March 3, 2003 Minutes
The Faculty Senate of Eastern Kentucky University met on Monday,
March 3, 2003 in the South Room of the Keen Johnson Building. Senator Johnson
called the seventh meeting of the academic year to order at 3:30 p.m.
The
following members of the Senate were absent:
| M. Baxter |
L. Collins* |
C. Cooper |
| M. Cropper* |
J. Dantic |
A.G. Dunston* |
| S. Fister* |
J. Harley |
C. Hubbard* |
| B. Janeway |
D. Jones |
C. Melton |
| L. Patterson* |
J. Payne* |
K. Polmanteer* |
* denotes prior
notification of absence to the Faculty Senate Secretary
Visitors to the Senate were:
Walter Borowski, Department of Earth Sciences; Jim Clark, Vice President,
Government Relations; Jim Conneely, Vice President Student Affairs; Pat Costello,
Department of Mathematics and Statistics; Renee Everett, Chair, Department
of Communication; Mary J. Hall, Student Government Association; Ken Johnston,
Vice President, Financial Affairs; Cassandra Kirby, The Eastern Progress;
Sandra Moore, Diversity Office; Bonnie Plummer, Department of English &
Theatre; Aaron Thompson, Vice President, Enrollment Management; Elizabeth
Wachtel, Vice President, Academic Affairs; and Doug Whitlock, Vice President,
Administrative Affairs.
APPROVAL
OF THE MINUTES:
The
February 3, 2003 minutes were approved as written (with revised President’s
Report).
REPORT
FROM THE PRESIDENT: Senator Glasser
Budget
Update: Senator Glasser reported that the House and Senate have made a
tentative recommendation of a 2.6% budget cut for the remainder of this
academic year. No decision has been made for the 2003-2004 budget at this
time. Senator Glasser will inform the campus of the new budget after she
receives the final recommendation. Once the final recommendation is received,
she plans to meet with the Budget Council to discuss how EKU will handle
the cut.
Senator
Glasser asked the Budget Council to review an earlier recommendation that
was made and taken to the Board of Regents concerning tuition increases.
The Budget Council recommended two additional changes to the already approved
9.5% tuition increase: (1) that undergraduate students begin paying additional
charges for any hours over 16 (17-21), and (2) that graduate students
pay for all course work taken (above 9). The Budget Council was asked
to reconsider this based upon her concern about the process and lack of
information and representation in making this decision. She asked for
a new report by April 2 from the Budget Council.
Strategic
Planning Committee: Senator Glasser reported that the Strategic Planning
Committee held a Retreat over the weekend and worked on a mission statement,
core values, and vision statement. She feels the Committee will have a
three-year plan by July 1.
Position
Searches:
- Provost/Vice
President for Academic Affairs - Senator Glasser reported that Dr.
Jaleh Rezaie and Dr. Gary Cordner have narrowed the candidate pool
to 5 candidates and they expect to begin bringing the candidates to
campus in three weeks. Each candidate will meet with all constituents
and stakeholders and she asked everyone to make an effort to attend
at least one of the meetings. Information about the candidates will
be sent out soon.
- Dean,
College of Justice & Safety - Senator Glasser reported that candidate
4 of 5 is on campus at this time. Senator Hart informed the Senate
that the 5th candidate is expected to be on campus March 12-13. It
is expected that the search will be completed by the end of March
and that a new permanent Dean will be in place by July 1.
- Vice
President for Advancement - Senator Glasser was informed that the
Committee has made their first cut from the pool of applicants and
the second cut is expected to be made sometime later in the month.
Applications are still welcome.
OVC
Tournament - Senator Glasser informed the Senate that EKU will host the
first round of the Women’s OVC Basketball Tournament on Tuesday,
March 4, at 7 p.m. The EKU Lady Colonels will be playing Tennessee Tech.
The Men’s Basketball Team will be playing at Austin Peay on March
4 as well for the first round of the Men’s OVC Basketball Tournament.
Winners of the first round will play in Nashville this weekend for the
semi-finals and finals.
Other
- Senator Fisher asked for clarification about May Commencement. Senator
Glasser informed the Senate that there will be two commencement ceremonies,
one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Senator Wasicsko said that
more information will be sent by the end of the week.
EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEE CHAIR’S REPORT: Senator Johnson
Senator Johnson
reported that the Executive Committee met on February 24, 2003 and heard
from the standing committee liaisons (which will be discussed later in the
meeting).
Other items
discussed:
- Senators
Hubbard and Milde were appointed to a University Ad Hoc Committee to Study
University Committees as representatives from the Executive Committee.
- The Executive
Committee will meet with each of the five Provost/Vice President of Academic
Affairs candidates
- Concerns
of the use of Social Security Numbers was given to the Rights and Responsibilities
Committee
FACULTY
REGENT’S REPORT: Senator Schlomann
Senator Schlomann
reported that the Board of Regents met on February 8, 2003.
