Minutes of the Wichita State University Faculty Senate
Monday, 3:30 pm, April 8, 2013; CH 126
Members Present: Anderson, Barut, Bergman, Celestin, Close, Decker, DeSilva, Driessen, Horn, Hull,
Jacobs, Johnson, Kagdi, Klunder, Lewis, Lu, Matveyeva, Miller, Mosack, Oare, Rokosz,
Ross, Smith, Yildirim
Members Absent: Alexander, Bryant, Liu, Moore-Jansen, Mukeerjee, Pulaski, Solomey, Toops
Members Excused: Baker, Besthorn, Brooks, Kreinath, Rillema
Summary of Action
I. Call to Order
President Bob Ross called the meeting to order at 3:30 pm
II. Informal Statements and Proposals;
Senator Desilva inquired about the pickets at 21st and Yale protesting the fact that
WSU has hired contractors that are engaged in unfair labor practices. President Ross
replied that this same group was protesting at numerous sites around Wichita and that
they had the right to protest.
Senator Johnson informed the senate of a letter from AAUP (via Brigette Roussel)
inviting all faculty to attend an AAUP meeting from 3:30-5pm, April 26, in room 136
of the Hughes MetroPlex. She said that the letter of invitations contained a lengthy
list of alleged grievances that the faculty should be concerned about.
III. Approval of the Minutes: – Senator Klunder rpointed out that the Minutes of the March 25, 2013, meeting of
the Faculty Senate failed to include the action of the Senate to “approve in concept
the establishment of an Honors College.” The secretary of the Senate acknowledged
the omission and agreed to promptly correct them. The Minutes were approved as corrected
with no dissent.
IV. President’s Report: President Ross reported on the following recent activities:
A. No KBOR meeting since the last Senate meeting, thus no report.
B. The Strategic Planning Committee met during a two-day retreat and President Ross
has asked the leadership of the SPC to update the Senate at the April 25 meeting.
President Ross felt that the planning process was on track to complete their work
by May.
C. President Ross has invited WSU President Bardo to address the Senate at the April
25 meeting.
D. Other items of business for the April 25 meeting include the following: second
reading of the General Education Committee proposal, discussion and informal vote
of the “Sense of the Senate” on changing the requirement for the completion of Basic
Skills courses from 48 hours to 24 hours, SGA’s proposed policy to create a “smoke
free” campus.
V. Committee Reports: None
VI. Old Business: None
VII. New Business: President Ross invited Ravi Pendse, Vice President of Information Technology, to
provide his thoughts about technology on the WSU campus. Dr. Pendse delivered a power
point presentation of his ideas on the “Role of Technology in Higher Education.” His
central theme was that “change” is coming, and coming more rapidly every day. He felt
that we (the WSU community) should embrace this change and to seize opportunities
that have been made possible as a results of “change.” He elaborated on the following
five simple ideas for higher education: gamification, emerging technologies, online
courses (such as MOOC), personalized education, and higher education convergence.
VIII. As May Arise – None
IX. Adjournment - The meeting of the Faculty Senate was adjourned at 4:40 pm.
Submitted by Walter Horn
Secretary of the Faculty Senate