ALUMNI LEGACY LOUNGE