Items of discussion
were:
- updates
on construction items,
- updates
on strategic planning and private support,
Items for action
were:
- personnel
issues, such as part-time employees for this year and sabbaticals for
next year,
- 46 faculty
chose the RTP option,
- a tuition
schedule increase (split vote with concerns raised),
- tuition
refund policy (detailed information in The Progress),
- a health
insurance proposal (detailed information in The Progress),
- sex offenders
policy.
All were approved.
REPORT
FROM COSFL: Senator Siegel
Senator Siegel reported that COSFL met on February 8, 2003 at the University
of Kentucky. The committee heard comments about the state budget from Mr. Merl
Hackbart, member of the Governor’s Revenue Forecasting Group. Mr. Hackbart
pointed out that they are attempting to approve a 2002-2004 budget. Each university
representative reported on budget concerns and plans on their campuses. COSFL
has expressed its concern about potential postsecondary education budget cuts
to the CPE.
Senator Siegel
also reported that COSFL’s cosponsored half-day mini-conference with
the state AAUP has been rescheduled for the fall. If you have suggestions
for different topics that you think would be appropriate for this conference,
please let her know.
COSFL is participating in an assessment development project which is going
to be an addition to the state report card on postsecondary education. Kentucky
has been selected as the lead state in the development of this effort.
Issues for future COSFL meetings were discussed. COSFL is planning to meet
with the new CPE President, Tom Layzell, in April to discuss the issues and
postsecondary education funding. If the Senate as a body or Senate members individually
would like to have something addressed, please contact Senator Siegel.
Senator Siegel mentioned that COSFL is now online at http://www.cosfl.eku.edu.
Comments or suggestions about the site can be directed to Senator Siegel. The
link for the COSFL web page can be found on the EKU Faculty Senate web page.
PROVOST’S REPORT: Senator Wasicsko
Senator Wasicsko reported that there will be two commencement ceremonies
for the Spring. As it stands now, the Colleges of Arts & Sciences and
Business & Technology will be held during the morning and the Colleges
of Education, Health Sciences, and Justice & Safety will be held in
the afternoon.
President Glasser asked the Budget Council to review the tuition change recommendation
and to also get feedback from various groups. Senator Wasicsko stated that the
Budget Council looked at various scenarios when their decision was originally
made to increase tuition for hours over 16, but will now meet with the following
groups in order to get feedback: Graduate Council; Provost Council; Chairs Association;
Student Government; and open forums for other faculty, staff, and students on
March 25, 4 - 6 pm and March 26 11 am - 1 PM, in the Student Services Building
Auditorium. The Budget Council will look closely at the students who will be
affected and the feedback from the groups.
REPORT
FROM STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION: Mary J. Hall
Ms. Mary J.
Hall reported the following:
- the President’s
Ball was a huge success,
- several
SGA members attended the student state-wide budget cut rally in Frankfort,
- the community
services event for America’s Promise, with the Dr. Seuss’ birthday
celebration theme, was held today with approximately 180 students attending
from Model Elementary and many volunteers from campus,
- March 4
- safety walk on campus (let the SGA know of any safety concerns),
- March 8
- Spotlight Day for Extended Campuses (they will also be visiting with
extended campus sites to meet with transfer students within the next two
weeks),
- SGA Elections - application deadline for SGA officer positions are due March
25,
- April 8
- Spring Fling and the Presidential and Vice Presidential debate,
- April 15 - Elections will be held 8 am - 6 PM (with on-line voting as well),
and
- the SGA
will be giving away t-shirts to students at the opening game of the Women’s
OVC tournament.
COMMITTEE
REPORTS:
Budget Committee:
Senator Wade reported that over 50 faculty and staff attended a Budget Forum
on February 11 to discuss the new tuition plan for undergraduate and graduate
students, budget processes, etc.
Senator Wade
reported that the Budget Committee drafted a motion to redirect advising
fee funds to faculty equity enhancement
Senator Wade
also stated that the Athletic Committee report is still under discussion.
Ideas and comments are welcome.
Rules Committee:
Senator M. Yoder reported that the committee is looking at discrepancies
in the faculty handbook. They are also looking at the idea of whether we
should have a Senate Vice Chair and the revision of the internal procedures
document. Any ideas or input are welcome.
Rights and
Responsibilities Committee: Senator Callahan, Chair, reported that the
committee is taking into consideration the need of a University Ombudsman.
A proposal will be sent in next couple of weeks to be brought forward at
the April 7 Faculty Senate Meeting. If you have any questions or comments,
contact Senator Callahan or Senator Koppes.
Elections
Committee: Senator Everett explained the memo regarding the upcoming
Faculty Senate Elections. There are approximately 30 terms that will expire.
