Wichita State University Faculty Senate meeting 

Monday,  April 27, 2009

EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS:  Provost Miller

Summary of Action:  

  1.  Accepted the Standing Committee Annual Reports from Court of Academic Appeals, Faculty Support, Scholarship & Student Aid,  and Undergraduate Research 

I.       Call of the Meeting to Order:  President  Spurgeon called the meeting to order at 3:32 pm.

II.      Informal Statements and Proposals:              

• President Spurgeon discussed the end of year faculty meetings.  In two weeks the transitional meeting for the faculty senate will be held, on May 11.  The last meeting of the 2008-2009 faculty senate will be take place first, and we will adjourn and the new senate for 2009-2010 will convene under the new faculty senate president, Deborah Soles.
• On May 12^th, both the faculty awards ceremony and the general faculty meeting will be held.  The faculty awards reception starts at 2:30, the awards presentation will be at 3:00.  President Beggs, Provost Miller, and Senate President Larry Spurgeon will all have remarks at the general faculty meeting, which will begin at approximately 3:30.  There will be no agenda items which require a vote. 
• President Spurgeon welcomed new faculty senator Jo Bennett from Education.
• Senator Smith-Campbell mentioned the Swine Flu situation and asked what the crisis management plan is for a potential pandemic or out break on campus.  What happens if the campus shuts down? Is there an evacuation plan?  Provost Miller stated our committees are meeting with Sedgwick County official about the Swine Flu.  It is not a pandemic.  We are keeping with our communication strategy; we will communicate when we know something. Provost Miller assured the senate that WSU has a leading crisis management plan in the state.

III.  Approval of the Minutes:  The approval of the minutes April 13, 2009,, meeting were accepted as presented.

IV.  President's Report:  
       

• President Spurgeon asked Provost Miller to provide an update on the budget situation.  Provost Miller said the deans are working on their plans.  They cannot finish the plans, however, since the final budget cuts have not been made by the legislature.  He summarized the background facts for the budget situation for the past year.  He explained the regents’ proposal to the legislature and where it currently stands.  It appears that there will be an additional budget cut, so there may be a tuition increase.  There is a possibility of 2.5-3% added to the reductions, but it appears the legislature may be providing some relief on the unfunded mandates.  He addressed the issue of furloughs, and said that he and President Beggs are opposed to furloughs.  These are crisis management tools.  This would be a tool of last resort.   Provost Miller wanted to dispel the rumor that we are doing away with the college of education.  Senator Lewis- Moss asked if Kansas has applied for Stimulus Money.  Provost Miller said that the state has not applied as of yet, and explained WSU’s position on the use of the stimulus money.  Senator Klunder asked when does WSU need to be locked in on tuition for the 2009-2010 academic year, and Provost Miller explained that normally the regents make the decision in May and June.

V. Committee Reports:

A.  Rules Committee -- Deborah Soles, chair.  She presented several names for confirmation to the senate to Faculty Senate Standing Committees--
            Orren Dale --  alternate Court of Academic Appeals and 1 yr. appt. to Faculty Affairs

            Thomas Wine --  Faculty Support

            Peer Moore-Jansen --  Library and Rules

            Rajiv Bagai  --  University Curriculum

  The nominations were unanimously approved

B.  Faculty Senate Standing Committee annual reports:
        Court of Academic Appeals  --- accepted
        Faculty Supports  --- accepted
        Scholarship & Student Aid --  accepted
        Undergraduate Research  --  accepted

VI. Old Business:

8.05 / Policy on Student Academic Misconduct Policy:  President Spurgeon said that after the April 13 senate meeting Senator Klunder suggested that it would be helpful for the senate to understand the current policy and procedures for instances of academic misconduct, and suggested President Spurgeon provide a summary at the next senate meeting.  President Spurgeon distributed a document he prepared which summarizes the procedures for instances of cheating and plagiarism.  Due to the other matters on the agenda, he asked the senators to read this summary and he will talk about it at the May 11 senate meeting.
 

VII. New Business:
 

VIII:   As May Arise: none

The meeting was adjourned at 4:58 pm

Respectfully Submitted,


Brien Bolin, Secretary