Minutes of the General Faculty Meeting, May 13, 2008

Meeting called to order at 3:47pm by Faculty Senate Vice President JoLynn Campbell

Bill Vanderburgh was elected Secretary.

                 was elected Parliamentarian.

Minutes of the General Faculty Meeting of May 8, 2007: Moved, Lancaster; second, Julian; Approved.

Moment of Silence for Deceased Faculty 

State of the Senate—Faculty Senate President Sylvia Carruthers
    President Carruthers reported on various items considered by the Faculty Senate during 2007 - 08, including accepting proposed revisions to the Subvention Policy,  and accepting the proposed Bio-engineering and Dental Hygeine degrees.  She noted that most of the business concerned working on the proposed + /- grading system.   KBOR visited the WSU campus on  April 15; Faculty Senate Executive met with Gary Shearer.  What challenges, activities? Spent a lot of time talking about e-learning. Every KBOR meeting includes discussion of the five guiding principles: Is K-12 aligned with admissions expectations at colleges? Participation rates? Retention rates? Aligned with workforce development needs?  Documenting learner outcomes in general and specific terms? How to do Regents-wide assessment while retaining the individuality of specific institutions.  
       She then presented information that the standing committees had been working on:
            Rules committee discussed ways to increase participation and representation; new grievance policies; no grievances filed this year.  
            Academic Affairs committee (Krishnan, chair) worked hard on the plus/minus grading proposal, approved new programs. 
            Faculty Support Committee expressed concern about the 4% limit on the number of sabbaticals allowed—more sabbaticals have been recommended than can be accommodated.  
             General Education Committee developed new online exit survey of graduating surveys. 
            T&P Committee—recommend that external reviews be required in all promotion and tenure reviews (not required in PIR).  Expect to have a General Faculty meeting early fall to discuss this topic before formulating Senate action. 
    It has been a privilege to work with Senate, Executive, Committees, and Senators.  She thanked  to this year’s Executive Committee.  Larry Spurgeon, Brigite Roussel, JoLynn Campbell, Roy Myose, Cathy Moore-Jansen, Lori Miller, and William Vanderburgh.  She introduced the Executive Committee for 2008 - 09, Larry Spurgeon, Deborah Soles, Steven Skinner, Brien Bolin, William Vanderburgh, Cathy Moore-Jansen and Frederick Hemans.

State of the University—President Don L. Beggs

President Beggs began by noting that the attendance for Faculty Awards was outstanding, thanked everyone forr supporting your colleagues.

He said he has spent a lot of time and effort getting the 5 of 9 KBOR members who are new up to speed.  There were a lot of changes.  Omnibus bill in legislature included 2.5% salary increase, OOE increase.  WSU based our tuition and fee requests on that.  BUT…legislature did not support the governor’s recommendations.  The 2.5% salary increase for 60% of staff; the other 40% must be made up internally.  He noted that his priorities: salaries first; the utilities contract needs to be changed (additional $300K); $380K permanent adjustment for library resources.  Technology; distributed via eLearning (we have a weak eLearning presence, need to increase faculty support $350K).  Advising, ERP, $350K.  Grad Student stipends are $9200 for half time; would have been increased in the governor’s budget, but now in flux.  We had proposed 4.9% tuition increase; operating budget for Regents halved to $10 Million.  Are the expectations for tuition increases changing?  If we are not allowed to increase tuition more, we will hold the line on top three priorities.  We need to be aware that there are 21 other institutions offering degree courses.  
            He mentioned that the $860 one-time bonus last year will become permanent. PIR needs would be taken off the top of the salary increase if needed, but current budget proposal doesn’t require that.
            He also stated that in a May 5 letter,  Reggie Robinson, Chair, KBOR,  announced there will be a legislative audit of post-secondary education looking to increase efficiencies; increased teaching loads, lower degree requirements, etc.  This is a national trend. 
            He plans to work closely with all constituencies to resolve the current budget problems, and wanted all to remain encouraged, WSU is doing good things,  Planning involves building on strengths.  We need to show that our students achieve at the right levels.  Economic conditions have changed; there is a historical trend that enrollment increases in tough times.  But higher ed in that sense is mostly technical ed; our university is pursuing those issues.  We will continue to do well next year, but the projections for 2010 are less positive given the national economy.  He said he wanted Faculty to feel good about who you are and what you are doing, because you are good.

State of Academic Affairs—Provost Gary L. Miller

Provost Miller began by saying that President Beggs painted a clear picture of the economic future.  That the Budget and post-audit will take most of our time next year.  He also said that  Sylvia Carruthers has been excellent representation for the faculty this year: Thanks to her and thanks, too, to the Senate; it has been a productive year.

