Wichita State University Faculty Senate meeting Monday, March 12, 2007

 

MEMBERS PRESENT: Acker, Billings, Brooks, Byrum, Campbell, Carruthers, Celestin, Close, Coufal, Decker, deSilva, Elder, Forlaw, Hamdeh, Jarnagin, Lancaster, Liera-Schwichtenberg, C. Moore-Jansen, P. Moore-Jansen, Myers, Owens, Proctor, Rillema, Riordan, Rogers, Rokosz, Ross, Roussel, Schneegurt, Shelly, Spurgeon, Taher, Turk, Uhing, Vanderburgh, Yeager

 

MEMBERS ABSENT: Dooley, Gordon, Monroe, Siginer, Weheba
 

MEMBERS EXCUSED: Hathaway, Hershfield, Lewis, Manske, Myose

 

EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS:  VPAAR Miller

 

Summary of Action:

    1.  Accepted the proposed Resolution from the Library Committee for additional funding for the University Libraries

    2.  Accepted the report from the Faculty Affairs Committee proposing revisions from the Tenure and Promotion Policy
    3.  Discussion about the proposed policy on Chronic Low Performance

    

I.       Call of the Meeting to Order:     

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

 

II.      Informal Statements and Proposals:  None
 

 

III.  Approval of the Minutes -- Minutes of February 26, 2007, accepted as presented

 

III.  President's Report  --  None

   

IV. Committee Reports

    A.  Library Committee -- Peer Moore-Jansen gave the report for the committee.  Parts of the proposal were approved by the Faculty Senate previously.  The numbers have been updated in an attempt to secure additional funding.  In addition to current funding, the Library Committee is asking for an additional 1% permanent funding from all new WSU student tuition increases, to be used for acquisitions.  This would apply to tuition increases starting in the fall semester of 2007.  A motion was made by Sylvia Carruthers (Byrum, 2nd) to attach a subpart to Item #1 in the proposal to incorporate the “Budget Recommendation” from October 2004.  The motion passed unanimously.  A motion was made by Sylvia Carruthers (Lancaster, 2nd) to approve the Library Committee’s report including the subpart.  The motion passed unanimously. The Resolution is available at:  http://webs.wichita.edu/senate/Library%20Comm%20resolution%202007.htm


 

    B.  Executive Committee --  President Roussel explained the procedure for discussing proposed policies for first reading.  The proposals would be presented and there would be an orderly discussion.  She said that VPAAR Gary Miller would then provide his comments to each proposal.  Finally she would ask senators to think about the proposals over spring break.
    President Roussel said that she talked to President Beggs on Friday and he said he believed it is important for faculty to meet sometimes without administrators present.  She proposed that when VPAAR Gary Miller could not be present that he not send a representative so that the senate could have an opportunity to have discussions without administration representatives present.  The senate discussed the issue, with some senators noting the importance of such meetings, and others expressing concern that the administration not be discouraged from attending.  President Roussel then said it appeared that a majority of  the senate did prefer to have an administration representative present at all the meetings.
 

        C.  Faculty Affairs Committee --  Terrence Decker, Chair, gave the report for the committee.  The committee met on March 8 and passed six proposals. He summarized the proposals and then asked for comments.  1. There was brief discussion about the scheduling of the tenure calendar.  2. Several senators commented on the definition of a “refereed” publication, noting that the approach for the review of publications varies among the disciplines.  3.  There was discussion about the committee’s suggested language for the use of external peer reviews.  The committee’s proposal states that the “use of external peer reviews is optional.”  Sylvia Carruthers said that the Tenure & Promotion Committee had proposed that the statement be that such reviews are “typically expected.”  There was discussion by senators about the meaning of “typically expected” and the methods currently used in certain colleges. 
        VPAAR Gary Miller was asked for his comments.  He said that he did not think the tenure calendar requires a policy change.  His suggestion about defining refereed was intended to save time.  As for external reviews, he said that he does expect external reviews to be used and that he would consider it unusual for there not to be external reviews in the tenure file.  Kirk Lancaster moved (Byrum, 2nd) to accept the report.  The motion passed unanimously.  The definition of "Refereed" and "External Reviews" will be discussed at the next meeting.  The report is available at:  http://webs.wichita.edu/senate/FacAffairs-3-07.htm

 

V.  Old Business -  None

     VI.  New Business
            A.  Proposed X/F Policy – The X/F grade policy was made available to senators.  It was originally approved by the senate in Spring 2005,  but was never acted upon by administration.  There was discussion about the origin of the policy, from the SGA, and whether the SGA was still supportive of the policy.  President Roussel explained that VPAAR Gary Miller had expressed concerns with the specific provisions of the policy.  VPAAR Gary Miller said he has met with the SGA Academic Affairs committee and discussed the issue with Ted Ayres and Cheryl Adams.  They will be working on a draft over the summer and will submit it to the various constituent groups.  He said that there are two issues, one being a grade, which is an academic matter, and the other is behavior, cheating.  Grading does not involve due process except for the appeal to the student court of academic appeals.  Using an X involves behavior and that requires due process. Proposed X/F policy is available at:  http://webs.wichita.edu/senate/XF-XW%20grade.htm

        B.  Proposed Chronic Low Performance Policy – President Roussel presented the revised draft of the proposed CLP Policy.  The senate approved a proposed CLP draft last year, but it was not approved by the administration.  She explained the changes and the rationale for the changes.  There was some discussion about what happens if the outside review members conclude that the faculty member did not perform below expected standards and the role of the department chair in the process.  In some departments the chair makes the determination of performance, and in others the chair signs off but is not directly involved.  VPAAR Gary Miller said the new draft was a vast improvement, but that he does have some minor concerns.  He believes the policy should refer to a system of college approval of department guidelines.  This draft takes out the reference to chair involvement and leaves it entirely to the committee.  He also expressed some concern about the reference to a review by three persons outside the department.  He wants to take out the reference to medical leave in the discussion of remediation steps.  He thinks the last sentence about burden of proof is redundant.  Upon suggestion by a senator, the Executive committee will meet with VPAAR Miller and University Counsel Ayers to iron out the minor details.  This proposed policy is available at:  http://webs.wichita.edu/senate/CLPproposal3-07.html

VII.  As May Arise  --
               

The meeting was adjourned at 5:00 pm

Respectfully Submitted
Robert Ross, Secretary