WICHITA STATE UNIVERSITY FACULTY SENATE MINUTES

MEMBERS PRESENT: Anderson, Baldridge, J. Bennett, T. Bennett, Bolin, Brooks, Bryant, Celestin, Craft, Dale, Decker, Driessen, Hemans, Henry, Hershfield, Horn, Hu, Klunder, Lewis-Moss, Lezotte, Miller, Monroe, Mosack, Myers, Pickard, Rillema, Rokosz, Ross, D. Russell, L. Russell, Skinner, Smith-Campbell, Soles, Spurgeon, Strattmann, Taher, Thompson, Wolf, Yeager

MEMBERS ABSENT: Baker, Carruthers, DeSilva, Moore-Jansen, Yildirim

MEMBERS EXCUSED: Scherz

Summary of Action:   
        1. Accepted the Annual Report from the Faculty Senate Standing Committee Scholarship & Student Aid and Tenure & Promotion
        2. Accepted the appointment of Kristen Johnson the represent the College of Fine Arts on the Exceptions committee for 3 yrs.

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

II. Informal Statements and Proposals:
A. President Soles introduced the 2009 - 10 Executive Committee and new senators who were elected during the Spring, 2009. She also stated that the WSU Convocation would be September 1 and the Faculty Assembly would be held in HH 208, Wednesday, September 2 at 3:00. She announced that CTRE is sponsoring a lecture by David Resnik, Bioethicist and IRB Chair for the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. He will be speaking on Research Integrity at the Marcus Center, Wednesday, August 26, 2009.

The minutes of 2008-09 May 11th meeting were accepted as presented. The minutes of the Election Meeting for the 2009 - 10 Senate held May 11th. were accepted as presented.

IV. President's Report:
            A. BOR June meeting: President Soles stated that the Regents approved a 8.5% increase for in-state students and that the Federal Stimulus money dedicated to tuition abatement is being used as a credit against the increase.   The Regents also reduced the waiting period for new faculty enrollment in health insurance to 30 days.   This was a part of the COFSP agenda for the 2008-09 year.    She also noted that sometime this Fall, the Regents will conduct another Faculty "Morale" survey --- more information to be announced.
            B. President Soles said it will be a very busy year for the standing committees.

V. Committee Reports:
        A. Standing Committee Annual Reports:
                Scholarship and Student Aid (2008-09) --- A senator remarked that the committee appeared to spend all it's energy on the DSI competition. Report was accepted.
                 Tenure and Promotion (2008-09) -- Report was accepted.

VII. New Business:
A. Remarks from Gary L. Miller, Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs and Research: Provost Miller gave a presentation on Reduce, Reshape and Rebuild -- A Model of Constructive Change --

He noted that the President will give an address next week with an emphasis on adjusting the budget. He felt that land grant and urban universities have a better chance of surviving the present economic crisis. For the first time in years, WSU is beginning with no reserves. The budget was reduced 12.5% last year, but the President was able to preserve human capital. Now, the challenge is to reshape. He urged everyone with constructive ideas or suggestions to send them to him at: reshaping@wichita.edu . Comments will then be studied by the Senate Planning & Budget Committee, a Senior Review Group, the Council of Deans, Provost and then the President. Reduction/Reshaping must be done by May. He mentioned that the construction taking place now is the result of using deferred maintenance stimulus monies. Improvement to the baseball facilities is from a private donation and the new WSU Logo was contracted two years ago.
The Provost that took questions from the Senate -- Senators stated the importance of a "liberal education". The Provost stated that some re-shaping of the general education program needs to done and that he very much wants to be involved as he has been involved with several national models for general education.

VIII: As May Arise:
Senator Myers invited all to attend the University Libraries open house and said tours would be available and attendance would be very valuable for both students and faculty.