Minutes for April 2, 2012
The Faculty Senate of Eastern Kentucky University met on Monday, April 2, 2012, in the South Ballroom of the Keen Johnson Building. Senator Noblitt called the seventh meeting of the academic year to order at approximately 3:30 p.m.
The following members of the Senate were absent:
| F. Awang | A. Back | S. Barracca*^ |
| Z. Eser | L. Heath | N. Jasinski |
| A. Kipp | K. Krampe* | M. Martin* |
| A. Matthews | D. May*^ | S. Merlin* |
| T. Nowak* | D. Roush* | T. Schneid* |
| L. Summers*^ | J. Wang | Z. Zhang* |
* Indicates prior notification of absence to the Faculty Senate Secretary
^ ALT Greg Gunderson attended for S. Barracca
^ ALT Scott Hunt attended for D. May
^ ALT Matt Sabin attended for L. Summers
Visitors to the Senate: Tina Davis, Registrar; Linda Frost, Honors Program; Kerri Hinkle, Student; Rick McGee, Registrar; Nancy McKenney, AAUP; Gerald Nachtwey, English & Theatre; Sherry Robinson, Provost Office; Samantha Toy, Student; John Wade, Arts & Sciences
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
The March 12, 2012 minutes were approved as written.
REPORT FROM THE PRESIDENT: Senator Whitlock
The 2012 legislative session is concluded, with the exception of the 6oth legislative day which is reserved to give the legislature the opportunity to override any gubernatorial vetoes. The major piece of legislation affecting higher education was the budget bill. The highlights include:
- EKU’s reduction in state appropriation was approved at the 6.4 percent level as anticipated. This equates to $4.6 million.
- The $25 million in capital renewal funds recommended by the CPE and the Governor was not funded. This would have continued the opportunity for institutions to leverage dollars spent on major maintenance efforts through matching from the state.
- The only two agency fund bond projects approved were for the refinancing of EKU’s energy management project in order to take advantage of savings from lower interest rates and the reauthorization of a renovation project at Western. Neither EKU’s dormitory renovation nor the authorization of a $31M second phase of the wellness center were authorized. The latter would have been financed through a referendum voted by students last year.
- HB 260, which started as an effort to make UPike public, morphed into a scholarship program for students from the eastern Kentucky coal counties. This passed the house, but not the senate. The conference committee rejuvenated it and expanded it to all coal producing counties, east and west, and liberalized, a bit, where students could use the scholarship. The multi-county coal severance tax remains the source of funding.
Applications for admissions and the actual number of admitted students are up for the fall semester. Part of this may be due to timely processing of applications and awarding of scholarships. Contact and communications with admitted students is now more systematic and sophisticated than ever before. The initial responses to the "You can get there from here" campaign have been very positive.
Senator Whitlock recently attended the regular spring meeting of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities' state representatives. This meeting reconfirmed that the same public policy issues faced in Kentucky are, in fact, national in scope. The highlight of the meetingwas the opportunity to meet at the White House with senior domestic and education policy advisers to President Obama. Affordability, teacher preparation, and proprietary education dominated the discussion. EKU's success with the math transitions program caught their attention.
The SPC and FPC have been working hard over the past several weeks to identify options to consider as the budget is developed for next year. The Council meets again on Thursday and Friday to finish formulating the series of recommendations that will be forwarded to the President’s office. Senator Whitlock stressed that as decisions are made, they will be based on the collective wisdom of the SPC/FPC and his continued commitment to do what is in the long-term best interests for the university.
The Council on Postsecondary Education is expected to set tuition parameters at its meeting of April 20. EKU’s Board of Regents will meet on April 26 to discuss budget guidelines and again on June 11 to finalize the budget.
UNFINISIHED BUSINESS:
Promotion and Tenure Policy. Senator Noblitt reminded that at the March meeting Senator Thieme moved, seconded by Senator Hensley, to approve the P&T policy. Senator Noblitt opened the floor for further discussion on the motion.
Senator Pianalto moved to amend the motion by striking the sentence on page four “in reviewing all three areas collegiality shall be considered” and removing the definition for collegiality on page 11, seconded by Senator Nelson. The motion failed with a vote of 20-32.
The motion, as originally presented, carried with a majority vote.
NEW BUSINESS:
Faculty Senate Chair Nominations. Senator Pressley was nominated to serve as chair next year. The election will be held at the organizational meeting in May.
Faculty Senate Vice Chair Nominations. Senator Palmer was nominated to serve as vice chair next year. The election will be held at the organizational meeting in May.
