Wichita State University Faculty Senate  Election meeting for the 2008- 09 Senate Minutes  Monday, May 12, 2008

MEMBERS PRESENT:  Bennett, Brooks, Carruthers, Craft, Dale, Decker, deSilva, Gordon, Hager, Henry, Hershfield, Klunder, Koehn, K. Miller, L. Miller, C. Moore-Jansen, P. Moore-Jansen, Myose, Pickard, Rillema, Rokosz, Scherz, Schneegurt, Skinner, Soles, Spurgeon, Wolf

MEMBERS ABSENT: Baldridge, Bergman, Celestin, Duncan, Jarnagin, Monroe, Ravi, Taher, Yeager, Yildirim

MEMBERS EXCUSED:   Bolin, Myers, Smith-Campbell

EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS: 

Summary of Action:
    

I.       Call of the Meeting to Order:  President Spurgeon called the meeting to order at 4:20 pm

II.      Informal Statements and Proposals:    

        Senator Carruthers stated that the Senate is  lucky to have Spurgeon.  President Spurgeon then thanked Carruthers for her humor and assistance.  He also noted that it is WSU’s turn to lead the COFSP, so it is an important year for WSU.           
 

III.  President's Report: 
    President Spurgeon noted some issues/matters of business for the 2008 - 09 Senate year: T&P, budget issues, etc.  He also stated that the role of President was to see the big picture; striking an appropriate balance (concepts vs. details).  He firmly believes that all of us share the values of having a high quality of professional life, teaching, research and service.  That colleagues who disagree, disagree over details—we are really all on the same page.  He suggested that for Balance: possible open forums to discuss the issue and to foster dialogue with no agenda.  What is the proper role of the General Faculty, Senate, etc.  Dream a little bit, have some brain-storming session.

                    With regard to Shared governance: he stated that in reality we have no authority, but we do have a voice; earn trust and credibility by conversation, and then we will get things done; if we don’t, we won’t.  What is the proper way of interacting with Administration.  He noted that rules are there to facilitate getting things done.  He noted that we shouldn’t measure success by number of policies passed.  There is tension on campus; let’s try to ratchet it down next year.

                    He then welcomed the new senators.

       IV.  Committee Reports:  none                   

V.  Election of Officers for the 2008 - 2009 Faculty Senate:
President - Elect --- Deborah Soles --  Senator Brooks (Scherz--2nd) moved to close nominations.  Senator Soles was elected unanimously.
Vice President --  Steven Skinner  --Senator Carruthers (P. Moore-Jansen--2nd) moved to close nominations.  Senator Skinner was elected unanimously.
Secretary --  William Vanderburgh --Senator Bennett (Scherz--2nd) moved to close nominations.  Senator Vanderburgh was elected unanimously.
Members of the Executive Committee. --  Cathy Moore-Jansen and Frederick Hemans --  Senator Scherz (Carruthers--2nd) moved to close nominations.  C. Moore-Jansen and F. Hemans were elected unanimously.

    President Spurgeon announced that his appointment to the Executive Committee will be Senator Bolin.
 

VI.   Election of members of the Planning and Budget Committee:       

Senator Myers was elected to be the representative from the University Libraries.  Representatives from Fine Arts and Health Professions will be elected in the Fall.

VII.  As MayArise:   none

The meeting was adjourned at 5:00 pm

Respectfully Submitted
William Vanderburgh, Secretary