Minutes
Faculty Senate Executive Committee
Emporia State University
September 23, 1999

Members Present: Kuehn, Moore, Robinson, Schwenn, Simpson, Swanson, Wyatt
Members Absent: Robinson
Visitors Present: Akers (for Robinson), President Schallenkamp

  1. Call to Order: President Kuehn called the meeting to order at 11:40 in the Black and Gold Room of the Memorial Union.
  2. Minutes: The Minutes of the September 9 Executive Committee Meeting were approved.
  3. Announcements and Comments:
    1. President Schallenkamp told the Committee that ESU posted a 3.5% increase in enrollment this semester. She gave credit to the entire University Community for this accomplishment. Discussion ensued as a variety of additional issues were raised including ESU's optimal enrollment size, ESU's niche in Kansas higher education, and the probable need to cut $290,000 from the budget because of anticipated budget shortfalls. The Legislature would need to approve this budget cut before it would take effect.
    2. Vice President Schwenn: Schwenn also complemented the University Community for the enrollment increase. He reported that the Faculty Guidebook is almost ready. It will likely be distributed to the Executive Committee at or before the next meeting. Calhoun reminder the Committee of the importance of not releasing the document until the Committee has had time to respond to it and make corrections.
    3. President Kuehn: Kuehn reminded the Committee Chairs of the constitutional requirement to record and file the minutes of all committee meetings. These minutes should be filed in the Senate Office.

  4. Committee Reports:
    1. Committee on Campus Governance (Akers for Robinson): Akers reported on the review of procedures for electing the second vice president that is underway in COCG. Issues being addressed include releasing the ballot count of the election, eligibility to vote for second vice president, and acceptance of candidacy by persons nominated from the floor. Considerable discussion ensued concerning who should be eligible to vote for second vice president. Kuehn concluded the discussion by asking COCG to prepare a summary of their review including possible changes to the Constitution and Bylaws concerning these issues.
    2. Faculty Affairs (Simpson): Simpson expressed confidence that a grievance policy agreeable to both President Schallenkamp and FA is forthcoming. Discussion ensued concerning the difference between an appeal and a grievance. Can a grievance be filed when procedures were correctly following? Simpson and Schwenn will discuss this issue. Kuehn will request a copy Wichita State University's recently completed grievance policy to determine if it distinguishes an appeal from a grievance.
    3. Academic Affairs (Swanson): Swanson reported that AA would be addressing the issue of graduate students receiving midterm grades. A meeting has been scheduled with Dean Timothy Downs of Graduate Studies and Off-Site and Distance Education and Graduate Council President Penny Speedie to discuss the matter. Swanson distributed a handout listing infractions that lead to registration holds. This issue will be discussed later.

  5. Old Business:
    1. Gender Equity (Schwenn): Each Regents Institution will conduct a gender equity study. An ESU Committee consisting of P. K. Duncan (chair), Teresa Clounch, Nancy Groneman, Marty Hale, and Alfredo Montalvo, has been appointed. A report is due by the end of November 1999.
    2. Poster Route Concern (Simpson): Simpson distributed a report of his research on the Poster Route controversy. Simpson reported that the offending language had in fact been in the policy since 1994. Dean Balliff assured Simpson that the administration recognized the need to delete the prohibition of religious and political ideas from the policy. Simpson reported that he was allowed to read a draft of the new policy guidelines that will shortly be implemented. The offending language had been removed. Simpson concluded by stating that the problem resulted from a "lapse in office procedure and merits no further investigation."
    3. Resolutions to the Board of Education: Kuehn distributed copies of the resolutions approved by four of the four-year Regents Institutions to the Kansas Board of Education protesting the changes in science curriculum standards and de-emphasizing organic evolution. A copy of a draft resolution from ESU was included.
    4. In the interest of time, discussion of the remaining items on the agenda was deferred until the next meeting.

  6. New Business: None
  7. For the Good of the Executive Committee: None
  8. Adjournment: President Kuehn adjourned the meeting at 12:55 PM.

Submitted by:

Gary Wyatt
First Vice-President of the Faculty

Last updated on 2 October 1999.
Provide comments about the text to Gary Wyatt at wyattgar@emporia.edu.
Return to the Minutes of the Faculty Senate.