University Governance
Minutes
UNIVERSITY SENATE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
March 3, 2009
Provost’s Conference Room – 3:30 p.m.
Approved 3/24/09
PRESENT: Nancy Kinnersley, Lisa Wolf-Wendel, Ben Eggleston, John Staniunas, John Stratton, Liz Kowalchuk, Lisa Friis, Mary Berry, ston, Mary Ann Baker, Adam McGonigle, May Davis, Dennis Constance, Eric Foss, Bill Walberg
EXCUSED: Jeannette Johnson, Paul Farran
ALSO PRESENT: Molly Mulloy, Governance; Prof. Beverly Mack, chair, International Affairs Committee.
SenEx chair Mary Berry called the meeting to order at 3:30 p.m.
MINUTES for 02/17/09 were approved.
STANDING REPORTS
Faculty Senate President.
Nancy Kinnersley reported that the Provost has been offered the President position at another university.
University Senate President.
Mary Berry distributed a chart showing the deadlines for reports by governance committees to SenEx on specific charges. She expressed appreciation to the Chancellor for informing FacEx today about his plans to appoint an Interim Provost. Dennis Constance added that the Chancellor Search Committee has received many good nominations.
Berry reported that she and Vice Provost Danny Anderson have an appointment to talk on 4/1 with the Board of Regents’ Gary Alexander about calendar issues. Information is being gathered now from the Registrar and Vice Provost for Student Success about costs and benefits associated with calendar proposals. She will report back to SenEx at its 4/7 meeting.
Student Body President.
No new report.
Unclassified Senate
No new report.
University Support Staff.
Dennis Constance reported that the USS’s new Supervisor Assessment form is completing its trial run.
REPORT FROM THE INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS (“IA”) COMMITTEE
Mary Berry welcomed Beverly Mack, chair of the Committee, and invited her to highlight the committee’s recommendations. Members referred to a copy of the FY08 IA Committee final report on which the recommendations of the FY09 Committee had been overlaid in bold print.
In regard to the committee’s specific charge #4 (“Review the current policies and standards for evaluating and supporting the English language proficiency of international students…”), Nancy Kinnersley reported that the Board of Regents recently lowered the required score on the iBT oral proficiency test for GTAs from 26 to 22, but left it to individual units to make it higher if they wished. Another member said it is hard to have proficiency tests given to students in their own countries before they arrive at KU. Following much discussion, consensus was to provide copies of the IA report to Sara Rosen in the Graduate School in regard to graduate admissions, and to Lisa Pinamonte in regard to undergraduate admissions.
There was lengthy discussion about the committee’s many recommendations in response to their Standing Charge #2 (“…Develop strategies for encouraging KU faculty, staff, and students to pursue an international experience…”). Lisa Friis noted that the NSF’s international exchange program between countries would be a good way for faculty to connect. Lisa Wolf-Wendel suggested that Prof. Mack contact Charlie Bankhard at ISSS (International Scholar and Student Services) to check with KUCR about what international research programs are currently taking place at KU. Berry noted that the IA Committee recommended that several of their recommendations and observations be forwarded to specific administrators.
Mary Berry thanked Beverly Mack for meeting with SenEx today.
PROVOST’S SUGGESTED MODIFICATION OF TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS
USRR 2.2.9 (Course Repeat Policy)
Members referred to a handout that showed the proposed changes from the Provost in bold caps. Lisa Wolf-Wendel/May Davis moved to approve. Passed. The final language is as follows:
USRR 2.2.9 - Grade Replacement Policy in Repeat Courses
2.2.9 Grade Replacement Policy in Repeat Courses.
If a student takes a course at KU, receives a D or F in the course, enrolls in and repeats the course at KU, the new grade may be used in place of the original grade for purpose of GPA calculation, subject to the limitations herein.
1) The course must be numbered 000-299 and have been taken in the Fall 2001 semester or thereafter. CLASSES TAKEN FROM FALL 2001 THROUGH SUMMER 2007 MUST HAVE BEEN REQUESTED BY THE STUDENT DURING THE SEMESTER AS QUALIFYING FOR THE REPEAT POLICY. BEGINNING IN FALL 2007, THIS POLICY AUTOMATICALLY APPLIES TO CLASSES THAT MEET THE CRITERIA OUTLINED IN THIS SECTION.
