University Governance
UNIVERSITY SENATE
February 26, 2009 – Room #106, Green HallApproved: 03/12/09
PRESENT: Faculty - Mary Berry, Melissa Birch, David Brackett, Marta Caminero-Santangelo, Ben Eggleston, Mohamed El-Hodiri, Ada Emmett, Mark Ezell, Allen Ford, Joe Harrington, Robert Harrington, Doug Huffman, Nancy Kinnersley, Liz Kowalchuk, Alice Lieberman, Chuck Marsh, Joyce McCray-Pearson, Brent Metz, Jim Orr, Bozenna Pasik-Duncan, Barbara Phipps, Iris Fischer Smith, Dan Spencer, Jeff Staudinger, John Stratton, Rodolfo Torres, Donna Tucker; Tony Walton, Lisa Wolf-Wendel. Students – Ben Cohen, May Davis, Stacy Elmer, Eric Foss, Mason Heilman, Elise Higgins, Tonia Salas, Brian Hardouin, Aly Rodee. Staff – Betty Childers, Mary Ann Baker, Jeannette Johnson, Phil Wilke, Jason O’Connor. Ex-officio – Richard Lariviere, Provost; Dennis Constance, University Support Staff president; Paul Farran, Unclassified Senate president.EXCUSED: Faculty - Matt Burke, James Daugherty, Lisa Friis , Man Kong, Steve Maynard-Moody, Jean Peterson, Jean Philips, Gitti Salami, John Staniunas, Kelli Thomas, Stacey S White. Students - Michael Gray, JJ Siler, Bill Walberg. Staff - Cayla Witty
(Please contact Molly Mulloy if you were indeed present)ALSO PRESENT: Molly Mulloy, Governance; Kathy Reed, Governance; Mary Lee Hummert, Provost’s Office
President Mary Berry called the meeting to order at 3:30 p.m.
MINUTES for February 12, 2009 were approved.
A CONVERSATION WITH PROVOST RICHARD LARIVIERE
Provost Lariviere began by reporting on the new budget proposals being debated in the state legislature, noting that the Governor had already proposed a 3% cut in FY09, which has been amended to 4.25%, and a 4% cut in FY10, for a total of 8.25%. However, an additional 10% cut is being discussed, which Lariviere said would do fundamental harm to the university. He noted that the Governor is expected to propose a new budget tomorrow based on the federal stimulus package, though no one knows its impact yet.
Lariviere said the final budget for FY2010 will probably not be out until early May. After that, the university will devise a plan to “capture one-time money” during FY2010, if needed, possibly in the form of furloughs. He emphasized that furloughs would be progressive and depend on the employee’s salary; for example, one earning below $30,000 might be held harmless, while one earning $50-75,000 might have a four day furlough, and so forth. He added that the idea of furloughs appeals to him more than permanent cuts because furloughs preserve salaries and keep a maximum number of people employed.Paul Farran, president of the Unclassified Senate, noted that current University policy provides that unclassified staff receive six months’ notice in January each year if one’s position is being eliminated when the fiscal year ends on June 30th. He asked how much notice would be given about layoffs if the final FY2010 budget is not known until May. The Provost responded that he expects to stick with a rolling six-month notice unless the state has a catastrophic 15-20% reduction.
If KU were to receive a 15-20% reduction, Lariviere said he would protect the research and teaching functions and would not cut already-low funding for graduate students. Strategic cuts would have to be made in administrative and service units. The Provost is putting together a blue-ribbon panel that will provide feedback on various budget-cutting options. He predicted that we are in for 24 months of tough times but emphasized that we will get out of this economic downturn.
Asked about possible cuts based on program duplication with other Regents’ universities, the Provost said that is a very political issue that is up to the Regents.
Asked by student May Davis how tuition would be affected, the Provost said he didn’t know the answer. He noted that the Chancellor has said we can’t make up budget cuts on the backs of students. He pointed out that the 3% annual erosion in state support for higher education in recent years has been offset by grants, donations, scholarships, etc. but a 15% budget reduction would be like having five years of cuts in one year.
In response to a question, the Provost said that it’s been a great legislative session for KU so far this year. The House voted 116-3 to allow the Regents to set admissions standards. A bill is about to pass that allows the university to build its own buildings, which would save much time and about 10-15% of the cost. Another bill has passed the House that would allow the University to offer modest tuition waivers to children of out-of-state alumni, and the resulting increase in enrollment would help subsidize in-state students.
Asked about the progress of the Pharmacy building, the Provost said $20 million in bonds have been sold for the $50 million project, and the Governor will ask the legislature to allow bonds for the other $30 million. In regard to technology improvements, the Provost said campus technology is much more efficient than five years ago; he is impressed with Denise Stephens’ reorganization and the quality of our IT managers.
The Provost commented that while KU does not have an official hiring freeze, individual schools may not be filling various openings because they do not have enough funds.
After answering more questions, the Provost was applauded for visiting with Senate members today.
STANDING REPORTS
University Senate President. Mary Berry reported that much is being accomplished by the various governance committees. She noted that governance leaders are in constant communication with the administration regarding the budget and other issues.Faculty Senate President. Nothing new to report.