If a new Faculty Senate Representative is needed for your department, please
hold your department election and give the results to the Committee on Elections
prior to the April 7 Faculty Senate Meeting.
Part-time Faculty
will need to elect a new representative to the Faculty Senate. Senator Everett
asked that the names and a brief biographical sketch of the nominees be
sent to the Committee on Elections prior to the April 7 Faculty Senate Meeting.
Senator Johnson
reminded Senate Members to replace any seats that have become vacant during
the course of this semester. There will also be some openings on some committees.
If you are a Chair for a Senate Committee and your committee is not full,
contact Senator Johnson and/or Ms. Pauletta King.
Committee
on Committees: Senator Wolf reported that a memo regarding self nominations
for standing committees was sent to Ms. Pauletta King to make available
on the Web. The return date is expected to be soon after spring break.
Faculty
Welfare Committee: - Senator Rahimzadeh reported that the Committee
has been charged to formulate campus-wide procedures for salary equity adjustments.
They will meet with the Provost next week and it is hoped they can bring
forward a recommendation by the end of the semester.
REPORTS FROM AD HOC COMMITTEES
Plus/Minus
Grading: Senator Fisher reported that telephone surveys for EKU’s
benchmarks and other Kentucky institutions have been assigned to committee
members. Full time faculty and student surveys should be sent out this week.
An e-mail was sent to Patsy Renfro about doing a mass e-mail to faculty
as a reminder to complete the surveys and return. Senator Fisher has asked
Ron Yoder to place a reminder on the University Web page. Senator Fisher
expects to bring an interim report to the Faculty Senate on May 5.
Lecturers/Part-Time
Lecturers: Dr. Maureen Everett, Chair, explained the memo that was sent
to the Faculty Senate regarding the Proposal for Non-tenure, Renewable Lecturer
Positions at EKU. She emphasized that this position is not intended
to replace or detract from tenure track positions. The proposal has been
taken to and approved by the Chairs Association and the Provost Council.
A lengthy discussion
followed which raised some comments, concerns and questions, such as:
- will 9-month
lecturers have the ability to teach in summer - should not be a problem,
- fear of
converting faculty lines to lecturer,
- how meaningful
would the limitations be of non-tenured renewable faculty,
- concerns
of the lecturer position being a third tier of faculty — part-time
versus lecturer ,
- possibly
change "should’s" to "must",
- three different
categories that may need clarification such as: clinical instructors,
notable persons, and faculty who occupy lower status and teach more,
- limit number
of lectureship positions,
- position
will replace or detract from tenure track positions,
- secure restrictions
on use (for example: total number of lower division courses that such
an individual could teach),
- visiting
positions can only be hired for three years whereas lecturer positions
for a longer period,
- the ability
to hire qualified faculty who may work toward a tenure track position,
and
- more equitable
to instructors teaching lower level classes,
Senator Hart
stated that the University Ad Hoc Committee on Promotion & Tenure has
also been looking at a similar position on campus. Senator Hart made a motion
that the two committees get together and bring something back to the Senate.
It was seconded by Senator Fisher. Motion was approved.
NEW
BUSINESS:
EKU
Medical Leave Policy - Senator Wasicsko made a motion to adopt the EKU
Medical Leave Policy. It was seconded by Senator Siegel. Motion passed.
The motion was ruled a substantive issue by Senator Johnson and a vote will
be held on the April 7 meeting.
Council
on Academic Affairs Report: Senator
Wasicsko moved to adopt all recommendations coming from the CAA and it was
seconded by Senator Callahan. Motion passed.
OTHER
ITEMS:
Senator Wade
made the following motion, which was seconded by Senator Miranda:
"The
$5 payment to faculty advisors for full-time students and the $2.50 payment
for part-time students be eliminated and the funds budgeted for this purpose
be reallocated for the purpose of seeking faculty salary equity; that
this allocation be in addition to funds for this purpose which the university
can identify from other sources; and that the Provost, in consultation
with the Faculty Senate’s Faculty Welfare Committee be given the
power to determine which area of faculty equity needs will receive these
funds.
Senator Johnson
ruled this to be a substantive issue. It will be presented and voted upon
at the April 7 meeting.
The Faculty
Senate Members asked that the above motion, along with the justification
(below) be sent as an email to Senate Members.
Justification:
The advising payments are such small amounts that many faculty do not
consider them a meaningful reward or incentive to serve as advisors; at
the same time the feeling has been that to take them away would be seen
as a negative policy toward advisors. However the Committee believes,
based on conversations with faculty and staff, that most advisors would
be willing to forego this payment if they saw the money diverted to serve
other more pressing faculty needs, and that the elimination of these payments
would not seriously affect the quality of advising. The total amount of
money involved is about $55,000-$60,000, not enough to make an impact
alone, but enough to help address faculty equity problems."
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