Forum for Adjunct Instructor Reform (FAIR). Senator Farley gave an informational report on FAIR. FAIR is an organization that was created about a year ago at EKU to address the rights and the working conditions of part time faculty members on this campus.
Report from Council on Academic Affairs - Senator Vice
New Programs
- Minor in Horses, Humans and Health
- Minor in Health Services Administration
- AGS with Security Management
- Certificate in Intelligence and Security Operations (Government Industrial Security)
University-level Certificate, requiring 24 credit hours to complete - Minor in Security Management
Program Suspensions
- Minor in Social Institutions and Social Change
- Minor in Social Inequalities
- Assets Protection and Security (B.S.)
Suspension will start in Fall 2012; classes will be offered until 2015 - Minor in Assets Protection
Support will be provided for students in minor until 2015
Program Revisions
- Academic Probation Description, Graduate
- EKU Honors Program
Increase honors offerings, create an autonomous Honors Core of classes that will eventually replace all general education classes, and increase flexibility for students bringing in significant pre-college/college credit - B.S. Deaf and Hard of Hearing Elementary (P-5) OR Middle Grades with Emphasis (5-9)
- Graduate Certification Deaf and Hard of Hearing – replace SED 338 with SED 738
- Master of Arts in Education Special Education- Teacher Leader Track Additional Certification DHH
1) Show a range of graduate hours in the content area so that graduate students who have previous, valid coursework can transfer up to 12 hours of equivalent coursework into the degree program and be able to complete the degree with less than 40 hours,
2) Substitute SED 738 for SED 832 in the MaEd in Special Education Teacher Leader Track Adding Certification. Candidates adding certification do not have the language background to take SED 832(Advanced Language for DHH) - M.S. Applied Engineering & Technology Management – add NSM as an option
- B.A. in Broadcasting & Electronic Media
Remove BEM 495 94) from the BEM Major Option General and add additional courses as acceptable courses in the major - B.A. in Journalism
Journalism major to be changed to eliminate the requirement for a minor. Students are required to take JOU 412 or PUB 412 and those courses were removed from the Supporting Courses Option. JOU 450 was added as an option to JOU 425. BEM 240, 295, 300, 301, 395, 401, 402 and 495 and PUB 410S were added as Supporting Course Options - Minor in Broadcasting & Electronic Media
Add BEM 491, a one-credit hour course, as a required course for the minor and increasing the number of hours to 23 hours for the minor - Minor in Broadcast News
Add BEM 491, a one-credit hour course, as a required course for the minor and increasing the number of hours to 23 hours for the minor - Minor in Communication Studies
Change the CMS minor to include three concentrations in communication studies - Minor in Visual Media
Add BEM 491, a one-credit hour course, as a required course for the minor and remove GCM 211 as a required course for the minor - B.B.A General Business
Add GBU 101 to the GBU major and options. Eliminate prefix “RST” from Business Electives in the General Business Option and the Global Supply-chain Management Option - B.B.A. Management
Add GBU 101 to the Management degree requirements. Eliminate prefix “RST” from the Approved Business Electives. - B.B.A. Marketing
Add GBU 101 to the MKT major and options and eliminate “Approved Business Electives” - B.S. Marketing and Business Education
Add GBU 101 to the program - Doctorate of Nursing
Change the application deadline for part-time applicants - Environmental Health Science B.S.
Drop BIO121 and add BIO111 to support, correct prefixes, Drop GEO353 and AGR215 from support (they have added prereqs) Reflect New General Education Elements to program - Medical Laboratory Science B.S.
Correct Prefixes from MAS to HSA and CLS to MLS, Reflect New General Education Elements to program, Drop BIO121 and add BIO111 - Athletic Training B.S.
Reflect New General Education Elements to program Add back STA 215 or 270 and EMC104 - Sport Management B.S.
Reflect New General Education Elements to program - Apparel Design and Merchandising B.S.
Reflect New General Education Elements to program - Family and Consumer Science Education B.S.
Add NFA317, Remove NFA321, Add FIN311, Remove BIO 301, Drop Free Electives and reflect new General Education - General Dietetics B.S.
reflect new General Education elements in program - Health Services Administration B.S.
1) Add new General Education Elements and 2) Drop ACC 202 and ECO 230 from the curriculum - MPH-Environmental Health
Drop Core Exam requirement - MPH-Community Health
Drop Core Exam requirement - Occupational Science B.S.
Reflect New General Education Elements - Public Health B.S.
1. Add HEA 310 Introduction to Global Health to the Community Health and School Health Options in the Public Health major 2. Drop the Worksite Health Promotion Option from the major 3. Drop HEA 390, HEA 391, HEA 599, SOC 353 courses from the major 4. Add ESE 349, EMS 349 Q & R, & EDF 349 Q & R to the professional education requirements in the school health option. 5. Add EDF 204 to supporting courses - Occupational Therapy M.S.
