APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
The April 4, 2005 minutes were approved as written.
REPORT FROM THE PRESIDENT: Senator Glasser
Senator Glasser shared her top ten list of major accomplishments
for the University for the past year:
- Enhancing our learning environment
- Completion of Corbin Center and the Fitness and
Wellness Center
- Construction underway for Phase I of the new Business
& Technology Center
- Approved new funding in the amount of $32.9 million
for Phase III of the Business & Technology Center
- Approved new funding of $5 million dollars in
planning money for a new science facility
- Approved new funding of $9 million for New Manchester
Center
- Focusing resources to address critical needs
- 3.5% salary increases for faculty and staff and
an increase in funding to address salary equity issues
- Enhancing faculty professional development funds
- Increased funding for need-based aid
- Adding monies to the contingency fund
- Increased funding for deferred maintenance
- Increased successful sponsored research and grant
funding
- College of Justice & Safety received more
than $ million in grants for US department of homeland security
- $2 million grants to College of Health Sciences
to help meet mental health needs of rural eastern Kentucky
- A $25,000 gift from the US Rider Equestrian plan
which was matched by the Commonwealth for large animal rescue
- Addition of a new Associate Vice President for
Research and Dean of Graduate Education
- Encouraging a community of open discussion and civil
debate
- Free speech forum
- Reopening of the Faculty Club, with monthly coffee
chats to discuss areas of interest, concerns and to share
information
- Student forum with Vice President of Financial
Affairs, Provost and President Glasser to discuss areas of
interest and concerns to students
- Implemented EKUToday to replace mass e-mails
- Opening convocation in fall and spring
- Conversation with president and presentation
by Vice President Debbie Newsom following April 11 Board meeting
to share the Budget Planning Process for Fiscal Year 2005-06
and other updates
- Enhancing our distinguished academic programming
- Accreditation of the Forensic Science Program
and School Counseling and Mental Health Counseling Programs
- Expanding the Creative Writing program with author
Silas House and poet Frank X. Walker
- Environmental Health Science program continues
to take a national leadership role in attracting more minority
students and faculty
- Added low-residency Master's Of Fine Arts Degree
program in Creative Writing.
- Accreditation for the Industrial Technology and
Computer Electronic Networking Programs.
- Celebrating the numerous successes and accomplishments
of our faculty which includes but is not limited to:
- English Professor Dr. Young Smith received a National
Endowment For The Arts 2005 Literature Fellowship and also
a Kentucky Arts Council Individual Artist Fellowship
- Progress Adviser Liz Hansen received The Most
Valuable Member Award from the Kentucky Press Association
- In Occupational Therapy, Dr. Anne Blakeney received
the Lindy Boggs Award from the American Occupational Therapy
Association.
- EKU's first ever comprehensive capital campaign passes
$10 million in leadership gifts phase
- Celebrating our students' success
- 661 students awarded degrees at Summer Commencement
2004; 992 at Fall Commencement 2004; and 1565 to be awarded
degrees on May 8, 2005
- Medical assisting students achieved 100% pass
rate on national certification exam.
- Mock trial team came in fifth in prestigious tournament
at UCLA
- Recognizing our Greek students who totaled 37,000+
hours of community service and raised and donated more than
$100,000 for various philanthropies
- Continuing progress with the strategic planning process
and SACS reaffirmation process
- Celebrating the success of our student athletes
with NCAA appearances by women and men's basketball teams and
women's volleyball team (Most importantly the highest APR ranking
for student athletes of any college or university in Kentucky.)
REPORT FROM THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE: Senator Siegel
On behalf of the Senate, Senator Siegel thanked President Glasser
for keeping the Senate well informed.
The Executive Committee met for the last meeting of the year on
April 18.
Senator Siegel recently participated in EKU's annual Honor's Day
event and also in the CPE statewide meeting on General Education.
Senator Flanagan reported that the Arlington Board voted to support
the proposed renovation plan with the stipulation that no more than
$3 million would be borrowed through the Foundation in the issuance
of bonds.
Senator A. Jones wished to make clear two points concerning the
strategic planning process. First, it is a process, an on-going activity.
Second, it is not just an administrative function--it concerns the
entire campus community.
Senator Siegel announced that Senator Cooper has been appointed
Acting Dean of Libraries.
Senators Robles, Randles and Ware have agreed to continue serving
on the Ad Hoc New Senator Orientation Committee.
Senator Siegel thanked Lisa Crowe and the bookstore staff for working
so conscientiously to make for a smooth start of the summer session.
Senators Siegel and Smith participated in the Midnight Breakfast.
Senator Siegel encouraged faculty to consider participating in this
activity in the fall semester.
This past year there were several University committee meeting conflicts
with Senate meetings. Senator Glasser has indicated this will be avoided
in the future, if possible.
Senator Siegel thanked the Executive Committee for their work throughout
the past year and expressed her appreciation to the Parliamentarian
and the secretary for their continued support.
