May 21, 2015
Highlights from the May 12 Faculty Senate meeting
Previous minutes from Faculty Senate meetings are available on the Faculty Senate website as they are approved. Highlights from the May 12 Faculty Senate meeting:
Guest:
- Provost April Mason spoke to senators about the new admissions standards going into effect for the fall 2015 semester and the ramifications this will have on the university.
Consent Agenda:
- President Elect Fred Guzek presented the consent agenda to senators, which was approved.
Standing committee and Student Senate reports:
- Academic Affairs: Senator Andy Bennett presented changes to the curriculum in American Ethnic Studies. After brief discussion, it was approved. It was on the discussion agenda due to questions that came up about resources, which were addressed. Bennett also noted that revisions to the Approval, Routing and Notification procedures manual will be on the Senate's agenda for endorsement, as this seemed appropriate this time around. There also will be a proposal on the June agenda to update current policy regarding transfer credit and credit for prior learning.
- Faculty Affairs: Senator Betsy Cauble reported that some edits were made to the approved language from senate on Section C10-12 of the University Handbook for clarification purposes only. She will bring these to senate next month to keep senators in the loop. She also made senators aware that any transfer to these titles by those in tenure or tenure track positions will constitute a change to a term position. The three-year contracts only apply to term appointments. However, no changes were made to clinical professor track. Cauble announced that a new ombudsperson will be appointed soon.
- Professional Staff Affairs: Senator Danielle Brown reported that the committee is continuing discussion about regular vs term appointments for professional staff. They are also working with Human Capital Services with regard to position descriptions. A memo was sent to administration expressing concern that professional staff was combined with university support staff on the climate survey. Their detailed revisions of Section C of the University Handbook have been sent on to Faculty Affairs, who will begin their review at the start of the fall semester.
- Student Senate: Senator Kurt Lockwood reported that they had their last meeting of the term. The executive group will meet over the summer. Construction on the K-State Student Union will begin in early July.
- FSCOT: Senator Don Crawford reported on their last meeting. Diana Blake and Steven Dandaneau were present at their meeting to report on Product Roadmap for KSIS and Release 3: Advising notes. Both general and sensitive notes can be issued; however, both are discoverable with regard to legal action. Over 40 percent of Spring 2015 KSOL courses have been migrated to Canvas. Training information and progress updates can be found at http://www.k-state.edu/canvas/training.html. ITS is working on building a business case overview and action plan for Office 365 Sharepoint. Also, a task force has been put together to create a strategic plan for Accessible Technology.
- FSCOUP: Senator Barbara Anderson reported on their May meeting. They began discussion of what projects should be proposed to use city/university funds. The three senate bodies signed an agreement that they will work together each year to submit a joint proposal of projects for these funds. The agreement is good for three years and is a good step forward in the process. They also discussed their charge and the possibility of a June meeting.
Announcements/Reports
- The ombudsperson vacancy will be filled soon.
- KBOR meeting report: President Rintoul reported in detail on the mechanism being proposed to pay for bond funding for the Seaton Hall renovation, which has caused concern.
Discussion period for senators.
- None.
2015-2016 president elect and secretary elections
- Andrew Bennett was elected as president elect of Faculty Senate; Loleta Sump was elected as secretary of Faculty Senate.
David A. Rintoul
Associate director/graduate program director
Division of Biology
Faculty Senate president
Kansas State University
Manhattan, KS 66506