Faculty Senate Minutes

Monday, September 14, 2015

CH 126 3:30 PM-5:00 PM

Senators Present: Ahmed, Barut, Babnich, Bergman, Bryant, Castro, Celestin, Chang, Close, Decker, Dehner, Ewing, Huckstadt, Hull, Hunsicker, Jin, Johnson, Lu, Mason(Cramer), Moore-Jansen, Huthiachareon, Myose, Palmer, Rillema, Rokosz, Shaw, Solomey, Walker, Yeager

Senators Absent:Adler, Adaduzzaman, Birzer, Chand, Chopra, Deibel, Hughes, Shukaev, Yao]

Members Excused: Brooks, Klunder, Mosack, Ross, Woods, Yildirim

Summary of Action:
A. Accepted the following as Senators:
Masud Chand, Management, Leonid Shukaev, College of Fine Arts, at Large, Geoff Deibel, Music and Judith Babnich, Performing Arts.
B. Accepted the following Standing Committee Appointments:
Faculty Support -- Rocio del Aguila, Humanities
General Education -- Rick Armstrong, Basic Skills Representative
Planning & Budget --- Denise Celestin, Fine Arts and Ikram Ahmed, Engineering (elected by the Senate)
Scholarship & Student Aid --- Amy Baker, Fine Arts, Barbara Morrison, Health Professions
And Francis Connor, Humanities
Undergraduate Research --- Jim Granada, Education

I. Call to Order Meeting called to order at 3:31pm by President Peer Moore-Jansen

II. Informal Statements and Proposals
President Moore-Jansen welcomed all returning and new senators and encouraged all senators to participate and be engaged.

III. Approval of the minutes
a. Minutes of the meeting on May 11, 2015 were accepted as presented
b. Minutes of the Election Meeting on May 11, 2015 were accepted as presented.

IV. Updates
Dr. Jay Price 鈥� shared an update on Senator Klunder who was hospitalized in the summer. Messages to the family can be sent to Dr. Price who will pass them on. Currently Senator Klunder has ample sick leave; however if sick leave donations are needed Dr. Price will notify the faculty senate.

United Way Campaign: Pat Hanranhan 鈥� upcoming United Way Community Impact initiatives will focus on education, income and health. The current education initiative is designed to address chronic absenteeism. The United Way is taking a multifaceted, long-term approach. Members of the senate were provided with fliers and invited to attend the United Way Education Summit to be held Wednesday, September 23rd from 8:00-5:00 Double Tree by Hilton.

Office of Student Success: Kim Sandlin, Director - Senate members were provided with handouts which included the Office of Student Success end-of-year report and resources related to Academic Success Programs, First Year Programs, Military and Veteran Student Center and the Office of Student Money Management. Heidi Rodrick, Assistant Director of Student Success shared information on Supplemental Instruction and Shelby Metcalf, Program Coordinator shared information on Tutoring. A question regarding the effective use of resources was raised by a member of the Senate and Director Sandlin clarified that students were encouraged to use all existing resources, such as the math lab, first.

V. President鈥檚 Report
a. Social Media Policy 鈥� Senate President Moore-Jansen will discuss this item at his next meeting with President Bardo.
b. Tenure and Promotion Guidelines 鈥� Currently all Academic units are working on specific policies/procedures. The University Guidelines are published in the WSU Policies and Procedures as well as the Handbook for Faculty. President Moore-Jansen reminded senators that this is a topic that will be revisited this year and in future years.
c. Ombudsperson 鈥� Senate Executive Committee will discuss how to promote the role
d. Recruitment and Retention 鈥� Senate faculty should engage in the discussion on this issue and consider the role faculty should play in the recruitment and retention of students.
e. Infrastructure 鈥� The Planning and Budget Committee will be involved in the discussion of infrastructure and President Moore-Jansen encouraged faculty at different levels (department/college) to discuss the issue as well.
f. Learning Communities 鈥� Provide opportunities to bring faculty, students and the community together to expand learning. An important topic that currently is not clearly defined.
g. Revisiting Faculty Governance 鈥� Questions which need to be addressed related to faculty governance, including: who is in control of what?, who can vote on graduate faculty matters?, what will governance look like if/when WATC partners with WSU?, how are disputes about grades resolved and whose role is it to participate besides the student and faculty member?
h. President Moore-Jansen will be attending the Kansas Board of Regents meeting next week.

VI. Committee Reports
a. Rules 鈥� Senator Carolyn Shaw, member, presented several colleagues for appointment to Standing Committees and as Senators. (see Summary of Action)

VII. Old Business 鈥� none

VIII. New Business - none

IX. As may arise - none

X. Adjournment at 4:15 PM