Minutes of the Wichita State University Faculty Senate
Monday, September 24, 2012
CH 126 3:30 pm
Members Present: Anderson, Barut, Bergman, Besthorn, Brooks, Bryant, Celestin, Decker, DeSilva,
Driessen, Horn, Hull, Jacobs, K. Johnson, Kagdi, Lewis, Lu, Matveyeva, Mosack, Oare,
Pulaski, Rillema, Ross, Skinner, M. Smith, Solomey, Yeager, Yildirim
Members Absent: Alexander, Close, Hamdeh, Miller, Moore-Jansen, Mukeerjee, Rokosz, Toops
Members Excused: Close, Klunder, Kreinath
Summary of Action:
1. Accepted Senator representing Music and Several Committee Nominations (see committee
reports)
2. Endorsed the Policy on Definition and Assignment of Credit Hours
I. Call to Order
President Bob Ross called the meeting to order at 3:30 pm
II. Informal Statements and Proposals -
Senator Solomey wondered about the ranking of WSU which had dropped in the US News
report on “Return on Investment” at various universities. Senator Smith requested
a listing of the members of the Strategic Planning Team.
III. Approval of the Minutes
The minutes of the September 10, 2012, meeting of the Faculty Senate (https://wichita.edu/?u=facultysenate&p=/m91012 /) were approved.
IV. President’s Report
President Ross reiterated his goals for this year’s faculty Senate: increase the
visibility of the Senate, be the “Voice” of the Faculty, amplify the importance of
shared governance, update Policies and Procedures relative to faculty issues, foster
an environment of “consult and consent” regarding policies related to the faculty,
and finally to assist in the development and execution of the University’s strategic
planning process.
President Ross then summarized the activities of the KBOR that might have an impact
on the University’s faculty:
- The Regents’ institutions submitted their budgets to the Board. The Board will review the individual budgets and submit the compilation to the Governor. Once the Governor’s staff has reviewed and modified the budgets of the State’s agencies, the Governor will submit the budgets to the State’s Legislature.
- KBOR is placing emphasis on “student success” efforts. Interim Provost Pickus interjected that Wichita State is well positioned for this focus because of its activities in student success in the last four years and the direction of our HLC Quality Initiative over the next five years.
- The Board is interested in honoring a “Faculty Member of the Year” award at each of the KBOR campuses.
- The Board will discuss modifications to tenure policies, post-tenure review, and salary issues this year.
President Ross reminded the Senate that the first meeting of the Wichita State Strategic
Planning Committee is September 25, 2012. He encouraged everyone to attend the inauguration
of President Bardo on October 12 from 2pm to 4pm at the WSU Hughes Metropolitan Complex.
V. Committee Reports
Victoria Mosack, Chair of the Rules Committee, brought forward a slate of nominees
from the Rules committee to fill vacancies in the 2012-13 Senate and Senate Standing
Committees:
Victor Markovich was nominated for the vacant senate seat in Music. The Senate voted
to accept the nomination from the Rules Committee.
The Rules Committee nominated the following faculty members for the vacancies on
the
Faculty Senate standing committees:
Academic Affairs - Robert Bubp (Fine Arts)
Faculty Affairs - Betty Monroe (Fine Arts), Lorraine Madway (University Libraries),
and Fred Besthorn (LAS Social Sciences)
Faculty Support – Travis Bruce (LAS Humanities)
General Education - Cathy Moore-Jansen (University Libraries)
Honors - Mel Kahn (LAS Social Sciences)
Rules - Chris Brooks (LAS Humanities)
University Admissions - Kirsten Johnson (Fine Arts), Susan Castro (LAS Humanities)
The Senate voted to accept all of the nominations from the Rules Committee with no
dissent.
Two vacancies remain in the Faculty Senate; one representing Marketing and the other
representing LAS Humanities.
The following vacancies remain on Faculty Senate standing committees:
Academic Affairs - LAS Humanities
Faculty Affairs - Education
Faculty Support - Education and LAS Math/Natural Sciences
General Education - LAS Humanities
Honors - Education
Scholarship & Student Aid - Fine Arts, Education and LAS Humanities
Undergraduate Research - LAS Math/Natural Science and University Libraries
University Admissions - Education and LAS Math/ Natural Science
Senator Mosack said that she would be contacting the College Deans seeking their
support in filling the remaining vacancies on the Senate and on the Senate committees.
VI. Old Business – none
VII. New Business
A. Draft of the Policy on Definition and Assignment of Credit Hours - President Ross introduced Rick Muma, Associate Provost, who presented a document
representing the University’s response to a federal mandate regarding the “Policy
on Definition and Assignment of Credit Hours.” Similar to the HLC document presented
at the last meeting, this document does not require Senate approval. It was presented
for informational purposes and the Office of Academic Affairs and Research welcomes
feedback from the Senate. Muma pointed out that the policy requires one hour of class
time and two hours of out-of-class activity each week for every credit hour assigned
to a class. The syllabi of every course must contain sufficient language to express
this expectation of students of the class. The University will need to be especially
cautious regarding accelerated classes, such as pre-session classes, to be certain
that sufficient time exists to honor the letter as well as the spirit of this policy.
Senator Mosack moved that the proposed policy be endorsed by the Faculty Senate,
and Senator Lewis seconded. The motion passed with no dissent.
B. Role of the Executive Committee – President Ross spoke of his understanding of the role of the Senate in the shared
governance of the University. This semester the Senate Executive Committee has been
asked to examine the College of Engineer’s re-organization plans for the Mechanical
Engineering and the Bio-engineering programs. The Executive Committee will act in
the role of an impartial judge, similar to that of an ombudsman, and will have no
fundamental power except that of persuasion when it comes to settling any disputes
that might arise during the course of the examination. President Bardo has indicated
that the University will not employ a search firm in its search for the permanent
Vice President of Academic Affairs and Research. Consequently, he will rely on the
Faculty Senate to assist in selecting a competent search committee. President Ross
will invite the Dean of each College to visit the Senate for a 15-20 minute “conversation
with the Senate.” The Rules Committee will bring forward a suggested change for the
composition of a Grievance Committee. Provost Pickus informed the Senate that he had
excused probationary faculty from service on the Grievance Pool for this year.
VIII. As May Arise
At Interim Provost Pickus’ suggestion, Senator Lewis extended an invitation to all
Senators to attend the “Shining Stars Awards Gala” sponsored by the African American
Faculty and Staff Association. The “Gala” begins at 6 pm Saturday, September 29, 2012,
at the WSU Hughes Metropolitan Complex and the dress is formal.
IX. Adjournment
The meeting of the Faculty Senate was adjourned at 4:23pm.
Submitted by Walter Horn
Secretary of the Faculty Senate