Add free electives PSY 797, 777, CDS 867, SED 704, 790 - Recreation and Park Administration B.S.
Reflect New General Education Elements, revise option titles and requirements - Art/Design Studio Options (B.F.A.)
1. Drop the Interior Design option.
2. Reduce credit hours for Pre-BFA Metals/Jewelry option. 3. Change course requirements for most option areas. 4. Correct wording in the ‘Pre-BFA’ description of Jewelry and Metals - Art B.A. /Teacher Education Option
Update the Teacher Education option - Computer Science B.S.
Add a new Statistical Computing Option - Bachelor of Music
Delete supporting course requirement and add more course choices to the Music industry - Master of Music*
delete the GRE requirement for students with 3.0+ GPA. *Note: This item was inadvertently omitted from the 02-24-12 Graduate Council meeting and will be on the agenda for 3-23-12. The College is proposing CAA approval pending Grad Council approval - Corrections and Juvenile Justice B.S.
Program name change, increase number of major hours, revise core requirements, drop options, increase elective hours, and add supporting requirements - Professional Certificate in Correctional Intervention Strategies
Reduce core hours, increase elective hours, and change acceptable elective - Professional Certificate in Youth Services
Change core requirements and acceptable electives - Catalog Change – Admission, Transfer and Other Requirements
Comprehensive rewrite of admission requirements to meet new accreditation standards and sets forth general and specific program requirements - Emergency Medical Care B.S.
Change program requirements to reflect Course Revisions. Remove 2 Core Requirements, and Adopt GSD 101 for University Requirement programs - Paramedicine A.S.P.
Change program requirements to reflect Course Revisions. Remove 2 Core Requirements, and Adopt GSD 101 for University Requirement programs - Fire, Arson and Explosion Investigation (B.S.)
Requires minimum credit hours/upper division credit hours be taken within CJS/SSEM - Fire Protection Administration (B.S.)
Requires minimum credit hours/upper division credit hours be taken within CJS/SSEM - Fire, Protection, and Safety Engineering Technology (B.S.)
Requires minimum credit hours/upper division credit hours be taken within CJS/SSEM; Change OSH course requirement from OSH 361 to OSH 261 - Minor in Fire and Safety Engineering Technology
Change required OSH course from OSH 362 to OSH 262 - Fire and Safety Engineering Technology Certificate of Competency
Change title to Industrial Fire Protection Certificate, delete 6 courses and add 6 courses - Occupational Safety (B.S.)
Align required courses with prior course revisions: OSH 361/OSH 261 and OSH 362/ OSH 262 - Minor in Occupational Safety
Align required courses with prior course revisions: OSH 361/OSH 261 and OSH 362/ OSH 262 - Homeland Security B.S.
Change APS prefix to SEC, change General Education, and add two courses - Associate in General Studies Homeland Security Concentration
Update course prefix and General Education changes - Minor in Homeland Security
Add new course HLS 430 - Minor in Emergency Management
Change prefix for APS 210 to SEC 210 - Certificate in Emergency Management
Change APS 210 prefix to SEC 210 - Certificate in Homeland Security
Change APS 210 to new prefix SEC 210 and add HLS 430 - Certification in Intelligence Studies
Add and change courses to provide more latitude in studies
Senator Vice moved approval of items 1-5, seconded by Senator Shordike. Motion carried.
Senator Vice moved approval of items 6-9, seconded by Senator Potter. Motion carried.
Senator Vice moved approval of items 10-65, seconded by Senator Schmelzer. Motion carried.
GENERAL & STANDING COMMITTEE REPORTS
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE REPORT: Senator Noblitt
This month Senator Noblitt has continued to work with subcommittees of the Implementation Team. In some areas, the Implementation Team’s efforts appear to be paying off. Admissions no longer had a delay in processing applications and the number of applications has increased compared to last year. There are also a number of events that the Admissions Office has designed as a result of suggestions from the Implementation Team. These events are designed to help increase the matriculation rate of high-quality applicants to EKU.
Implementation Team members have also been working on programs and policies that are designed to assist student retention efforts. The Advising Workgroup has surveyed chairs regarding problems with advising on campus and is now developing ways in which to address these problems. The Retention Workgroup, in cooperation with Institutional Effectiveness, is reviewing other institutional efforts to improve student retention and graduation. This workgroup hopes to assist the university in developing a coordinated retention program that addresses the great number of issues that cause student dropouts. Many of these efforts will require faculty cooperation and assistance. For an overview of the types of programs the workgroup is reviewing, visit http://publications.sreb.org/2010/10E02_Promoting_Culture.pdf. This document outlines a series of initiatives that other institutions have implemented successfully to increase student retention and graduation rates. Senator Noblitt plans to meet with Provost Vice in early April to continue discussing the appropriate role of faculty in student retention efforts.
