Kansas State University

Highlights from the April 12 Faculty Senate meeting

Submitted by Faculty Senate

Guest: Vice President Cheryl Johnson visited with faculty senators about the recent activities of Human Capital Services and also gave an overview of the Total Rewards initiative. 

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, Business Administration, Education, Human Ecology and Technology and Aviation.   

Standing committee and Student Senate reports: 

• Academic Affairs: Sen. Teresa Hartman presented the new interdisciplinary doctoral program in leadership communication, which was approved. It will now go to the Kansas Board of Regents for final approval.
• Faculty Affairs: Sens. Betsy Cauble and Mindy Markham presented proposed changes to Section C of the University Handbook for a first reading. They encouraged senators to review the material in preparation for a vote at the May meeting. 
• Professional Staff Affairs, PSA: Sen. Mary Anne Andrews reported that the committee met with Human Capital Services at their last meeting and discussed the Total Rewards initiative as well as various other topics related to professional staff.
• FSCOT: Sen. Don Crawford presented the annual Data Access report for information and Sen. Lisa Crawford-Craft spoke regarding the other informational item, the Web Content Accessibility Report. Sen. Crawford also reported that FSCOT met with Rob Caffey, interim CIO, at their last meeting. 
• FSCOUP: Past President Rintoul, on behalf of Sen. Spencer Wood, reported that FSCOUP met with Gary Leitnaker at their last meeting and discussed the draft furlough policy. Committee members will share this with their constituents and provide comments for their follow-up meeting with Leitnaker in May.
• Student Senate: Sen. Kurt Lockwood reported that the new student senate was sworn in on April 7 and the new speaker for Student Senate will be announced on April 14. President Guzek presented certificates of appreciation to Sens. Lockwood, Hurtig and Tinker for their service on Faculty Senate this year. 

Announcements

• Faculty Senate elections are complete and the results were provided to senators.

Discussion period for senators

• Sen. Finkeldei reported, in relation to the Web Content Accessibility Report, that their unit is looking into the cost and feasibility of having a center created, staffed by student employees, which would allow faculty to submit videos to be transcribed and returned to them. He will keep senators apprised of any progress on this.    

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