Wichita State University Faculty Senate  Election meeting for the 2007 - 08 Senate Minutes  Monday, May 7, 2007

MEMBERS PRESENT:  Acker, Brooks, Byrum, Carruthers, Coufal, Decker, deSilva, Duncan, Forlaw, Klunder, Lancaster, C.Moore-Jansen, P. Moore-Jansen, Myers, Myose, Owens, Riordan, Rokosz, Ross, Roussel, Schneegurt, Smith-Campbell, Spurgeon, Taher, Yeager, Yildirim

MEMBERS ABSENT: Craig-Morland, Hager, Hamdeh, Hathaway, Hershfield, Jarnagin, Jeffres, Liera-Schwitchenberg, Miller, Russell, Siginer, Uhing
 

MEMBERS EXCUSED:   Campbell, Proctor, Thibeault
 

EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS:  VPAAR Miller

Summary of Action:
    

I.       Call of the Meeting to Order:  President Carruthers called the meeting to order at 4:30 pm

II.      Informal Statements and Proposals:  --- none

III.  President's Report:
 President Carruthers  gave comments on:

a.        Offered her thanks to outgoing President Roussell for her work.

b.       Indicated that it was her intent during her tenure as President to focus on “the possible.”   She suggested that Senators look at bringing potential solutions,  as well as problems, to Senate meetings.

c.       Requested Senators ask colleagues to attend the General Faculty meeting on May 8^th.

d.      Remarked that, in her perception, the Grievance Committee process was positive during the year just ended, but that there were some issues in the Grievance Policy that needed clarified.

e.       Indicated that in regard to the use of External Reviews for tenure and promotion cases, Senators should discuss the issue with their colleagues in their individual colleges.  She plans to discuss the issue further in Senate and then present it to the General Faculty at the spring 2008 meeting.

f.       Suggested that a publicity campaign be instigated regarding donations to the Faculty Tuition Assistance Program.

g.      Called for clarification of the University travel policy.

h.      Indicated that the Board of Regents wants the Council of Faculty Presidents to provide input to them regarding methods of teaching evaluation.  Senator Klunder suggested referring this issue to the Faculty Affairs Committee.

i.        Suggested that she plans to launch a series of informational sessions for faculty over the next year.  The first will deal with academic freedom, and will feature Debbie Gordon.

j.        Indicated that it is her plan to invite all faculty to the first Senate meeting of the fall, to discuss issues of shared/negotiated governance.

k.      That she intends to host a brief presentation regarding Robert’s Rules in the fall. 

       IV.  Committee Reports: 
                    Rules Committee brought forth the following to fill vacancies in the Senate:

                            Business -- Management -- Dharma deSilva

                            Fine Arts --- Don Duncan (Music), Denise Celestin (FA AT-large), Frederick Hemans (Art & Design)

                            LAS Humanities --  Wm. Vanderburgh and Debbie Gordon

                            LAS Social Sciences --  Peer Moore-Jansen

                            LAS Math/Natural Sciences -- Mark Schneegurt
                                    All nominations were accepted. 

V.  Election of Officers for the 2007 - 2008 Faculty Senate:
 The following slate of officers was presented:  President-Elect, Larry Spurgeon, Vice President, JoLynne Campbell, Secretary, Wm. Vanderburgh.  Senator Lancaster  (Riordan-2nd) moved unanimously acceptance.  Motion passed.

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

The following were    approved for membership on the Senate Budget Committee for 2007-2008:  LAS Humanities:  Will Klunder, LAS Math/Natural Sciences, Mark Schneegurt, Engineering, Mehmet Yilidrim.  A member representing the College of Education will be elected in the Fall. 

VII.  As MayArise:   none

The meeting was adjourned at 5:00 pm

Respectfully Submitted
Bob Ross, Secretary