Minutes of the General Faculty Meeting

Wichita State University

May 11, 2004

RSC -- Ballroom 

Pursuant to call, a meeting of the faculty of Wichita State University was held May 11, 2004

I. Call of the Meeting to Order:  Peer Moore-Jansen, Faculty Senate Vice-president and presiding officer for the general faculty meeting, called the meeting to order at 3:30 p.m.

II. Appointment of the Parliamentarian and Election of the Secretary:  Brian Withrow was appointed as Parliamentarian for the meeting. Joyce Cavarozzi was elected as Secretary for the meeting.

III. Moment of Silence for Deceased Faculty

IV. Approval of the Minutes:  The minutes of the September 8, 2003,  meetings were approved as distributed.
 

V. State of the Senate and Welcome of New Faculty:  Dr. Elizabeth Behrman, President WSU Faculty Senate 

    A. President Behrman restated the necessity for improving communication between constituencies (faculty, staff and administration.)
    B. General Education committee requested a one year moratorium on new proposals as they work through the General Education goals. It was granted.
    C. Funding for University Libraries made small progress. There is continuing discussion.
    D. There is some progress on Honors upper division curriculum. Proposals are being received.
    E. Academic scholarships are an issue. Faculty need to be in charge. Admissions welcomes more participation.
    F. A Tuition Advisory committee has been established.
    G. Chapters 1 & 2 of the Faculty Handbook have been revised. Revisions have passed the Faculty Senate.
 She then spoke about other Accomplishments and Events:
    A. COCAO Morale Survey was administered.
        1. 48% of WSU faculty responded Major concerns were:
            a. Senior Administration lacks understanding of everyday concerns of the faculty.
            b. Administrators do not seem to be aware of morale problems.
            c. Administrators do not have a process of consultation.
            d. WSU faculty salaries are inadequate.
            e. The full report is available in the library.
    B. Board of Regents are considering a change in the evaluation process of university presidents to include faculty.
    C. Faculty Affairs.
        1. President Beggs set aside money for marketability raises. The purpose of looking at the process is to have faculty input.
        2. Evaluation of administrators in the colleges is being discussed.
        3. A faculty member had been added to the International Admissions Committee.

VI. State of the University: Donald Beggs, President

    President Beggs discussed the issues facing education:
        1. Financial issues,
        2. the Morale Survey,
        3. WSU’s responsibility to the urban area,
        4. Enrollment issues for the ebb and flow of the professional market as it affects colleges
        5. the impact of 19 post secondary schools participating in offerings in Wichita.
        6. General Education program and goals need to match.

    President Beggs also said that it was a good year in publication and research and that salaries were a priority. Discussions are ongoing about the library financing. LINKS has been successful. ERP will help us be more efficient. The Welcome Center will open next year. No state money was used for it. President Beggs said that while there were challenges, we are surviving and doing well because we are working together. And he also wanted to be here to honor the faculty receiving awards.
 

VII. As May Arise

-None

Adjournment

            -The meeting was adjourned at 4:45pm

Respectfully submitted,

Joyce Cavarozzi, Secretary of the General Faculty Meeting

Any member of the faculty may submit a written statement to be included in the minutes. Please forward such statements to Bobbi Dreiling, Administrative Assistant, Faculty Senate at bobbi.dreiling@wichita.edu or Campus Box #111.