Wichita State University Faculty Senate Minutes of the meeting Monday, October 11, 2004

MEMBERS PRESENT:  Akrabova, Behrman, Brooks, Byrum, Chopra, Decker, deSilva, Dooley, Eckert, Forlaw, Gibson, Glenmaye, Griffin, Hamdeh, Hathaway, Hershfield, Huxman, Klunder, Koehn, Krishnan, Lancaster, Lewis, Ma, May, Myose, Rokosz, Ross, Russell, Scherz, Soles, Spurgeon, Withrow, Wynn, Yeager, Zhang

MEMBERS ABSENT: Carroll, Koert, LeZotte, Markovich, Mau, Stanga, Teshome, Wimalasena, Wine

MEMBERS EXCUSED:  Cavarozzi, Celestin, Hodson, Myers, Wolf

EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS:  VPAAR Hutchinson

Summary of Action:

      1.  Accepted a statement prepared by the Executive Committee expressing sympathy to the family of Past President of the University, Warren Armstrong --       

The Faculty Senate extends its sympathy to the family of former Wichita State University President Warren Armstrong upon his death.  As President, Dr. Armstrong encouraged scholarship, expanded graduate programs, and improved campus facilities.  After his presidency, he continued to contribute to the academic community with his teaching and publications. President Armstrong enriched our academic lives, and we are saddened by the loss of our colleague.      

    2.  Accepted the following committee appointments:
                Library  --- Silvia Caruthers, Fine Arts  (05)
                Undergraduate Research  --  Toni Pickard, Health Professions(05)
    3.  Accepted the following clarifications to Chapter 2, Handbook for Faculty  --
                2.051/ The faculty electorate for the purposes of departmental administration is defined as those holding half-time or more appointments at the rank of instructor or higher in which the primary duties are fifty percent or more teaching, research, and/or library service.  This group may, by majority vote, establish as a policy the extension of the electorate to temporary departmental appointees whose primary duties are teaching, research and/or library service.
                2.053/ Electorate:   The electorate for nominating a department chairperson is defined as all full-time professors, associate professors, assistant professors, and tenured instructors, at least fifty percent of each of whose university teaching, research, and/or library service duties are rendered within the department.  This group may, by majority vote, establish as a policy the extension of the electorate to (but not further than) all those in the department enfranchised to vote under the Faculty Senate Constitution.
                2.081/Article IV, section 2Administration:  Administration includes all those persons who hold the title President, Vice President, Associate Vice President, Assistant Vice President, Dean, Associate Dean, Assistant Dean, Directors of all non-academic programs including, but not limited to, the Director of the Computing Center, Director of the Office of Research Administration, Director of Physical Plant, Registrar, and Director of Cooperative Education.

I.       Call of the Meeting to Order:  President Klunder called the meeting to order at 3:30 pm.
 

II.    Informal Statements & Proposals:    
       

III. Approval of the minutes:  Minutes of  September 27, accepted as presented.

IV.  President’s Report: 
President Klunder reported on the following:

                A. Reminded Senators that book orders are due October 12
    B.  Academic Affairs committee is scheduled to report on 1.  Procedures for new Undergraduate Degree Proposals, 2. the new degree proposal for a Bachelors in Athletic Training from the College of Education, and 3. the X/F grade proposal from SGA.
    C.  The Executive committee has invited Paul York, Chair of General Education Committee and Don Blakeslee, General Education Coordinator to update the Senate on Fall activities.
    D.  Lawrence Davis and David Soles, past chairs of the Tenure & Promotion Committee are working as an ad hoc committee for revisions to the Tenure & Promotion policy
    E.  The Legislature is preparing a "Faculty Audit-- data regarding full time faculty in various disciplines.  Those affected at WSU will probably be the Colleges of Business & Education, and the Departments of English, Math, Computer Science and Political Science.
    F.  A University Diversity Conference is being held and supported by Cocoa
    G.  WIN presentation for General Faculty will be October 13, HH 204, he encouraged faculty to attend.  David Alexander is seeking Faculty observers kick off training in November.

      V. Committee Reports:  

                A.  Rules  --  Chris Brooks, chair ---(See Summary of Action)

      VI.  Old Business:
              A.  Handbook for Faculty  -- clarifications to Chapter 2  --  (See Summary of Action)
                            2.081/Article IV, section 2Administration  --  acceptance moved by Senator Ross, (2nd - Scherz)  Accepted by the Senate
                            2.052/ Faculty Electorate  --  acceptance moved by Senator  Byrum (2nd  - Soles)   Accepted by the Senate
                            2.053/ Department Electorate  --  acceptance move by Senator Byrum (2nd - Hershfield)  Accepted by the Senate
               

VII.  New Business: 

         A.  Distinguished Scholarship Invitational  --  Kim Sandlin, Assistant Director, Admissions, presented information about the DSI which will be November 10.  She encouraged faculty to volunteer as observers as they still need at least 35 more faculty observers.        
 

II.      As May Arise: 
A  Senator Russell expressed concerns about the method scholarships are distributed at WSU stating that there should be more weight given to Academic Merit, that the criteria for the DSI needs to be much more specific and defined.

            B.  Senator Brooks moved for adjournment because the Senate was overrun by mutant kittens and had to disperse at 4:42.

 

The meeting was adjourned

Respectfully Submitted
Chris Brooks, Acting Secretary