Minutes for September 15, 2008

From the Senate's special rules of order:

1. Please stand to be recognized, and once recognized state name and remain standing while speaking.
2. Each senator may speak two times to a motion until it is clear to the chair that everyone has had a chance to speak. The chair may call on senators to speak a third time if a filibuster is not underway. If someone makes an amendment to the main motion, senators may speak two more times to the amendment, but not to the main motion.
3. When speaking, address the chair, do not directly address any other senator or a distinguished visitor. However the senator may request the chair to call on someone to address a certain issue.
4. Items submitted for inclusion on the Senate agenda shall reach the chair or a member of the Executive Committee at the Senate at least two weeks before a scheduled meeting of the Senate. A substantive matter not so submitted but presented on the floor of the Senate shall be placed on the agenda for action at the next Senate meeting. The chair will rule, subject to the senators' approval, on what is and is not substantive.

1. With rare exceptions, motions that come before the Senate require a second. Discussion does not begin until a motion has been seconded. In making a motion during meetings, if not previously sent to the Executive Committee, please have it written out in advance, if that is appropriate. This makes it possible to then state it and then send it up to the chair, so that it can be restated before the vote.
2. Sometimes one motion may contain several issues. If it should be divided into two or more motions, a senator should say "I move to divide the motion in the following way" and then state what the division should be.
3. Motions are often discussed at length and found to have either unresolved issues on the matter that needs to be taken back to the departments. The appropriate action is to move to postpone the motion to a definite time, usually the next meeting. Don't move to table the motion; that's a parliamentary ploy essentially to kill the motion.
4. If a senator should judge that the chair or another member of the Senate is not following proper procedure or is in violation of a rule, call for a point of order . The Chair will ask what the violation is, and the Chair will rule with or without consulting the Parliamentarian. If the ruling is not considered satisfactory, the Senate must vote on it.

1. Subsequent degrees policy clarification (informational item)
2. Master of Arts in Education - Elementary Education ­ Program Revision - separate degree codes for all four options
3. MAED in Secondary Education - Program Revision - Rename the option in Mathematics: Mathematics, Statistics & Computer Science to Mathematics Education to the Mathematics Education option and also drop the option in Mathematics: Computer Science
4. Master of Arts in Teaching - Program Revision - Add Theatre as a certification option in the Master of Arts in Teaching Program
5. Applied Computing (M.S.) - Program Revision
6. Geosciences (M.S.) - Program Suspension
7. Entrepreneurship Minor for Non-Business Majors - New Program
8. Admissions Policies

Item #1 was presented for informational purposes only.

Senator Resor moved approval of Item #2, seconded by Senator Taylor. Motion carried.

Senator Resor moved approval of Item #3, seconded by Senator Taylor. Motion carried.

Senator Robles moved approval of Item #4, seconded by Senator Resor. Motion carried.

Senator Styer moved approval of Item #5, seconded by Senator Taylor. Motion carried.

Senator Robles moved approval of Item #6, seconded by Senator Kristofik. Motion carried.

Senator Case moved approval of Item #7, seconded by Senator Robles. Motion carried.

Dr. Vice indicated that Item #8 (Admission Policies) went before the Board prior to coming before the Senate because of the time frame for beginning the 2009-2010 recruiting season. The Board approved the Admission Policies contingent on the Senate's approval. Senator Frisbie moved approval of Item #8, seconded by Senator Taylor. Motion carried.

Senator Taylor moved to establish an ad hoc committee in liaison with the Associate Provost's office to investigate the possibility of establishing a community college of Eastern Kentucky University, seconded by Senator Phillips. Motion carried. Volunteers to serve on the committee include: Senators Halcomb, Taylor and Shoredike. Senator Whitlock suggested that Dr. Kenneth Clawson and Dr. Jack Luy would be valuable resources for the committee.

GENERAL & STANDING COMMITTEE REPORTS

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE REPORT: Senator Ware
Following is a brief summary of the written report submitted by Senator Ware.

On August 13th the Faculty-at-Large approved the creation of the New Senator Orientation Standing Committee.