Chair Noblitt and the Faculty Senate Budget Committee have been carefully reviewing the university budget process. Although the state has not yet issued its final budget numbers to the university, the university is preparing for budget cuts. Current projections are that EKU will have over a $7.1 million budget deficit. The FPC/SPC is carefully reviewing proposals on how to accomplish these cuts. It is clear that Academic Affairs will have to endure deep cuts in both positions and M&O. While the President strategically approved $1.9 million of faculty lines a few weeks ago, $1.1 million (1.5%) is proposed to remain cut/frozen. Academic Affairs will also have to endure a 6% cut in M&O for a savings of $1 million. Administrative offices will also face deep proposed cuts with a $611,312 (4%) cut in positions and a $327,133 (6%) cut in M&O. Other large proposed budget cuts include $1 million from the capital pool, $1 million from deferred maintenance, $500,000 from the contingency fund, and depletion of the $287,046 President’s Strategic Fund.
REPORT FROM FACULTY REGENT: Senator Frisbie
The Board will meet on April 26. The main focus of the meeting will be the budget guidelines.
REPORT FROM COSFL: Senator Summers
The joint COSFL/AAUP meeting will be on Friday, April 13 at the CPE offices in Frankfort from 1-4:30pm.
PROVOST REPORT: Senator Vice
At the beginning of the academic year Senator Vice posed two questions to the colleges and departments—1) What do we value? and 2) How do we know if we are improving?
As the University faces reducing the budget more than $7 million, the question regarding “what do we value” has been a guiding factor for the Council of Deans. For weeks now, the deans have analyzed the Academic Affairs budget both as a Council and in meetings with Budgeting, Administrative and Financial Affairs Offices.
Faculty resources have remained a top priority. When the Academic Affairs’ proposed budget is presented to the new Joint Strategic and Financial Planning Council on Thursday, the proposal will reflect (a) reductions in administrative operating budgets, (b) adjustments in non-teaching support areas, and (c) a commitment to continuing to review the budget for long-term, strategic decisions.
Regarding frozen faculty lines, approval have been received to thaw about $2 million in faculty positions. However, there is still $1.6 million in faculty lines on hold.
With federal and state agencies’ increased scrutiny of higher education, perhaps an implicit follow-up question to the budget-reduction discussion is, “Can we continue to improve quality at a time when we have fewer resources?” The answer is an unequivocal “yes!”
Exemplar programs (accredited and non-accredited) already exist in each EKU college. Dr. E. J. Keeley and Stacey Street are meeting with the college deans and their respective chairs to showcase these model programs. These programs have incorporated Assurance-of-Learning concepts into their on-going processes.
Does continuous improvement take resources? Yes, the primary cost is scheduling time for faculty to collaborate. To provide faculty time to pursue the Assurance-of-Learning model, a non-instructional day is being planned for the 2012 Fall Semester. The date will be announced in May.
If schedules permit, join the Provost for lunch on Wednesday, April 4, 2nd Floor Powell.
STRATEGIC PLANNING/FINANCIAL PLANNING COUNCIL: Senator Noblitt
The FPC/SPC will meet all day on April 5th with a follow up meeting planned for the afternoon of April 6th. The formal budget proposals are due to the President on April 9th. In preparation for the meeting, Faculty Senators and other faculty members on the FPC/SPC have requested data on a number of entities including intercollegiate athletics and the EKU Center for the Arts. There are also proposed changes to benefits and institutional work study that will be carefully reviewed.
STANDING COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Budget Committee. The Budget Committee will be meeting on Wednesday in preparation for the FPC/SPC meeting on Thursday and Friday. Senator Johnson requested that anyone with questions or suggestions regarding the budget should email the Budget committee members.
Elections Committee. Senator Day reminded that departments need to elect replacements for those senators whose terms are expiring in May.
Rules Committee. Senator Hensley announced that the motion to create a new standing committee on Informational Technology should be ready for the May meeting.
Welfare Committee. Senator Johnson reported that the University Benefits Committee met some time ago. Although discussions are still in the early stages, insurance rates will probably be increasing next year. The Benefits Committee will not meet again until after the SPC/FPC meeting.
ADJOURNMENT:
The meeting adjourned at approximately 5:10 p.m.
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