REPORT FROM FACULTY REGENT: Senator Schlomann
Senator Schlomann reported that the Board met on April 11. The
most controversial issue discussed was the tuition increase, which
the Board approved at a higher percentage than the administration
originally proposed. The motion approved had some guidelines that
recommended that the additional monies would be used for: 1. salaries
(either for new faculty or current faculty salary adjustments); 2.
deferred maintenance; 3. the contingency fund; and 4. providing additional
funds for need-based scholarships. The other major motion approved
was the health insurance plan.
The final budget will be approved by the Board at
the June meeting.
REPORT FROM COSFL: Senator Smith
COSFL met in Lexington on April 23. Tuition increases were the
major topic of conversation. A CPE representative was also in attendance
at the meeting.
Senator Ware reported that Richard Freed was thanked for his years
of service to COSFL. The following names were submitted to the Governor
as nominees for the faculty COSFL representative position: Rick Feldhoff,
University of Louisville; Merl Hackbart, University of Kentucky; and
Mark Wattier, Murray State.
REPORT FROM THE PROVOST: Senator Chapman
Senator Chapman reported on several issues the Provost Office
has worked on during the past year. The salary equity process has
been completed for the year and the monies distributed.
Several vacant positions have now been filled. Dr. Gerald Pogatshnik
was hired as Vice President for Research and Dean of the Graduate
School. Dr. Aaron Thompson has accepted the position of Associate
Vice President for University Programs. The search for a Director
of Institutional Research is almost complete and candidates will be
brought to campus soon. An interim Assistant Vice President for Enrollment
Management will be appointed for one year to allow for a national
search. Any individuals interested in the interim position should
contact Senator Chapman.
The SACS process and the strategic planning process are moving forward.
This summer Senator Chapman will be looking at SACS compliance and
cascading the strategic plan down into some actions. In addition,
he will be reviewing the University committee structure.
Senator Chapman thanked Senator Siegel, the Executive Committee,
the Senate and the President for their support during the past year.
REPORT FROM STUDENT GOVERNMENT: Kyle Moon
The following three members were recently elected: Amy Jo Smith,
Senate Vice President; Lindsay Baker, Student Activities Council Vice
President; and Nick Sutherland, Residence Life Council Vice President.
SGA's overall goal for next year is to improve student communications
and to create ways for students to get involved in student government.
This past year the development began for EKU's PACE, a blackboard
site for students which will notify them of legislation going before
Frankfort dealing with higher education.
In addition, an SGA Newsletter called ColonelTop is being created
and will be circulated to all students. Also in the planning states
is a project called Target Vision, which will provide options to inform
students about various campus activities through television.
STANDING COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Budget Committee. Senator Eakin
thanked the committee for their hard work this past year.
The Budget Committee was charged with looking at the current rationale
and structure for summer salaries at Eastern. Benchmark institutions,
regional universities, Provosts and other key administrators were
contacted for their input. A motion will be presented later in today's
meeting.
Rules Committee. Senator
Johnson reported that the committee revised the Senate Internal Procedures
during the fall semester. Those will be posted online soon and the
link will be e-mailed to all Senators. The committee plans to review
the Internal Procedures again during the summer.
The committee proposed and the Senate approved a motion changing
the Senate Rules governing the number of Senators representing each
department of the University. This will need to be presented to the
Faculty-at-Large and the Board of Regents for their approval.
The committee spent considerable time deliberating possible changes
to the structure and reporting responsibilities of the Council on
Academic Affairs. A draft for an undergraduate council and a graduate
council revision was presented to the Executive Committee. Additional
revisions were suggested and both drafts will be reviewed for feedback
by the present Council on Academic Affairs and the existing Graduate
Council respectively.
The Committee will be proposing at this meeting a policy concerning
attendance and participation of senators on senate committees as well
as senate meetings.
Senator Johnson thanked the committee members for their work throughout
the year.
Rights & Responsibilities Committee. Senator Kristofik
reported that the committee has met with three of the original University
committee members that wrote the Promotion and Tenure Recommendations
report and now feels the Rights & Responsibilities Committee has
a better understanding of the report. Senator Kristofik asked the
Senators to again review the Ad Hoc Committee lengthy report in order
to prepare for further actions in the fall.
Elections Committee. Senator DeBolt reported that the Elections
Committee was charged with making the May elections run more smoothly
and efficiently. An online approach is not an option at this time.
It was decided that nominations would be taken at the April meeting
and pre-printed ballots would be brought to the May meeting.
The Committee also held an online election during the spring semester
for the part-time Senate representative. The new part time representative
for the next two years will be June Whitler.
Committee on Committees. Senator Vance reported that the Committee
on Committees solicited self nominations from the faculty for the
standing University committees. Two or more nominations were received
for each committee and those names were forwarded to Senator Siegel.
Faculty Welfare Committee. Senator Collins thanked the committee
for their work during the past year.
Meetings