Kansas State University

Highlights from the Dec. 10 Faculty Senate meeting

Submitted by Faculty Senate

Highlights from the Dec. 10 Faculty Senate meeting:

Guests:

• There were no guest speakers at this meeting.

Open discussion period — by senators from the floor

• No discussion at this time.

Consent agenda:
• Course and curriculum changes as presented in the consent agenda were approved.

Standing committee and Student Senate reports:

• Academic Affairs: Senator Andy Bennett brought forward a discussion agenda item: a new minor in Arts and Sciences, which was approved. He also brought forward for a vote the transfer credit policy. He provided background information as to how this came about. Questions were answered regarding the policy. The policy was approved.
• Faculty Affairs (FAC): Senator Betsy Cauble brought forward for first reading the Post Tenure Review Policy, which was a mandate from the Board of Regents. She related the background as to where this policy came from. A task force met in spring 2013 and forwarded recommendations to Faculty Affairs. FAC reviewed the recommendations and some modifications were made. In depth discussion was had regarding various aspects of the document. This will come back for a vote in February.
• Professional Staff Affairs (PSA): Senator Danielle Brown, committee chair, reported the committee continues to gather information; working with Planning and Analysis on figures and numbers.
• FSCOT: Senator Ann Knackendoffel, on behalf of Don Crawford, briefly updated senators about transition to Microsoft Office 365 email system. Again, university employees who have not already transitioned will do so on January 6. Migration of data is now taking place internally to provide a smooth transition. Therefore, if you have not already cleaned up in your email folders, it is best to simply wait until after the transition date since data is already being transferred and you may then have to clean up again.
• FSCOUP: Senator Barbara Anderson reported that FSCOUP met with Sue Peterson at its most recent meeting and discussed the upcoming legislative session and what it may hold. FSCOUP also discussed other safety issues on campus. Lengthy discussion ensued about consequences of budget cutting.
• Student Senate: President Keen updated senators on behalf of Senator Kyle Nuss. Union renovation was discussed. Not all modifications proposed can be afforded; therefore, students will have to select what items to move forward with. Tuition strategies committee is meeting as well.

Announcements:

• President Keen updated senators on the activities of the University Budget Committee. At this point they are not actively working on next year’s budget; however, they will know more in January.
• President Keen announced there has been an Appendix M hearing requested, which will be in the spring. She will again notify senators in the spring of the results of that hearing.
• President Keen reported the dates for the Spring open forums with the university president and provost: Jan. 31, 2014, in Salina and Feb. 6, 2014, in Manhattan.
• President Keen also informed senators of the date of Cats in the Capitol, Feb. 19, 2014, and indicated she needs 12 faculty members to attend that event in Topeka. One from each college. This is an opportunity to interact with those in the capitol. There were many suggestions from the body about how to better handle this on a yearly basis. These suggestions will be discussed in the Governmental Relations committee.

New Business:

• None

For the Good of the University:

• President Keen wished happy holidays to all and their families.

Julia Keen, P.E., HBDP, PhD
Faculty Senate President
Associate Professor
Architectural Engineering and Construction Science
Kansas State University
248 Seaton Hall
Manhattan, KS 66506
785-532-3575