The year was framed by the economic events.  The faculty senate focused on 3 main action items over the year.  In the fall the senate approved the change to the Tenure & Promotion policy to make external reviews mandatory.  In the spring the senate revised the grievance procedures to simplify the deadlines and added an informal voluntary mediation process and ombudsman role. 

Finally, the faculty senate took on the XF policy.  The policy was initiated by the student senate in 2005 and subsequently approved by the faculty senate, sent back to the senate by the provost's office, and now in 2009 seems to be plagued by more issues than cannot be resolved.  Therefore, the policy will not move forward.  However, President Spurgeon wanted the incoming senate and faculty to know that there are many important issues that need to be addressed around academic honesty.  Some issues were identified which need to be looked at next year.

The senate worked closely with the provost's office on the issue of transparency in governance.  At the beginning of the academic year Provost Miller said that he wanted to work with a faculty advisory group on strategic planning.  The senate's planning and budget committee became that advisory group.  This was the opportunity to have open discussion with the provost about the economic issues and planning ahead.  This will continue under the leadership of President Elect Debbie Soles. 

The senate as it moves into next year will proactively look into the issues and curriculum of general education.  It seemed that throughout the year there were two themes he consistently heard at the university, in Topeka, in articles about higher education, and at a conference he attended on the future of faculty - the importance of preserving liberal education and the need to revise General Education.  He said this will become a priority as the budget issues continue to reshape higher education.  Changes in general education are a national trend.  The importance of continuing Liberal Education cannot be understated for higher education.  Liberal arts need to be infused with the professional schools.  He and President-elect Soles have discussed a process to begin the work on General Education, to appoint a small number of faculty members to a task force to do some research about what other universities are doing and their successes and failures, as well as what is going on at WSU.  It will be a long process; however we want to get it right.  He concluded his remarks by reading excerpts from a commencement speech given by President Eisenhower in 1955, stressing the importance of a liberal education being integrated with a practical education, 

“…In this country we emphasize both liberal and practical education. But too often it is a liberal education for one and a practical education for another. What we desperately need is an integrated liberal, practical education for the same person--for every American youth who can possibly obtain its blessings. Hand and head and heart were made to work together. They must work together. They should be educated together….

State of the University – President Don L. Beggs

President Beggs said that he wants to take the opportunity to provide an update on the current situation on the budget.  The budget situation will be very active over the next five weeks.  The issue of a tuition increase will be one of the topics of discussion.  The legislature sent the governor a budget.  However, there could be line item vetoes.  He said that if it had not been for the 2^nd highest number of student credit hours this semester it would have been worse.
 

Throughout this year President Beggs has worked very closely with Larry Spurgeon (Faculty Senate President), Mary Herrin, and Gary Miller. President Beggs wanted to thank these individuals for the work they have done this year.  In August when it looked like 7% was the reduction amount Wichita State University had a 2% buffer built into the budget.  If not for the credit hour production this year the 2% buffer would not have covered the needs this year.  On April 14th a new budget recommendation was given to the regents’ universities.  A 10% reduction was called for.  If the legislature called for more than a 7% cut then tuition increases would be necessary.  Wichita State University’s tuition proposal is due to the state on May 13, 2009. 

However, in all of this budgeting for FY 10 and 11 there are unfunded mandates.  These include health insurance, minimum wage increases for unclassified professionals, utilities and faculty promotions.  These unfunded mandates will take an additional 3.2% increase.  This will need to built into the budget.  

The number of out of state and international students increased in FY 2009.  WSU planned and prepared to implement budget cuts early on.   We did not fill empty positions and contracts that had ended.  There are no plans for furloughs or decreases in base salaries at WSU.  The university will have to redefine itself.

We need to get through the reductions to know what our base is.  80% of the resources of the university are spent on people.  There will be changes over the next couple of years, and the university will continue to plan for the future.  How does the university generate hours?

How will we recruit and retain students?

State of Academic Affairs – Provost Gary L. Miller

Provost Miller said that it was an honor to have Larry Spurgeon representing Wichita State University at The Board of Regents as our Faculty Senate President this year.  He said that the faculty should be proud of the representation of Larry Spurgeon this year.

As Wichita State University reshapes and refocuses its priorities there are some changes in the coming year.  Due to the budget situation some initiatives must be held back.  The Honors Program Director is now being filled by Bill Vandenberg in the CTRE office.  This is a temporary change.  The Globalization Initiative has changed, and the e-learning initiative has also been scaled back.

There are areas of strengths at WSU.  WSU is well on its way to improving shared governance.  The research opportunities ore booming.  Bio-Medical, Aero Space, Networking and a just announced 6 million grant for Professor Bousfield’s work. Programs in biology, psychology, computer science, and engineering will be very involved in the medical and bio science advances as the university moves forward.  Provost Miller recognized Vice President Kopita and his shared vision of student successes and increasing enrollment.

Provost Miller talked about challenges in higher education nationally.  A different kind of university will emerge from the budget crisis.  Higher education will look much different in the coming decade.   Urban universities like Wichita State are at an advantage to become a natural leader in higher education.  The Board of Regents will be asking strategic questions about recruitment, retention, and research goals of universities.

There will be more teaching, not just in Kansas but a national trend.  He said there are questions being raised.  How do faculty work? How do faculty do their work?  What are their teaching loads? How do they schedule classes? What are their administrative supports?  How are adjuncts used and how are classes scheduled?  How is information delivered?  What is class size and does it really matter if a class is 10 or 100 or 200?  How is technology used to teach?

We will think about curriculum and how it is delivered.   We will look at inter disciplinary collaboration and revolutionary thinking about programs.  The student experience is largely our shared responsibility between students and faculty getting them to graduation, we must work together.  The most difficult issue is can we trust each other enough to move forward?  Which part of these issues do we need to confront to bring faculty and administration together?  During the summer we will work with President Elect of the Faculty Senate Debby Soles to begin moving forward, reshaping, and refocusing.  He said that he is optimistic but also realistic.

Provost Miller wanted to express his thanks for the work of Mary Herrin.  He asked if there were any questions.  There were no questions from the audience.

Vice President of the Faculty Senate Steven Skinner thanked President Beggs and Provost Miller.

There was no Old Business or New Business.

Meeting Adjourned 4:35