Senator Ware has formed an ad hoc committee to work with Dr. Sherry Robinson to review the proposed Faculty Qualifications Policy prior to submission to the Senate. The members of the committee include: Senators Collins, Kristofik, and Taylor.

Senator Ware reported that there are several items still on-going from the Student Government. An updated dead week policy draft will be reviewed at the September 22nd Executive Committee. The Bulletin Board and Posting Guidelines policies will be brought back to the Executive Committee after the Counsel has finished reviewing them.

Dr. Janna Vice has decided to appoint a task force comprised of interested faculty to review the syllabus policy before taking it back to CAA, as the Senate requested. The following senators volunteered to serve on the task force: Senators Carter, Chapman and Rainey.

Senator Ware announced that in an effort to create an open, on-going dialogue with the Senators, she has set up a Blackboard site for Senators use only to discuss issues and concerns.

Senator Ware has formed an ad hoc committee to review the proposed early registration policy. The committee members are: Dr. Steffen Wilson, Dr. Dave Eakin, Dr. Linda Frost, and Dr. Karin Sehmann. A draft of the policy was presented last spring to the Executive Committee, and an updated policy was recently viewed by the Provost Council. The updated policy will be posted on the Senate Blackboard board site. Senators should download, share with their colleagues and provide written comments to the committee by October 17th. The committee will present a written report to the Senate at the November meeting. Recommendations will be forwarded to the Provost's Office by December 1st.

FACULTY REGENT REPORT: Senator Frisbie

The Board of Regents have met twice since the last Senate meeting. Once on June 2nd and again on September 6th. Senator Frisbie was not in attendance at the September 6th meeting, but he provided a brief update of both meetings in his written summary to the Senate.

During the June meeting, the Board handled the bulk of the budget work for the upcoming year, including approving the $213 million dollar operating budget for the University, setting the guidelines for salaries and benefits (1.5% + $500 raises), increasing the faculty/staff scholarship benefit to 12 hours per semester, and setting tuition for undergraduates, graduates, and at Model Lab School (e.g., 7% increase for resident undergraduates, 8% increase for resident graduates, 9.5% at Model). The 2008-09 budget reflects a decrease of $5 million in state appropriations. The Board had approved tuition increases in the April meeting, subject to approval by the CPE. Even though EKU's proposed tuition increases were less, in dollar amount, than those recommended by the CPE prior to the 2008 legislative session, CPE did not approve the proposed increases (of approximately 8%) in April. Thus, the Board needed to pass revised tuition rates in June.

The Board was pleased to learn that EKU will close its capital campaign 9 months early at the end of September, having reached its goal of $25 million.

The Board approved all 7 items from the Council of Academic Affairs. These included 3 new programs (professional certificate in Correction Intervention Studies; accelerated "3+2" BBA/MBA ; new major in Globalization & International Affairs) and 3 program revisions (Women and Gender Studies, MAED in Secondary Education, Computer Science).

The Board approved a contract extension of one year for President Whitlock. His contract now continues to July 2011.

At the September 6th meeting, Vice President Newsom reported that University revenues for the past fiscal year finished 1% above predicted revenue and expenses totaled only 91% of projected expenditures. This generated a surplus of $3.6 million for the year, which helps the University replenish its unrestricted fund balance.

Associate Vice President Street reported on progress on capital projects that are underway. The Manchester campus building is 80% complete and looks as though it will be completed ahead of schedule (in January 2009). Clay Hall renovations were completed in time for fall move-in, and the intramural field renovations are slated for completion late this fall. Both the new science building and the second phase of the Business and Technology center have run into budget problems. Both projects are being revised in preparation for being sent out to bid later this fall.

