FACULTY SENATE MEETING
October 15, 1996
Members present: Ballester, Bleeker, Butler, Calhoun, Coufal, Dirks, Dungan, Foyle, Frederickson, Greenlief, Harrell, Irwin, Johnson, Keller, Martin, McCoy, Payne, Robinson, Samuelson, Smith, Speedie, Stephens, Terrell, Wyatt, Yanik
Members absent: Briggeman, Edminston, Kantameni, Scott, Strickland
Substitutes: D. Johnson for Kircheffer, Saunders for Schrock
Guests: Mike McRell, Jan White
1. Call to order:
President Ron McCoy called the meeting to order at 3:35 p.m. in the Messenger Room.
2. Approval of Minutes:
Sen. Wyatt moved and Bleeker seconded approval of the minutes of the Senate's October 1st meeting. The motion passed.
3. Announcements and Remarks:
A. Vice President Payne
Vice President Payne indicated that he was very disturbed to learn that some faculty members have indicated that they had did not believe they had adequate opportunity for involvement in the Vision 2020 document. He distributed an outline of the responses from divisional chairs concerning the distribution of Vision 2020 information. Payne announced the deadline for modifications in ESU's Vision 2020 document is this Friday, October 18. Faculty should submit their suggestions to John Schwenn. In response to an observation that faculty may not see that their input has been received and considered, Dr. Payne said that in the future, faculty members will receive some response to the suggestions they put forward. Vice President also stressed the critical role faculty senators play in informing their colleagues of the important issues facing the campus. In response to the question of how often the campus will be involved in revising this document, Payne indicated that modifications will probably be made annually for the next few years but the amount of work should decrease as the process proceeds. This years modifications were mainly to update ESU's progress on several topics in the Vision 2020 document and to set goals for the performance indicators. Dean's Council has been working on setting up realistic goals in each indicator area. It was also mentioned that the focus of Vision 2020 documents is on change rather than on continuing strengths. When a senator expressed some frustration about the vagueness, particularly initially, of Regents' requests, Vice President Payne explained that this allowed the Board of Regents more opportunity to redefine and refine later requests based upon initial drafts from each university. Faculty members stated that this leaves faculty unclear about the definition of a project until a deadline is imminent.
B. Faculty President McCoy:
1. President McCoy will be attending the Board of Regents meeting in Wichita on Thursday, October, 17.
2. Scott Irwin will represent the faculty on the Search Committee for the CEO of the ESU Foundation.
3. The Executive Committee met with Regent Nolan and Executive Director of the Board of Regents, Steve Jordan, during their campus visit on October, 10. When asked about the cycle of Regent business and the frequent requests for major legislation immediately in late summer or early fall, Phyllis Nolan indicated that many issues are "in the pipeline" for a long period and suddenly receive more priority and importance. Regent Nolan has agreed to return to ESU later this year to allow more opportunity to meet with faculty members. It was suggested that Tuesday afternoon would be a good time for faculty to meet with her.
4. Committee Reports:
A. Academic Affairs (Ballester)
This committee spent most of its last meeting discussing Vision 2020. The committee is also still working on a prior approval bill. The committee is gathering information on concurrent enrollment. A new topic under consideration of the committee is competency exams.
B. Committee on Campus Governance (Terrell)
Sen. Terrell gave a report on plans for the review of campus committees during the spring semester.
C. Faculty Affairs (Butler)
This committee is "regrouping" after its extensive work on Chronic low performance and is deciding upon which issue to next address.
D. Faculty Handbook (Greenlief)
This committee continues to make slow progress. The committee hopes to submit completed chapters beginning next month.
5. Old Business
President Glennen approved FSB 96001. Upon final approval by the Board of Regents, divisions will need to review and change their annual evaluation document (see lines 37-46).
When asked why the chronic low performance procedure was necessary, Payne answered on behalf of the Board of Regents, that present procedures have not been used often enough in cases of gross incompetence.
6. For the Good of the Order
The Homecoming musical was very well attended. A Jazz performance will be held on Oct. 17th. On Friday the 18th, there will be an orchestra performance in Albert Taylor Hall and poster sessions by student teachers in Visser Hall. ESU will host Mathematics Day for over 400 area high school students on October 23rd.
7. Adjournment
President McCoy adjourned the meeting at 5:15 P.M.
Betsy Yanik
Secretary
Last updated on October 23, 1996.
Provide comments about the text to Betsy Yanik at yanikeli@esumail.emporia.edu.
Return to the Minutes of the Faculty Senate.