                He listed of some of administrative focal points next year -- Refined the mission of the university: urban-serving research university (community and Regents now using that language),  Positioning ourselves with Regents so as to have advantages in competition for resources, The national movement regarding USRU is closely aligned with KBORs goals, Biosciences initiative: we are one of two or three major funding targets for the BSI.  We will be making an excellent proposal this summer,  The student experience,  Shared governance, Provost has been charged to look into how we do and should do shared governance—more important than ever because of post-audit, economic downtown.

                He noted that teaching is very important.  Miller’s address to the Academy for Effective Teaching is on the Provost’s webpage.  He talked about teaching as we wrestle with national movement regarding assessment of student outcomes.

                Retention is a KBOR priority; strategic enrollment and retention needs to be in place. Academic division needs to focus on advising.  Student centered, student success-based approach.  Data shows that the first couple of experiences in a university are highly correlated with retention and success.  First year experience for various types of students.  We can overcome economic troubles with higher enrollment.

                He announced that Susan Huxman will facilitate a group of thought leaders to dream about a new sort of Honors program for WSU that enriches the intellectual lives of students and faculty.

                He noted E-Learning was an HLC concern.  We have a huge opportunity, need to invest in it.  NIAR will have space at the new Jabara center, will be conducting research and training there.  Need to work quickly to develop this; it is new tuition and an economic driver for the region.  Although we are not a technical college, we have a responsibility to help educate the regional workforce.

                He concluded his remarks by saying it is an honor to be part of this excellent faculty.

Old Business—none

New Business:  
        1.  Motion from Faculty Senate Executive approved by Senate 4-28-08.

WHEREAS 173 faculty from all colleges responded to the survey about plus/minus grading, and

WHEREAS a majority of the respondents are in favor of plus/minus grading,

The Faculty Senate Executive Committee moves that the following be the official policy of WSU, and that the following language be inserted in the WSU Undergraduate Catalog, Graduate Bulletin, and all other relevant documents, subject to ratification at the next meeting of the General Faculty:

The grading system at WSU is

grade          points per credit hour

A                        4.0                       The A range denotes excellent performance.

A-                       3.7

B+                      3.3

B                        3.0                        The B range denotes good performance.

B-                       2.7

C+                      2.3

C                        2.0                        The C range denotes satisfactory performance.

C-                       1.7

D+                      1.3

D                        1.0                        The D range denotes unsatisfactory performance.

D-                       0.7

F                         0.0                        F denotes failing performance.

{Definitions for the grades below to remain the same as p. 34f of the Undergraduate Catalog}

Au                        Audit

Cr                        Credit

NCr                      No credit

S                         Satisfactory                                   

U                         Unsatisfactory

I                          Incomplete

W                        Withdrawn

CrE                      Credit by examination

http://webs.wichita.edu/senate/Plus-MinusSurvey.htm

http://webs.wichita.edu/senate/Plus-MinusSurveyComments.htm

http://webs.wichita.edu/senate/Plus-Minusgrade.htm

http://webs.wichita.edu/senate/Plus-Minusgrade-EC%20discussions.htm

http://webs.wichita.edu/senate/Plus-Minusgrade-opposing.htm

http://webs.wichita.edu/senate/Plus-Minusgradeby%20univer.htm

Discussion:

Berman, member of Academic Affairs Committee, thinks the motion is a mistake.  If we look at grading as evaluative, it is pretending that we have a larger degree of precision than can be justified.  If we look at grading as motivational, there is an inconsistency—preventing grade inflation, motivating students, xxx.  Grades are actually depressed, Myose, member Executive committee: Likely to increase grade appeals.  Students are against it.  It is mandatory, which is bad.   Peer Moore-Jansen: concerned with grading large intro classes, worried that  subjectivity in grading means he will be unable to defend his grades.   Chris Brooks, English.  Letters of recommendation for students with low A and high A are different.  In humanities, we use +/- all the time.  Lets make our grades line up with our real practice.  Passed Exec, Senate, survey.  Please think about those of us who need this to Schneegurt, Chemistry.  The survey conducted was non-scientfic.  There is no strong undercurrent in faculty who want this.  Was at an institution with +/-, and there were many more appeals.  Going from 3 to 4 borderlines to Hershfield, Philosophy.  Fully in support.  In 20 years of teaching, fully confident he can distinguish +/-.  Nothing dictates where you set the numerical lines.  This is a tool to make more accurate representations of student performance.  Hughes, Anthropology.  Against the motion. 

Motion to Call the Question.  Moved, Roussel; seconded, Hershfield: passed.

Secret ballot.  59 in favor of motion, 57 against.  Motion passes.

As May Arise

                None.

Motion to adjourn.

Meeting adjourned
William Vanderburgh, Secretary