WICHITA STATE UNIVERSITY FACULTY SENATE MINUTES – Monday, February 24, 2003

 

MEMBERS PRESENT: Bakken, Behrman, Carroll, Chopra, Dawe, Decker, DeLillo, deSilva, Eichhorn, Enns, Forlaw, Goldy, Hemans, Hershfield, Herzog, Hill, Kear, Klunder, Lancaster, May, McDonald, Moore-Jansen, Muma, Murphey, Parker, Riordan, Rokosz, Ross, Roussel, Russell, Sheikh-Ahmad, Williamson, Withrow, Zhang

 

MEMBERS ABSENT:  Bees, Brooks, Edwards, Hiltner, Johnson, Lause, Markovich, Matson, Mau, Ravigururajan, Teshome, Wimalesena, Yeager

 

MEMBERS EXCUSED: Celestin, Hodson, Miller, Quantic

 

Ex-OFFICIO MEMBERS PRESENT: VPAAR

 

SUMMARY OF ACTION:

1.  A motion was approved to refer the question of the disparity in the number of class days in the fall and spring academic calendars "to the appropriate committee."

2.  The changes in the tenure and promotion cover sheets, as proposed in the agenda, were approved.

3.  The proposal in the agenda relative to departmental reviews of course equivalencies was approved following the defeat of a motion that would have referred the matter to the Academic Affairs Committee.

4.  A motion was approved to refer the matter of differential tuition "to the appropriate committee."  Thereafter, a resolution was approved stating the sense of the Senate that fees may be assessed, as needed, by courses and programs in appropriate cases as determined by the University president.

 

I.  CALL TO ORDER: President Lancaster called the meeting to order at 3:30 p.m.

 

II.  INFORMAL STATEMENTS & PROPOSALS:

1.  Senator Hershfield told the Senate that the AAUP position on the USA PATRIOT Act may be obtained on the AAUP's Web site. http://www.aaup.org/  

2.  Senator Behrman said she has not yet talked with the Registrar about the disparity in the number of class days in the fall and spring academic calendars, but that she will.  Upon motion by Senator Klunder and approved by the Senate, the matter was referred "to the appropriate committee." 

3.  Senator Rokosz questioned whether it might not be better to have the fall break at the beginning of the Thanksgiving week.  VPAAR Kindrick reported that the SGA is considering recommending that the break be moved to late September.

 

III.  APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES:

Minutes of 12/9/02  and 1/27/03 accepted as presented  with typo corrected in the 1/27/03 minutes.

 

IV.  PRESIDENT’S REPORT:

1.  President Lancaster reported to the Senate that he has appointed three subcommittees within the Planning and Budget Committee to address tuition matters.  The first is chaired by Robert Ross and is to make a recommendation by March 13 about tuition for this coming year; the second is chaired by Will Klunder and is to consider how the faculty may be given a proactive rather than reactive role in the future setting of tuition; and the third is chaired by Joseph Mau and is to consider how faculty input on tuition matters can be obtained in the future.

2.  Lancaster told about what the University of Kansas is doing, with an intended major annual increase in tuition, combined with the addition of 100 faculty positions during the coming five years.  He believed this was an intelligent program that involves hiring faculty during a down market.

3.  He showed the Senate a list of the ten "targeted programs" the status of which is being considered as part of program review.

4.  He reported that at the Regents level there is currently some interest in "certificate" programs.  The name may be changed from "certificate" to something else; and the Senate may need to revisit the matter at some future time. 

 

V.  COMMITTEE REPORTS:

A.  Planning & Budget:  Senator Ross spoke in his capacity as chair of the first of the tuition subcommittees, and handed out a request that senators obtain feedback from their constituencies about potential tuition increases (a) in lower division undergraduate, (b) in upper division undergraduate, and (c) in graduate work.  He asked that the results be sent to him by March 5.  During the discussion, it was noted that President Beggs has been quoted in the media about potential tuition increases.  VPAAR Kindrick then told the meeting that  the University's tuition will almost certainly increase 15% for next year, and perhaps more.  He said that at the University of Montana there are different tuition rates for a number of different levels: a lower one for course work of less than 60 hours; a higher rate for 60 hours and more; and higher tuition for various types of graduate work.  The revenue becomes general-use money, and is not earmarked for particular programs.

 

VI.  OLD BUSINESS: none

VII.  NEW BUSINESS:

A.  Tenure & Promotion Cover Sheets:  The proposed changes sheets as contained in the Agenda were considered and approved.

B.  The proposal from the Senate Executive Committee related to the General Education Program.   President Lancaster noted that this is an affirmation of the current existing policy and favors a stricter enforcement.  A motion by Senator Williamson, Carroll, 2nd,  to refer it to the Academic Affairs Committee was defeated.  The main motion was then approved.

C. Differential Tuition: The issue of differential tuition was discussed.  VPAAR Kindrick said he has received a "differential tuition" proposal from the Barton School of Business, and a "fee assessment" proposal from the College of Health Professions.  Senator Klunder moved, Rokosz 2nd,  that the matter of differential tuition be referred "to the appropriate committee."  This was approved.  Senator Klunder then moved, Ross, 2nd , a "sense of the Senate" resolution to the effect that fees may be assessed, as needed, by courses and programs in appropriate cases as determined by the University president.  This was approved.

 

VIII.  AS MAY ARISE: NONE

Respectfully Submitted

Dwight Murphey

Secretary.