March 21, 2016
Highlights from the March 8 Faculty Senate meeting
President Guzek opened the meeting with a moment of silence for Joye Gordon, journalism and mass communications professor, who died unexpectedly.
Guest: Provost April Mason spoke to senators about the current fiscal situation. As chair of the University Budget Advisory Committee she answered questions related to recent budget cuts.
Consent agenda:
• President-elect Andy Bennett presented the consent agenda, which was approved. It included course and curriculum changes from the Colleges of Arts & Sciences; Architecture, Planning & Design; Business Administration; Education; and Human Ecology.
Standing committee and Student Senate reports:
• Academic Affairs: Sen. Teresa Hartman presented two discussion agenda items, which were approved: A new interdisciplinary graduate certificate and a degree name change to the master's in human nutrition in the College of Human Ecology. She reported that the Curriculog implementation team will have its first meeting the week after spring break. She also reported on several updates from the Committee on Academic Policies and Procedures, or CAPP.
• Faculty Affairs: Sen. Mindy Markham presented for a vote a memorandum of understanding, which was approved. This memorandum was the result of several months of conversation and work on how to have more individuals involved in the conversation if future instances occur in which public sanctions may be required that could be seen as involving a faculty member's academic freedom. University Handbook, Section C has been sent back from the General Counsel's office with comment. Faculty Affairs and Professional Staff Affairs will review these.
• Professional Staff Affairs, PSA: Senator Mike Crow, on behalf of MaryAnne Andrews, reported that the committee will meet with Human Capital Services to discuss the Total Rewards program.
• FSCOT: Sen. Don Crawford reported that a job description for the interim vice provost and chief information officer has been developed. The search committee is working to have an interim hired by the end of the month. The Accessibility Task Force report was the primary topic of their last meeting. ScanTron continues to be tweaked as feedback is received.
• FSCOUP: Past President Rintoul, on behalf of Sen. Spencer Wood, reported that FSCOUP met with Darwin Abbott and Cindy Bontrager to discuss the plan for transit and parking on campus. They further discussed with Bontrager the current budget situation.
• Student Senate: Sen. Kurt Lockwood reported that this year's elections are complete and they only have a few senate meetings left before the turnover. The Tuition and Fees Strategies committee also is meeting regularly.
Announcements
• Faculty Senate elections are currently in process.
Discussion period for senators
• President Guzek reported that an ongoing discussion is taking place about the dependent tuition program, specific to broadening it to include those students whose parents pass away while employed by K-State.
Previous minutes are available on the Faculty Senate website as they are approved.
Fred Guzek
Faculty Senate President
Professor
Salina Arts, Science, and Business
Kansas State University
104A Tech Center
Salina, KS 67401