Wichita State University Faculty Senate
Minutes of the meeting February 28, 1011
MEMBERS PRESENT: Adler, Anderson, Bennett, Bolin(Lee), Carruthers, Celestin, Close, Decker, DeSilva, D'Souza, Hemans, Henry, Hershfield, Horn, Klunder, Kreinath, Lewis, Matveyeva, Miller, Mosack, Rillema, Rokosz, Ross, D. Russell, L. Russell, Skinner, Smith-Campbell, Soles, Strattman, Yeager, Yildirim
MEMBERS ABSENT: Ahmed, Baker, Brooks, Bryant, Jeffres, Taher, Thompson,
MEMBERS EXCUSED: Barut, DiLollo, Gibson, Smith
Ex-OFFICO: Miller
Summary of Action:
1. Accepted the proposed BS in Engineering Technology degree
I. Call of the Meeting to Order: President Hemans called the meeting to order at 3:30 pm.
II. Informal Statements and Proposals: none.
III. Approval of the Minutes: Senator Adler noted that he was in attendance on February 14, 2011. The minutes of the meeting of Monday, February 14, 2011 were accepted with that amendment.
IV. President's Report:
A. President Hemans advised the senate that a proposal for WSU's transfer and articulation
scheme would be forthcoming shortly.
B. President Hemans advised that the senate would shortly consider a proposal from
the General Education committee to require prerequisites for courses available for
Further Studies credit.
C. President Hemans advised that the senate would shortly consider a proposal from
the Ad Hoc General Education committee to adopt an outcomes-based approach to general
education. The committee would also provide an outline of a future process for revising
general education in line with such an approach.
D. President Hemans advised that the senate would shortly consider a proposal from
the University Tenure and Promotion committee to clarify certain parts of the appeals
process.
E. President Hemans alerted the senate to a new draft of proposals from the KBOR
Transfer and Articulation Task Force.
F. President Hemans alerted the senate to proposed regulations from the Department
of Education bearing on the transparency of degree programs. Provost Miller noted
the changed in definition of ‘credit hour' in the proposal.
The senate then agreed to change the order to consider New Business next.
VII. New Business:
A. Graduation Partnership - Associate Provost Keith Pickus - he made a presentation on the Graduation Partnership. He said that the aims of the
program are to increase retention from the first to second years of study for first-time
full-time students by ten percentage points (from about 70% to 80%) and to increase
6-year graduation rates for first-time full-time students (from about 40% to 50%).
He discussed plans under the program to revise orientation and advising, and to continue
with implementation of the “Grades First” early alert system. General discussion followed.
B. WSU 101 - Exec Director Faculty Development and Student Success William Vanderburgh
- he made a presentation on the WSU 101 course. He said that he aimed to expand the
course to be available to all students in fall 2011, and envisioned a course taught
to sections of 25 students who would periodically meet in groups of 250. General discussion
followed. Senator Celestin, chair of the Academic Affairs committee, wished to clarify
that the committee had approved only the teaching of WSU 101 for one semester as an
experimental pilot course, and that further implementation of the course would require
the approval of the academic affairs committees of the respective colleges. The minutes
of the Academic Affairs committee's consideration of WSU 101 are available at: https://wichita.edu/?u=facultysenate&p=/aam12811/
VI. Old Business: There was general discussion of the proposal to approve a B.S. in Engineering Technology. Senator Hershfield moved to accept the proposal (seconded by Senator Rillema). A vote was taken and the proposal was accepted.
VIII. As May Arise: none.
The meeting was adjourned at 4:25 pm.
Respectfully Submitted,
Dan Russell, Secretary