Kansas State University

Highlights from the Feb. 11 Faculty Senate meeting

Submitted by Faculty Senate

Guests: 

Introductions, along with time for Q&A, were made of newly hired administrators: 

Thomas Lane, vice president for student life and dean of students; Jeannie Brown Leonard, first vice provost for student success; Kelley Brundage, university registrar; Karen Goos, first chief enrollment officer; and Bin Ning, first associate provost for institutional research.

Lane provided senators with information about the JED foundation who K-State will be partnering with beginning in spring 2020. They are involved in protecting emotional health and suicide prevention for our nation's teens and young adults.

Bryan Samuel, chief diversity and inclusion officer, provided senators with a proposed outline for the Strategic Diversity and Inclusion Plan. He also encouraged ones to complete the Climate Survey that was recently sent out.

Standing committee and Student Senate reports:

• Academic Affairs: Several course and curriculum proposals were reviewed and approved.
• Faculty Affairs: A proposed University Excused Absence Policy will be coming to senate for review next month.
• Professional Staff Affairs: The Docking Institute Survey results were presented to the Regents and PSA is conducting listening sessions to get feedback here.
• Student Senate: The Tuition and Fees Strategies Committee continues their conversation regarding differential tuition in preparation for possibly more extensive discussion next year. The Privilege Fee committee reviewed annual contracts and some changes were made. There was a first reading on legislation to allocate bonds to Cats' Cupboard. Lastly, a resolution was passed in opposition to TopHat and other costly education platforms.
• Technology, FSCOT: The committee will work to respond to the SGA resolution opposing costly educational platforms. FSCOT was provided several new policies from ITS. These include future possible changes to the length of duration between eID password changes. International travel was discussed related to the technology taken with someone.
• FSCOUP: Parking was the main topic at their last meeting. Cost has gone up while revenue has gone down. Changes will be forthcoming. An employee suggestion program will be revitalized and FSCOUP is discussing its possible role. Classroom enhancements can at times change the seating capacity so that committee is looking at providing a list of classes that will receive these so an instructor could change classrooms if the availability is significantly altered after the enhancement occurs.

Announcements

• Drew Smith will replace Wayne Goins as ombudsperson beginning June 2020.
• Spring open forums with President Myers are continuing with the last one in Olathe on Feb. 28.
• 2020 Faculty Senate elections will begin soon. Eligible faculty and professional staff are encouraged to participate.
• The Climate Survey was sent out this week. All are encouraged to complete this.
• President González reported on the December and January KBOR meetings. 

Open discussion period

• President González reported on senators that have left Faculty Senate this year and replacements which have been made.
• New Initiatives/For the Good of the University: There will now be a brief period of time available near the end of First Tuesday meetings and Faculty Senate meetings to share potential collaborations and initiatives at their earliest stages of ideation.

Tanya González
Faculty Senate President
Professor, Department of English
Kansas State University
Manhattan, KS 66506