University Governance

Minutes

FACULTY SENATE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
June 12, 2008
Provost’s Conference Room – 2:30 p.m.

Approved 09/02/08

PRESENT:  Mary Berry, Liz Kowalchuk, Nancy Kinnersley, Ben Eggleston, John Staniunas, John Stratton, Lisa Wolf-Wendel

EXCUSED: Lisa Friis

ALSO PRESENT: Molly Mulloy

            FacEx chair Nancy Kinnersley called the meeting to order at 2:30 p.m.

MINUTES for April 29, 2008 were approved.

REPORT OF THE FACULTY SENATE PRESIDENT
            Nancy Kinnersley reported on events at the Board of Regents meeting, noting that tuition increases will be harder to get approved in the coming years. Discussion ensued about the relatively low percentage of state support for the universities compared to surrounding states.  Kinnersley noted that the BOR approved the universities’ academic calendars through 2012, and that the BOR’s FY-2010 budget must be submitted to the Governor by Sept. 15, 2008. Kinnersley also reported on the Council of Faculty Senate Presidents’ (COFSP) extensive discussions about assessment and the student evaluation process.

CHARGES TO GOVERNANCE COMMITTEES
Faculty Compensation.
Members reviewed a memo dated 04/08/08 from Faculty Compensation  chair Donna Ginther describing KU’s existing domestic partner benefits and peer institution policies. A copy will be forwarded to the new Task Force on Employee Benefits. Specific Charge #1 was deleted (“consider the impact of tuition waivers…”) and will be sent to the Task Force on Employee Benefits for consideration. 

FRPR. 
Specific Charge #2 was deleted (“….develop and maintain a comprehensive website including all university-wide employment-related policies….”). John Staniunas will add a few examples to Specific charge #5 (“review initiative 2015…”).

Faculty Rights Board. 
The second bulleted item will be deleted because this committee, unlike others, does not keep minutes of its meetings. Consensus was that the 3rd year review process (or “mid-probationary review”) should be evaluated in detail, perhaps by an ad hoc task force.  Kinnersley and Mary Berry will discuss this with the Provost.

Research.
Kinnersley reported that Hume Feldman has agreed to chair. Members agreed to add a charge regarding the relationship between research/graduate studies and the GRF funds. Specific Charge #5 (“….online database for reporting… the outcomes of GRF awards…”) will be made a standing charge.

SPPT (Standards & Procedures for Promotion and Tenure)
            Consensus was to change Specific Charge #4 (“Monitor the implementation of the new faculty Senate Rules concerning promotion and tenure…”) to a new standing charge.
Kinnersley reported that SPPT chair Mark Ezell would like to meet with FacEx early in the fall semester.

            Kinnersley will revise the charges as discussed today and email them to members for final approval.

            Ben Eggleston/Lisa Wolf-Wendel moved that FacEx go into closed session at 3:30 p.m. for the purpose of appointing faculty to serve on committees. Motion carried.  The meeting returned to open session at 4:30 p.m.

No further business.

Respectfully submitted,
Molly Mulloy