Student Body President. Reporting for Adam McGonigle, Mason Heilman said that Student Senate did not recommend new fee increases and is currently allocating $300,000 from the Educational Opportunity Fund. The grade notification proposal originally developed by Student Senate is being discussed by Governance’s Academic Policies and Procedures Committee tomorrow.
Unclassified Senate
Nothing new to report. Mary Berry commented that Paul Farran’s email to unclassified staff about the budget situation was excellent and helpful.University Support Staff (“USS”)
Northing new to report.AMENDMENT TO THE UNIVERSITY SENATE CODE, ARTICLE 12.2.
Mary Berry said this amendment would add a representative of the Provost’s Advising leadership Team as an ex-officio member of the Academic Policies and Procedures Committee. It will be voted on at the March 12 Senate meeting. The text is in bold print as follows:ARTICLE XII. STANDING COMMITTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY SENATE
Section 1. Committees Identified
Section 2. Membership
The Committee on Academic Policies and Procedures shall be composed of seven faculty, and one representative each from the unclassified and university support staff serving three-year terms, and three students serving one-year terms. A representative of the Provost's Advising Leadership Team, appointed by that group, shall serve as an ex-officio, non-voting member.
AMENDMENT TO UNIVERSITY SENATE RULES, ARTICLE 1.3.2
Berry said that this recommendation from the Calendar Committee would codify the procedure for take-home exams. In the discussion that followed, members suggested two changes in the third to last sentence (shown in BOLD CAPS below): 1) to add the word “during” and 2) to change the phrase “if the last exam is online” to “if an on-line exam is given.” Jeannette Johnson/Barbara Phipps moved to modify the amendment with the two changes shown above; passed without dissent. Berry announced that the amendment will be voted on at the next Senate meeting. The text is as follows:1.3.2. A Comprehensive Final Examination is defined as an examination that tests over class content covering the entire term. A Section Examination is defined as an examination that tests over class content covering a unit, section, topic or part of the term, but does not cover the entire content of the class.
Normally the last examination in a course - whether a comprehensive Final Examination or a Section Exam - is administered at the appointed time during the regularly scheduled final exam period. An exam may be given during the last week of classes ONLY if it is a Section Exam preceding a Comprehensive Final Examination; this Comprehensive Final Examination must be administered at the appointed time during the regularly scheduled final exam period. If neither a Section Examination nor a Comprehensive Final Examination is to be given, the class is not required to meet at its appointed time during the regularly scheduled final examination period. If a “take-home” exam is given, the earliest date it may be due is during the regularly scheduled final exam period for the class. Likewise, if the last exam is on-line, IF AN ON-LINE EXAM IS GIVEN, the earliest required completion date and time is DURING the regularly scheduled final exam period for the class. The above does not apply to assignments such as projects, performances, or papers. These may be due or take place during the last week of regular classes.
ACADEMIC CALENDAR FOR 2012-2013
Calendar Committee chair Barbara Phipps thanked the members of her committee, who she said had been asked to consider bold and wide-ranging changes in the academic calender. She has discussed the recommendations in several meetings with SenEx; additional information is being gathered from the Office of Institutional Research and Planning, the Registrar, and the Regents before moving forward. In the meantime, Phipps said the committee and SenEx approved the calendar for 2012-2013, which is due to the Regents this spring. The main change in it is to move Fall Break from a Thursday-Friday to a Monday-Tuesday. Following brief discussion, Liz Kowalchuk/Ada Emmett moved to approve the Calendar. Passed. Berry said it will be forwarded to the Provost and Chancellor, who will forward it to the Board of Regents for final approval.NEW BUSINESS
Recommendation from the Academic Computing & Telecommunications Committee (access to technological equipment)
Mary Berry said a charge had been given to the ACTC committee to address the problem that some staff do not have access to technical equipment. SenEx deleted one paragraph because some offices deal with confidential information and would not want to provide public access. ACTC chair Donna Tucker said ACTC thought some larger departments would be able to set up a separate computer with web access for Facilities Operations employees. Jeannette Johnson said the matter would ultimately come to the administration and become a function of Human Resources department to implement. Mohamed El-hodiri/Phil Wilke moved for University Senate to endorse the proposal. Passed. The proposal is as follows:“The Academic Computing and Telecommunications Committee recommends that the University of Kansas adopt a policy stating that all employees are required to have access to technological equipment (such as computers) in order to
- Obtain information relevant to their job functions (such as university policies)
- Perform personnel functions (such as signing up for health insurance)
Departments may either provide the equipment at the employee’s work location or provide the employee time to go to another location on campus where such equipment is available for use by the employee or by all University staff.
Staff who require training to use the technological equipment to perform the functions listed above should be allowed time to attend University run computer classes. Note that hiring supervisors can include ability to use specified technological equipment in their list of required qualifications for a position.
All departments on campus are encouraged (although not required) to provide access to selected technological equipment at times when it is not being used by department employees to employees of other departments.
The University will make available to all employees necessary technological equipment to perform the functions listed above at selected locations around campus. “No further business. The meeting adjourned at 4:50 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Molly Mulloy