Congratulations to Joey Foster, newly appointed Vice President for Advancement

In action items, the Board:

• Approved two amendments to the Faculty Handbook that came through the Senate (to place the Vice President for Financial Affairs on the Senate's Budget Committee and to add the New Senator Orientation Committee to the Senate's list of standing committees)
• Approved the merger of the Kentucky Center for History and Politics with the Institute of Government to form the Kentucky Institute of Public Governance and Civic Engagement, under the leadership of Joe Gershtenson
• Approved changes to the language and provisions of the First-Time Freshman Admissions policy, contingent upon approval by the Senate. These revisions are necessary to bring the University into compliance with new CPE requirements.
• Authorized the signing of several financing documents necessary to complete the Siemens Energy Savings Performance Contract.

The Board will next convene in January 2009 for a regular quarterly meeting.

REPORT FROM COSFL: Senator McKenney
COSFL's first meeting will be on September 29th in conjunction with the 2008 Governor's Conference on Postsecondary Education Trusteeship. COSFL will meet in the morning and those attending the meeting will be able to attend some of the sessions on issues in higher education. Any interested faculty may attend the Trusteeship Conference. For more information on the Trusteeship Conference, visit www.CPE.ky.gov.

PROVOST REPORT: Senator Piercey
In the Office of Academic Affairs, the following items represent draft policies currently in the review process:

• Policy 4.1.12 (First-time Freshmen Admissions) was submitted to the Board of Regents in September and was approved contingent on Faculty Senate approval.
• Draft Policy 4.1.2 (Course Syllabi) is still under review by the Faculty Senate
• Draft Policy 4.6.1 (Determination of Qualifications for Faculty Teaching Credit-Bearing Courses) has been reviewed by the Provost Council. The policy has been submitted to the Executive Committee of Faculty Senate and a work group was established to address the Policy Definitions. When complete, the policy will be submitted to the Faculty Senate for review.
• Draft Policy 4.3.4 (Joint Curricular, Collaborative, and Consortial Agreements) has not been worked on since the last report to the Faculty Senate.
• Draft Policy 1.1.1 (Policy on Policies) continues to be discussed and revised.

All new or revised policies are considered drafts until they are approved by the Board of Regents.

A small work group consisting of a representative from Faculty Senate who previously worked on the promotion and tenure policy and of an administrator who works with implementation on the policy will begin evaluating potential amendments to Policy 4.6.4 (Promotion and Tenure).

A new University policy website that will house all University policies is under construction.

Double majors were a topic of discussion at the last CAA meeting. While EKU continues to pursue the question of how to appropriately transcript and award diplomas to students who declare two majors leading to two different degrees, President Whitlock and Provost Piercey are committed to allowing students to declare double majors.

On September 19, the Provost will host a meeting of the Chief Academic Officers from all of
Kentucky's regional four-year public universities. The topic of double majors is the first item on the agenda. The goal of the discussion will be (a) to identify how the institutions are currently transcripting the double majors and (b) gain a consensus on the appropriate way(s) to reflect the academic credentials of students in this situation.

In response to the concern expressed by the Faculty Senate and the Chairs Association about the
"drudgery" of administrative processes, the Provost charged a work group, chaired by E. J. Keeley, to reform Academic Program Review. As a result, a recommendation was made to the Provost and President to eliminate Program Review and replace it with a Department Review & Showcase.

This new process, called "Department Review and Showcase (DRS)", will replace Academic Program Review. The DRS will be conducted by a department at the discretion of the Provost and deans, and may be prompted by conditions such as a new program, special and/or noteworthy achievements, enrollment/degree production concerns, accreditation issues, or other concerns regarding quality of the student experience. The DRS process will be piloted in 2008-2009 on a voluntary basis, beginning with the Department of Agriculture.

The work group also recommended annual Institutional Effectiveness progress-reporting process be strengthened for academic departments by requiring development and implementation of an objective and measure(s) for each of the following: (1) teaching effectiveness and (2) advising effectiveness.

REPORT FROM THE STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION: Alex Combs
Mr. Combs reported that a forum on off-campus banking will be held at 8 p.m. on October 1st in either the Grise Room or the Ferrell Room in the Combs Building.

There will be an informational organizational funding meeting on September 16th at 8 p.m. to distribute RSO packets.

Mr. Combs indicated that he would like to see Faculty Senate and Student Government continue to work closely together.

STANDING COMMITTEE REPORTS: