Wichita State University Faculty Senate Minutes of the meeting Monday, November 28, 2005

 

 

MEMBERS PRESENT: Akrabova, Billings, Brooks, Cavarozzi, Celestin, Close, Decker, deSilva, Dooley, Elder, Forlaw, Gibson, Hathaway, Hodson, Jarnagin, Klunder, Loftus, Markovich, C. Moore-Jansen, P. Moore-Jansen, Myers, Myose, Rokosz, Ross, Roussel, Schneegurt, Soles, Spurgeon, Sun, Taher, Teshome, Vanderburgh

 

MEMBERS ABSENT:  Badgett, Bryum, Carruthers, Driessen, Eckert, Hamdeh, Mau, Proctor, Rogers, Stanga, Waheba, Waters, Wolf, Wynn, Yeager

 

MEMBERS EXCUSED:  Griffin, Lancaster, Manske, Turk
 

EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS: 

 

Summary of Action:
1.  Accepted a sense of the Senate to adhere to existing University policy regarding "I" grades.

 

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

II.    Informal Statements & Proposals:

        A.         The Faculty Senate Christmas Party will be held on December 5th,  between 2 and 4 at the Woodman Alumni Center.
        B.         There have been advertisements in the Hutchinson student paper for  students to transfer to Emporia State, Newman University, and WSU.  Should WSU be doing more of this?
        C.         TABOR:  As previously indicated, President Brooks introduced Joe  McLleland and Prem Bajaj, respectively, to speak in favor of, and in opposition to TABOR.  McLleland’s perspective can be summarized that implementing TABOR would allow WSU to get to a situation where there is a more dependable source of funding for the University. TABOR will accomplish this by                        instituting fiscal responsibility at the State level, reducing state expenditures overall, lowering, or at least stabilizing taxes, and improving the State’s ability to attract and keep businesses.  As this takes place, the State’s overall economic health will improve, and  the tax base will expand..  This will result in a more stable funding situation for all of state government, including the Regent’s System.                          Bajaj’s perspective can be summarized that TABOR will be very  destructive to the State, and to the State educational system in particular.  If TABOR is implemented, the State loses its power to allocate funds as needed.
        D.         The Kansas Library Association Executive Committee has joined the Association for Prosperous Kansas (an Anti-TABOR organization).

 

III. Approval of the minutes:  Minutes of the meeting November 14, 2005, accepted

 

IV.  President’s Report:  
 

        A.         Academic Officer’s Council has brought forth a question regarding the use of the Incomplete Grade.  There is some concern that the “I” is being used  inappropriately, to allow a failing student a “way out” at the end of a semester.    President Brooks asked the Senate whether there should be further discussion of the use of grades such as “I’ or “NGS”, in lieu of an “F:.  The advantages of the “I” are that the student does not have to re-enroll in the class, and it gives a student with a specific problem the opportunity to rectify that problem.  It was emphasized that the “I” grade is negotiated between the instructor and the student.  The sense of the Senate was that the “I” should be used only in concert with University policy.  Don’t let an “I” replace a change of grade form.  Senator Close moved a motion regarding the need for Faculty to adhere to the existing University policy regarding “I” grades.  Senator Billings seconded the motion.  The motion passed.

 

      V. Committee Reports:  

               

VII.  Old Business: None

 

VI.  New Business:      

        A.         The SGA has asked for consideration of up to a ten hour pass/fail option for hours the student takes that are not to fill any type of degree requirements.    “A”, “B” and “C” would be equivalent to the passing grade.    It has the advantage over an audit in that an audit does not suggest any  completed work.  The SGA would like to get a sense of the feeling of the Senate on this issue.                         Senator Klunder suggested sending the issue to the Academic Affairs Committee.  President Brooks indicated that he would prefer to go back to the SGA and ask for a written document for consideration at a future meeting.           
         B.         The issue of writing a WSU Faculty Senate statement regarding TABOR was brought up.  It was commented that President Beggs is holding off sending an opinion.  Should the Faculty Senate follow this lead?  There  were three alternatives discussed:

                                    1.         Defer action until the Spring, when positions become more known.

                                    2.         Wait until after the debate to be held on November 29th.  Then make our position as broadly supported as possible.

                                    3.         Prepare specific questions to be asked at the 29th Forum, regarding how TABOR will specifically impact individual programs.  It was suggested  that the Faculty Senate position be focused on the concern that WSU has for the impact of TABOR in the overall community, not just Wichita State.    President Brooks suggested an e-mail from individual Senate members/faculty to their state representatives regarding the impact of  TABOR on the Wichita community.

 

VII.      As May Arise: none

 

The meeting was adjourned at 4:50 pm
Respectfully Submitted
Robert Ross

Secretary