FACULTY SENATE MEETING
Emporia State University
September 21, 1999

Members Present: Aber, Akers, Calhoun, Catlett, Chamberlin, Cogswell, Fowlkes, Ghosh, Goltra, Koch, Kuehn, Landis, Lovett, Mehrhof, Montalvo, Moore, Piper, Robinson, Salvatore, Saunders, Schwenn, Shapiro, Simpson, d. smith, f. smith, Swanson, Templeton, Tidwell, Toadvine, Wright, Wyatt
Members Absent: Blaufuss, Hoy, Russell, Summerville, Waters
Liaison: Hill
Substitutions: None
Visitors: Ryan Wilson

  1. Call to Order: President Kuehn called the meeting to order at 3:35 PM, in the Kanza Room of the Memorial Union.

  2. Announcements of Attendance: (see above)

  3. Approval of Minutes: The minutes of the September 7, 1999 meeting of the Faculty Senate were approved.

  4. Announcements and Comments:

    1. ASG President Templeton: Templeton reported that ASG has several unfilled Senate positions. Effort is being made to fill these positions by September 30. The Student Advisory Council (Student Presidents for the Regents Universities), passed a resolution opposing the Kansas State Board of Education's decision to change science curriculum standards and de-emphasizing organic evolution. The Council is also working on a resolution urging the Board of Regents to include "sexual orientation" as a protected class in Regents institutions' equal opportunity statements.

    2. Academic Affairs VP Schwenn: Schwenn mentioned that he has sent a summary of the recent Board of Regents meeting to faculty via email. He informed the Senate of Regents DeBauge and Blair's visit to campus. They attended the open house at White Library and toured several buildings. Regent DeBauge also attended a meeting of the Heartland Alliance, which consists of Emporia State University, Pittsburg State University, 6 community colleges, and the Flint Hills Technical College. The Faculty Guidebook will be given to the members of the Senate Executive Committee on Thursday and should be in the hands of faculty soon. Finally, following Kuehn's recommendation, President Schallenkamp is preparing to appoint the committee that will oversee the revision of the Policy and Procedures Manual.

    3. Faculty Senate President Kuehn: : Kuehn reviewed the recent meeting of the Council of Faculty Senate Presidents (COFSP). He reported that four of the Regents four-year institutions have passed resolutions opposing the Kansas State Board of Education's decision to change science standards by de-emphasizing organic evolution. The two remaining institutions (ESU is one of them) are considering similar resolutions. COFSP passed a resolution in opposition to the Board's action. A draft of ESU's resolution will likely be presented at the next Faculty Senate Meeting for consideration. ESU's progress in developing an intellectual property policy is comparable with the progress of other Regents institutions. COFSP has developed a draft document outlining procedures for hiring chief executive officers. Kuehn also reported that all Regents institutions have been mandated to conduct gender equity studies.
      Kuehn stated that a revision of speaking privileges procedures would be forthcoming. He indicated that suggestions to improve the Faculty Senate Constitution and are being considered by COCG. He informed the Senate that a report concerning the poster route policy discussed at the last Senate Meeting would be reviewed at the next Executive Committee Meeting. Finally, Kuehn complimented the Library Staff on their recent open house introducing the new online catalogue.

    4. Alumni Liaison David Hill: Hill introduced himself and reviewed recent Alumni Association activities. These activities included regional association meetings, marketing activities, the Alumni Associations publication Spotlight, the booth at the State Fair, a short-term medical insurance plan available to select members of the university community, and homecoming activities.

  5. Committee Reports:

    1. Committee of Campus Governance (Robinson): ): Robinson reported that concerns about the election process were being addressed by COCG. A report of the Committee's work will be presented at the next Executive Committee Meeting.

    2. Academic Affairs (Swanson): ): Swanson reviewed three issues discussed in that last AA Meeting: 1) Teaching Awards; 2) Developmental Course Policy; 3) Registration Holds. The process for selecting the teaching awards was developed last year and will be reviewed by Vice President Schwenn. Information is being gathered on developmental course policy and courses; Schwenn's Office will assist in gathering data. The objectives and effectiveness of developmental courses will be analyzed to determine if action needs to be taken.

    3. Faculty Affairs (Simpson): Because the revised grievance policy, FSB 98017 will be presented today and in the interest of time, Simpson declined to give a report.

  6. Old Business:

    1. A. FSB 98017: A motion to adopt a revised FSB 98017 was made and seconded. Simpson presented the Bill and reviewed points where President Shallenkamp has expressed concern and requested clarification. This Bill provides a twelve-month statute of limitations for filing a grievance. The President questioned that length of time. The Bill also lists Action Taken During and Academic Appeal as a grievable offense. The President finds that description arbitrary. Considerable discussion ensued. Simpson reported that while the President suggested the Committee include an immunity statement protecting faculty who serve on grievance committees from actions those committees take, she would accept the Bill without an immunity statement. The Committee has so far declined to include an immunity statement. Swanson wondered if an immunity statement would protect faculty from being sued even if it were included in the policy. More discussion ensued. f. smith asked if these issues could be resolved. Schwenn responded that they could. Aber expressed concerns about the length of the list of grievable offenses and about the inclusion of the academic appeal issue and suggested that including it may amount to double jeopardy given that a separate academic appeals policy is already in place. Toadvine responded that including it protects faculty if something inappropriate occurred during the appeal process. More discussion ensued. A motion to table the Bill allowing more time to resolve these issues was offered and seconded. The motion passed. The Bill was tabled.

  7. New Business: None

  8. Other Concerns: Shapiro urged that Senate to be proactive not reactive. Piper encouraged the Senate to address issues important to the faculty. Schwenn urged Senators to communicate with constituents about issues of concern.

  9. For the Good of the University: None

  10. Adjournment: President Kuehn adjourned the meeting at 4:50 PM.

Submitted by:
Gary Wyatt
First Vice President of the Senate
Last updated on 4 October 1999.
Provide comments about the text to Gary Wyatt at wyattgar@emporia.edu.
Return to the Minutes of the Faculty Senate.