Minutes for December 1, 2008

The Faculty Senate of Eastern Kentucky University met on Monday, December 1, 2008, in the South Room of the Keen Johnson Building. Senator Ware called the fourth meeting of the academic year to order at approximately 3:30 p.m.

The following members of the Senate were absent:

^*Indicates prior notification of absence to the Faculty Senate Secretary
^ALT Caroline Reid attended for P. Litzelfelner
^ SUB Stephen Black attended for M. McDermott

Visitors to the Senate: Onda Bennett, University Programs; Tina Davis, Registrar; Gary Kuhnhenn, Enrollment Management; Sandra Moore, Diversity; Karen Neubauer, Budgeting; Deborah Newsom, Financial Affairs; Jerry Pogatshnik, Graduate School; Sherry Robinson, Provost Office; Virginia Underwood, Chief of Staff; Janna Vice, Academic Affairs; and Ron Yoder, University Advancement

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
The November 10, 2008 minutes were approved as written.

REPORT FROM THE PRESIDENT: Senator Whitlock

Senator Whitlock voiced his support for the two Budget Committee motions that will be presented later in the meeting.

The amount of the higher education budget reduction has not been determined yet, but it is anticipated that the cut will be around 4%. EKU been asked to develop a plan which is due by the end of the day on Wednesday to show how the anticipated reduction will be achieved and what the long term implications will be. The plan is to handle the reduction through contingency and other reserves. Senator Whitlock hopes to handle any impact on personnel by attrition, as was done in the spring. However, soft money positions may be affected if grants are cut significantly. Those individuals affected, if qualifications are met, would be given first call on any available positions within the university.

Senator Whitlock announced that thanks to the efforts of Governor Beshear and District Congressman Ben Chandler, EKU will be partnering with General Atomics to establish the Center for Renewable and Alternative Fuel Technologies (CRAFT). The Center will be used to research the potential for a cellulose-derived biodiesel industry in Kentucky.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

Dead Week Policy. Lindsey Cross was in attendance to discuss the dead week policy draft, which now includes changes requested at the November Senate meeting, and to answer any further questions.

After lengthy discussion, the motion failed for lack of support.

Senator Kean moved to consider appointing a task force to work with the students to find an alternative solution, seconded by Senator Johnson. The majority were in favor and the motion carried.

Syllabus Policy. Senator Carter moved that the Faculty Senate support the revised course syllabus policy dated November 24th as presented by the Senate ad hoc committee, seconded by Senator Taylor. The majority were in favor and the motion carried.

16-Week Semester Discussion. Senator Ware stated that this is a timely discussion because the University sets its calendar in five-year cycles and it's time to begin planning for the next cycle.

Registrar Tina Davis stated that a lot of other universities have already gone to a 15 or 16-week semester. Beginning with Summer 2009, EKU will have a 12-week summer session in order to accommodate programs, practicums and internships that extend beyond the 10-week time frame previously scheduled. Having two 16-week semesters would allow for the extended summer school session to still end by August 1st. Dr. Janna Vice mentioned that summer school needs to end early enough to allow for certification of those students who are preparing to teach.

Senator Noblitt stated that her program's accreditation could be in jeopardy if additional contact hours are lost. If the University goes to a 16-week semester, provisions would have to be made to make up those missed contact hours. Other programs within the University may also be affected similarly.

Ron Yoder, Director of Web Communications, volunteered to help Senator Ware establish a blog on this issue so there can be an open dialogue with the campus community for additional feedback.

Report on University Planning Council & Strategic Planning Council. Harry Moberly and Shannon Means were in attendance to discuss the University Planning Phase I document which explains the role of the newly formed University Planning Council and the Strategic Planning Council. Mr. Moberly stated that the new councils were formed in order to create a transparent process, to provide greater participation campus-wide, and to allow for more effective accountability. He further stated that anyone with additional feedback or concerns regarding the new plan should contact him or Shannon Means within the next couple of weeks.

Senator Taylor moved to suspend the rules in order to review two Budget committee motions regarding the make-up of the two committees and to allow for discussion. Motion carried.

Senator Johnson moved approval of the paragraph below, seconded by Senator Taylor. The motion carried unanimously.

Senator Johnson moved approval of the statement below, seconded by Senator Ciocca. The motion carried unanimously.

Senator Ware announced that with the Senate's recommendation for additions on the Strategic Planning Council, there would be seven faculty members serving on the Council.

NEW BUSINESS:

Report from Council on Academic Affairs - Dr. Janna Vice

Budget Committee. Senator Johnson shared the following in his written report to the Senate.

The Budget Committee has met twice since the last Faculty Senate meeting, Friday, November 14, and Tuesday, November 25, 2008.

At the November 14th meeting, the Provost was invited along with the Vice President for Financial Affairs to discuss the budget for the remainder of the fiscal year, the results of the Budget Committee's survey of last year and how it was implemented, and what plans are underway for next year's budget. EKU has absorbed all of the cuts from the state so far and is prepared for the cuts expected this year. CPE is expected to hold the line on tuition increases. The pressure for the expected numbers for the state's universities for the year 2020 seems to be lessening; this is not to say that the increases are not still on the books.

At the November 25th meeting, the committee discussed the University Planning Phase I document to see if recommendations should be made concerning the structure of the two councils as put forth in this document. Dr. Janna Vice, Associate Provost for Academic and Faculty Affairs and Debbie Newsom, Vice President for Financial Affairs, were in attendance. After much discussion the committee felt that there was a lack of academic representation on the newly formed Financial Planning Council (FPC). The committee proposed that a representative of the five deans and a representative of the Chairs association should also be a part of that council. The committee also agreed with conclusions formed at the November 17th Senate Executive Committee meeting that the Vice-chair of the Senate should be added to the new structure of the new Strategic Planning Council (SPC) and that the chair of the SPC should be a member of the Faculty-at-large. In addition, the committee proposed that the dean on each of these two councils should not be the same dean and that they should rotate on a yearly basis.

Rules Committee. Senator McKenney shared the following in her written report to the Senate.

The Senate Rules Committee met on Monday, November 24, 2008. Committee members reported their findings after examining EKU's benchmarks and Kentucky's comprehensive regional universities to determine whether they had any senate or university committee dealing with academics and/or advising. Some good models of such committees were found though there is considerable variation in title, membership, and function. Rules Committee members discussed the question of whether to recommend creation of an entirely new Committee on Academic matters or whether it might be possible to use an existing senate committee to deal with this.

The Committee plans to meet again in January.

Rights & Responsibilities Committee. Senator Noblitt reported that the policy on policies is currently in test mode. The faculty credentials and qualifications policy is the first policy being tested through the Policy on Policies. The drafting committee has been compiled and the committee is doing its work. Currently the Office of Academic Affairs is getting together the necessary infrastructure to have a website where public notice can be given on these policies.

Committee on Committees. Senator Staddon reported that the committee is in the process of soliciting faculty names for the five faculty representatives on the Strategic Planning Council.

Welfare Committee. Senator Foote reported that the committee met with President Whitlock to discuss shared governance in mid November.

ADJOURNMENT: