University Governance
UNIVERSITY SENATE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
October 21, 2008
Provost’s Conference Room – 3:30 p.m.
Approved November 18, 2008
PRESENT: Mary Berry, Liz Kowalchuk, Lisa Wolf-Wendel, John Staniunas, John Stratton, Mary Ann Baker, Danny Kaiser, Dennis Constance, Paul Farran, Adam McGonigle, May Davis, Bill Walberg
EXCUSED: Lisa Friis, Nancy Kinnersley, Eric Foss, Ben Eggleston, Paul Farran
ALSO PRESENT: Molly Mulloy
SenEx chair Mary Berry called the meeting to order at 3:30 p.m.
MINUTES for September 23, 2008 were approved.
STANDING REPORTS
University Senate President
In Nancy Kinnersley’s absence, Mary Berry reported for her that Kinnersley heard at the Council of Faculty Senate President’s meeting last week that KU may be considering a new policy that would affect tuition. Berry will follow up on this with Vice Provost Danny Anderson.
An email was sent from Vice Provost for Research Steve Warren to faculty and staff last week about a new required form regarding inventions. This will be discussed today under
“New Business.”
Student Body President
Adam McGonigle reported that a bill to change the student senate election process will be voted on by the Student Senate tomorrow. In regard to the controversial chant at home football games that students decline to discontinue, an alternate chant has been proposed for other persons in the stadium to say at the same time. Several options for the new pool at the Student Recreation Center will be presented to students in about two weeks. Student Senate’s voter registration drive this fall resulted in 1,834 new voters being registered. A Resolution passed by Student Senate this week to add a statement to the USRR regarding mid-term grades will be discussed later in today’s SenEx meeting.
Unclassified Senate President
Reporting for Paul Farran, Danny Kaiser said that Jonathan Earle and Barbara Ballard of the Dole Center made an excellent presentation to Unclassified Staff last week regarding the upcoming national elections.
University Support Staff President
Dennis Constance reported that the USS “mini-Wheat State tour” on October 13th was a success and will hopefully be expanded next year. The Kansas Council, comprised of support staff leaders from the Regents schools, will meet on October 30th to talk about FY09 legislative action. Constance met with Maurice Bryan last week, to share some concerns and perspectives about diversity on campus.
Employee Invention Agreement
Members discussed a 10/14/08 email from Vice Provost for Research Steve Warren to KU faculty/unclassified staff with an “Employee Invention Assignment Agreement” form to be signed/returned by 10/31/08. Mary Berry explained that she and Kinnersley had received emails from Engineering School faculty who are concerned that the required form is substantially different than the policy itself. Berry said a Law School faculty member is looking over the form and the policy and will advise governance leaders, who will then meet with the Provost and Vice Provost Warran to discuss the concerns.
NEW BUSINESS
Student Senate Resolution. Adam McGonigle distributed copies of Student Senate resolution No. 2009-301, “A Resolution in Support of University Senate amendment to USRR Article II, Section 2.2.9.” He explained that many students only receive notification of their grade after the completion of the semester and many would like to know their mid-term grade. The Resolution recommends that the following statement be added to USRR 2.2.9:
“Article II.
- Notification of mid-Semester grades
Instructors shall notify individual students of their current percentage grade by the end of the seventh full week for classes during the fall and spring semesters.”
In the discussion that followed, faculty in the art and theatre departments noted that mid-term grades would be difficult to calculate in certain types of courses. McGonigle said in such cases students could be told their grade in that course was 0% of 0%. Wolf-Wendel recommended that the word “shall” be changed to “should.” Danny Kaiser/Bill Walberg moved that the resolution be forward to the Academic Policies and Procedures Committee for a recommendation. Passed.
Homecoming Activities.
Bill Walberg announced that the SUA-sponsored homecoming parade is this Saturday at 9:00 a.m. and that comedian Gabriel Iglesias will perform at the Lied Center at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow night.
No further business.
Respectfully submitted,
Molly Mulloy