Wichita State University Faculty Senate meeting Monday, November 27, 2006

MEMBERS PRESENT:  Acker, Billings, Campbell, Celestin, Close, Coufal, Craig-Morland, Decker, deSilva, Dooley, Elder, Hamdeh, Hershfield, Jarnagin, Lancaster, Liera-Schwichtenberg, Mankse, C. Moore-Jansen, P. Moore-Jansen, Myose, Owens, Rillema, Rogers, Rokosz, Ross, Roussel, Schneegurt, Spurgeon, Taher, Turk, Uhing, Vanderburgh

MEMBERS ABSENT: Byrum, Proctor, Riordan, Shelly, Weheba
 

MEMBERS EXCUSED: Carruthers, Forlaw, Hathaway, Siginer, Yeager
 

EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS:  VPAAR Miller

Summary of Action:
1.  Accepted the nomination of Kathy Lewis to be Senator at Large with appointment ending June, 2007.

    

I.       Call of the Meeting to Order:     

 President Roussel called the meeting to order at 3:30 P.M.

II.      Informal Statements and Proposals:

a.    Senator Lancaster commented on the necessity of assuring that there is a common understanding that the Policies and Procedures Manual of Wichita State is “The Law”, in terms of expectations of faculty.  Lancaster suggested that the Senate negotiate with the administration regarding the development and implementation of policies. 

b.   President Roussel commented that the issue of diversity at Wichita State has been in the news lately.  An editorial appeared in the Eagle regarding the need for more diversity in the faculty at WSU. 

c.       President Roussel also reminded Senators that it is important for them to stay in communication with their constituencies and to report to the senate on issues the faculty think need to be addressed. 

d.      President Roussel also reiterated that she needed input for her response to the letter from the Council of Faculty Senate Presidents regarding the impact of deferred maintenance on the accomplishment of WSU’s academic mission. A response is also needed from Chairs regarding the difficulties encountered in trying to hire new faculty.

III.  Approval of the Minutes -- Minutes of the meeting Monday, November 13, 2006, accepted as corrected.

III.  President's Report  -- 

a.       President Roussel gave an update on the proposed policy on Chronic Low Performance.  Among the questions that will be dealt with in a meeting with the VP and the legal counsel are: 

                            i.      Why do we need a Policy when we have one for Dismissal for Cause and one for Annual Evaluations of Faculty? 

                            ii.      What about the cost of remediation? 

                            iii.      Where should the Policy go in the P&P manual?

The Executive Committee of the Senate made the following suggestions:

      i.        Place the Policy in the Faculty Evaluation Section of the P&P manual because invoking CLP is a result of FAR.

ii.      It is clear from the 1994 BOR mandate that assistance to the Faculty member is to be provided when CLP is invoked, so a provision for remediation is necessary. 

iii.    It is also clear that the Policy is needed because CLP is invoked but not addressed by the FAR, and Dismissal for Cause is primarily intended for a serious legal offense. 

President Roussel will have a meeting this week with VPAA&R Miller and with legal counsel Ted Ayres to discuss this issue.  It is likely that a revised wording of the policy will be presented to the Senate and if voted on affirmatively, to the general faculty during the Spring semester.
b. President Roussel reported on the November Board of Regent’s Meeting: 

                              i.      The subject of Performance Agreements was discussed, with a particular focus on learner outcomes.  A question was raised by members of the Senate regarding the adequacy of standardized tests as a measurement tool.  It was suggested that WSU’s Faculty Senate be responsible for making available the results of studies which show the shortcomings of using standardized tests for such purposes. 

                              ii.      The issue of operational efficiency/energy conservation was discussed, particularly in regard to the issue of deferred maintenance on BOR campuses.  President Beggs made a presentation regarding the impact of this issue at WSU. 

                              iii.      In regard to the use of Qualified Admissions at BOR schools, there was some concern evidenced that too many exceptions were being granted.

IV. Committee Reports

a.       Rules: Senator Carruthers reported that there was a need for an At Large Senator.  The name of Kathy Lewis from the Physical Therapy Department was proposed, and approved by the Senate.   Senator Carruthers also reported that Senators are needed from Electrical Engineering, from Fine Arts in either the area of Art and Design or at large, from the Humanities and from the Social Sciences.  She also indicated that vacancies existed on the following Senate Committees:  Exceptions (Business), Faculty Support (Social Sciences), Undergraduate Research (Social Sciences.) 

b.      Executive:  Two issues under consideration are the protection of Faculty Parking at the beginning of each semester, and making available to members of the Faculty free passes for various University events.  The passes would be good for athletic events (other than basketball and baseball) as well as possibly cultural events on campus.  A report on both issues will be made in the Spring. 

c.       Academic Affairs:  The Committee has not met. Three issues that need to be addressed by this Committee include: 

                             i.      The F/X grade policy. 

                             ii.      Plus/minus grading.

                             iii.      Concerns regarding the hiring conditions and pay base of temporary instructors. 

d.      Faculty Affairs:  Three issues that need to be addressed by this Committee include:
    i.      The need for Commencement to occur after Finals.

                            ii.      A Tuition Assistance Program for immediate dependents of faculty.

                            iii.      The definition of the electorate needs to be clarified and consistent throughout the FH as well as in P&P. 

e.       General Education Committee:  There is a moratorium on proposing new courses this year so that the General Education Committee can catch up with the back log in reviewing existing courses.

V.  Old Business - none

     VI.  New Business         

            a.  Associate Vice President Pendse reported on the status of Technology at WSU.  The highlights of his presentation included:
                    i.      Giving the Faculty an opportunity to indicate what technological enhancements they would like to have provided at the University.
                    ii.      Reporting on how the technological improvement money that has been provided by the dollar for dollar grants has been used.  Some of the money is used for internet access and for the Microsoft/ Black Board license.  Some also has been used for the Library and the Media Resource Center.
                    iii.      Some of the key accomplishments in regard to technology include:
                               a.   Wireless coverage has been expanded.  WSU is now a wireless campus.
                               b.   Upgrades have been made to classroom media.  There is a need to assure that there is consistent media availability in classrooms.  Sixty classrooms have been identified where new technology is needed.  Twelve rooms have been done   this past year.  All of the new rooms have network enabled projectors.
                               c.   Many students have laptops, which may have no wireless protection.  This spreads viruses easily.  The Tech Center has chosen the Sophos Protection Package (available free) to handle the virus problem.
                              d.   The WIN project is on schedule.
                              e.   The focus this year is on information infra structure security.             

VII.  As May Arise  -- none

The meeting was adjourned at 5:00 pm

Respectfully Submitted
Robert Ross, Secretary