Faculty Senate Meeting Minutes
Monday November 13, 2017
3:30 - 5:00 CH 126
Summary of Action
Voted to choose option 3 as outlined in the proposal that describes the make-up
of the University Committee so that it includes the 7 college committee chairpersons
+ 2 at large, non-tenure track faculty at Associate or Full level, ex officio: Grad
Dean, and 1 non-voting student representative. The vote passed with 4-opposed. The
revised FAR form that includes Uniscope was approved by majority vote with 2 abstentions.
I. Call to Order II. Informal Statements and Proposals
None
III. Approval of the Minutes
Minutes approved
Mention made from floor to watch spelling of names and avoid abbreviations of names.
IV. President's Report a. Abillity Ally training - needs to be completed by end of
the year. In person classes available through MyTraining portal on My蹤獲扦; Online sessions
available through Bb use selfenroll option, see link on senate page. b. KBOR meeting
@ 蹤獲扦 on Nov 15. Thoughts from senate floor were requested for issues to share with
KBOR none were offered. c. Joint UP/USS meeting held last week, another is planned
for spring. Issues discussed included non-salary based incentives in lieu of raises.
It was stated that a cross campus survey would be conducted. Discussed ongoing development
of service standards. Discussed game-day parking challenges. Campus police are part
of this meeting and police shared details about handling these changes. You can register
to get text messages about game day parking restrictions. Discontent regarding health
quest send complaints to benefits@kdheks.gov.
IV. Committee Reports a. Gen. Ed. Committee considering requests regarding 120
hour exceptions and whether it is time to open a dialogue about revising general education
guidelines. b. Rules committee Still have two openings.
V. New Business
a. Non-Tenure Track promotion policy (1st Reading )
i. Summary document with implementation details ii. FAQs iii. Full policy text
Dr. Bardo and PET are eager to take a look at these policies. Submission due by March
23. There will be an opportunity for non-tenure track faculty to go up for promotion
in the spring. Department review deadline April 20. College review deadline May 18.
Q- Is the administration expecting an up or down vote from the senate? A Yes. Q
Has this policy been shown to the non-tenure track faculty who this affects? A Yes,
they sit in this senate and had members on the committee that put this policy together.
Q What is the proportion on non-tenure members on the proposed University Committee?
A- Trying to establish the fairest arrangement.
Discussed which option of the proposed compositions of the University Promotion Committee
was favored by senate.
Voted to choose option 3 as outlined in the proposal, which includes 7 college
committee chairpersons + 2 at large, non-tenure track faculty at Associate or Full
level, ex officio: Grad Dean, and 1 non-voting student representative. The vote passed
with 4-opposed.
VI. Old Business a. Revised FAR form with Uniscope (2nd reading) Discussion focused
on section IV positive risk taking. A motion was forwarded to approve, motion was
seconded and the senate voted in favor with 2 abstentions. The new FAR form is anticipated
to come into effect for calendar year 18. b. Coaching and Corrective Action (2nd reading)
- Discussion focused on the scope of this policy and how it pertained to faculty with
operational positions and how Leadership is defined as it is used in the policy.
Q How is at-will defined with respect to faculty? AAt will applies to faculty
in their non-faculty roles, such as administrative roles. Concerns were raised from
senators regarding wording under Involuntary Separation which stated that Any employee,
including tenured faculty, who is charged with and/or convicted of a criminal offense
may be immediately separated from University employment. The objection was the inclusion
of tenured faculty in this statement. It was decided to have another reading of
this policy before voting. c. Investigative Leave (2nd reading) A motion was made
to close debate and the move was seconded. Concerns were then raised about the section
describing the procedure to be followed. Specific concerns included issues of barring
a faculty member's access to office, e-mail and other resources during an investigation.
Further discussion regarding the invoking of confidentiality on employees being investigated
took place. In response, it was stated by general counsel's office that this does
not apply to legal advice. Concerns persisted on the senate floor about language regarding
confidentiality being imposed on an employee under investigation. The prior motion
was voted on and the failed to pass. VII. Meeting Adjourned 4:58.