Wichita State University Faculty Senate Minutes of the meeting Monday, February 27, 2006
MEMBERS PRESENT: Akrabova, Billings, Brooks, Carruthers, Cavarozzi, Close, Decker, deSilva, Dooley, Elder, Forlaw, Gibson, Griffin, Hamdeh, Hathaway, Hodson, Jarnagin, Lancaster, Manske, Markovich, C. Moore-Jansen, P. Moore-Jansen, Myers, Proctor, Riordan, Rillema< Rokosz, Ross, Roussel, Soles, Spurgeon, Turk, Waheba, Waters, Yeager
MEMBERS ABSENT: Badgett, Bryum, Celestin, Driessen, Mau, Myose, Rogers, Stanga, Sun, Taher, Teshome, Vanderburgh, Wynn
MEMBERS EXCUSED:
Klunder, Wolf
EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS: VPAAR Hutchinson
Summary of Action:
1. Accepted the revisions for the Full Professor
Incentive Review Policy allowing administrators to apply with a 17-13 vote of
the Senate.
I.
Call of the Meeting to
Order:
President Brooks called the meeting to order at 3:30 pm.
II. Informal Statements & Proposals: None
III. Approval of the minutes: Minutes of the meeting February 13, 2006, accepted as amended.
IV. President’s Report:
1. A Criminal Justice major has been approved by the Regents at Emporia State. Although opposed by COCAO and the Council of University presidents, the outgoing Emporia president indicated that the program would require no new resources and personally indicated its importance. Thus, the program received approval. In justifying their support, Regents indicated that they (Regents) “live in the real world, not the academic world.” There were questions about the impact on WSU’s program, and about the redundancy the new program has with existing programs at WSU and KSU, particularly since the courses will be taught at Butler Community College. There were also questions regarding accreditation, and where ESU will find certified personnel to teach in the program. The major concern is that the Regents have suspended their non redundancy policy. One Regent indicated that “competition among Regent schools is not necessarily a bad thing” which is counter to their previous stance.
2. Chronic low performance policy. President Brooks indicated that the new policy would be referred to the Senate Executive Committee for final review, since there were no comments from the floor of the senate. After final Executive Committee review, it will come back to the full senate for a final vote.
V. Committee Reports:
A. Dottie Billings, chair, Public Relations Task Force presented an update on the Task Force activities. A short discussion was held regarding recruitment ads in class schedules.
VII. Old Business:
A. Full Professor Incentive Review Policy revisions – the key issue related to the inclusion of Administrators (Associate and Assistant Deans, Deans, etc.) in the eligibility pool. Justification for their inclusion is based on their attaining an equal record of research and teaching as their full-time faculty colleagues. Concerns were raised regarding the potential for preferential treatment for administrators, as well as regarding their overall higher salary levels. In a meeting with the Senate Executive Committee, Dr. Beggs indicated that the inclusion of administrators would provide an incentive for those truly exceptional administrators who can keep up their teaching and research agendas, while satisfying their administrative duties. The question was called by Senator Ross, - Senator Lancaster 2nd.. The motion to make administrators eligible for P.I.R. passed 17-13.
VI. New Business:
A. Senator Roussel discussed House Concurrent Resolution 5035 (Academic Bill of Rights). Her concern is that with a close reading of that resolution, we became concerned about its infringing on academic freedom. For now, the resolution has been withdrawn, but may be revisited. Senator Roussel indicated that the resolution is duplicative since the AAUP policy already has these issues covered. Since it has been withdrawn, a posture of careful watchfulness appears in order.
VII. As May Arise: none
The meeting was adjourned at 4:50 pm
Respectfully Submitted
Joyce Cavarozzi
Acting Secretary