The grade of D or F can not….
USRR 12.1 (Libraries Committee)
Lisa Wolf-Wendel/May Davis moved to accept. Passed with one abstention. The final text is as follows (Provost’s changes in bold caps):
UNIVERSITY SENATE CODE
ARTICLE XII. STANDING COMMITTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY SENATE
Section 1. Committees Identified
The University Committee on Libraries shall be composed of eleven twelve faculty members serving staggered three-year terms, including one representative each from the schools of Architecture and Urban Design, Business, Education, Engineering, Fine Arts, Journalism and Mass Communications, Pharmacy, and Social Welfare, and three four FIVE representatives from the College (representing Natural Sciences and Mathematics Mathematical ScienceS, Social and Behavioral ScienceS, Humanities, SCHOOL OF THE ARTS, and International Studies). In addition, there shall be four student members serving one-year terms, two staff members appointed by the Provost and serving staggered three-year terms and one representative from the Graduate School appointed by the Dean of Graduate Studies. At least one student member shall be a graduate student; one staff member shall be University Support Staff and the other shall be unclassified. The Committee shall also include the following non-voting, ex officio members: The Dean of the Libraries, the Law Librarian, one university support staff library staff member elected by the KU Library Support Staff Classified Conference , and one unclassified library staff member elected by the Library Faculty Assembly. AND PROFESSIONAL ASSEMBLY.
John Staniunas said he would like for a representative from the School of Music to be added to the Libraries Committee. Consensus of SenEx was to consider this during the summer meeting.
AMENDMENT TO USRR 2.2.5 (WITHDRAW) AND FSRR 5.4.4 (ADD)
FSRR 5.4.4. Mary Berry noted that FSRR 5.4.4 deals with enrollment in courses with “rolling” start dates, such as Continuing Education, seminars, etc. Nancy Kinnersley said only the faculty members of SenEx should vote on this amendment to the Faculty Senate Rules. Staniunas/Friis moved to approve. Passed. The final text is as follows:
FSRR Section 4. Regulation of Enrollment Procedures:
5.4.4 A student may enroll in a course or change class sections after the semester has been in session for four weeks only if the course has met fewer than 25% of the class sessions. The College or a school may adopt a policy setting a shorter period for courses/classes offered by the College or School, provided that the policy is announced in the Timetable of Classes for the affected term. Students may enroll in courses with rolling start dates (KUCE, independent study, seminars, and internships) with the permission of the instructor at any point in the semester
USRR 2.2.5. Mary Berry pointed out that this section establishes the dates for the withdrawal periods in classes with rolling dates of enrollment. A member suggested adding the word “Furthermore” at the beginning of the last sentence. Questions were raised about the how frequently Continuing Education granted extensions. Another question concerned how AP&P came up with the 75% figure rather than 66% in the last sentence since the semester is divided into three parts for drops in regular classes. The proposed sentence is: “No student may withdraw from a KUCE course after an extension has been granted or after the student has completed 75 % of the required course work.” AP&P chair George McCleary will be asked for clarification and/or invited to the next SenEx meeting to discuss.
NEW BUSINESS
Members reviewed an amendment to the University Senate Code proposed by the Athletic Committee to add the Associate Director of Athletics for Student Athlete Support Services as an ex-officio, non-voting member of the committee. John Staniunas/Mary Ann Baker moved to approve the change. Passed. The language is as follows:
Section 2. Membership
. . .
The Athletic Committee shall be composed of six faculty members serving staggered three‑year terms beginning July 1, three student members, and one representative from University Support Staff Senate and one representative from Unclassified Senate appointed in accordance with the rules and regulations of their respective governance bodies. The NCAA Faculty Representative and the Associate Director of Athletics for Student Athlete Support Services will serve in an ex-officio capacity as a non-voting members. ….
No further business.
Respectfully submitted,
Molly Mulloy