Senate Minutes 10_15_09

November Faculty Regent Report

November 2009 COSFL Report

November 2009 Grad Council Report

November UCC Report

Insurance-Reserve-Request-3.09

WKUF Health Fund Activity

Motion Regarding Health Fund Accountability

Potential Business Items for Senate (Nov 09 Update)

See the calendar link for a listing of University Senate committee Meetings.

Issue: Faculty need to be able to give input about Digital Measures – it often doesn’t allow faculty members to show what they DO well.

Response: While we inevitably face the common hassle of reporting, we have learned that Digital Measures offers a remarkable amount of flexibility and customization based on the needs of individual colleges and departments. Based on this option, we have been in communication with Doug McElroy in Academic Affairs who is working to resolve issues related to Digital Measures. Any concerns should be sent to doug.mcelroy@wku.edu who will review the issue with the folks at DM to find a suitable resolution.

Issue: There is a need for more faculty input and representation through the Senate – a general need to raise the level of participation from the Senators.

Response: We take this issue seriously as faculty participation is key to both the function of the Senate and the health of our university. Based on this concern, we are implementing various means of assuring the transparency and accessibility of Senate business. This website has been updated to allow for more dialogue around issues of importance to our faculty. As concerns are posted, responses and progress from our standing committees will be highlighted. The site allows for continuing comments and ideas to be shared. We also began this academic year with a “Senator Orientation Luncheon” designed to share the history and purpose of our University Senate as well as provide encouragement and tips for participation through parliamentary procedure. At each Senate meeting Officers and Committee Chairs will report progress on issues of faculty concern. As always, we encourage Senators to bring forward items of New Business as they interact with their constituents.

Issue: There is a need for faculty to be aware of CPE initiatives and be able to contribute to decisions made at the state level.

Response: WKU has become active participants in the Kentucky Coalition of Senate and Faculty Leadership for Higher Education (COSFL). Our COSFL representatives participate in regular meetings with a representative from the KY Council on Postsecondary Education (CPE). The goal is to be aware of issues at the state level and contribute faculty perspective on important decisions that effect our local institutions. Our WKU reps are Molly Kerby (UC – Women’s Studies & COSFL Treasurer), Andrew McMichael (PCAL – History), and Kate Hudepohl (PCAL – Anthropology).

Minutes – Sept 17, 2009 University Senate

COSFL Meeting Minutes – October 2, 2009

October Faculty Regent Report

October 2009 Grad Council report

UCC Agenda (October 2009)

Faculty Welfare Issue Agenda 09/10

Senate Minutes 10_15_09

We have created an easy way for you to keep up with important Senate business. From the Senate homepage, go to the “Issue, Response, & Dialogue” link. You will see a list of concerns submitted to the Senate for consideration followed by a response from the appropriate committee or individual. This page allows you to add any comments you wish in order to contribute to any relevant, ongoing dialogue. As always, thanks for your participation!

Issue:

“Develop a mechanism for approving curriculum changes during the summer.”

Response:

“Last year, the UCC put in place a mechanism, the temporary courses, to address this issue.  It is possible to get new courses rapidly approved, and on TopNet, within about 3 weeks as needed even over the summer.  This has been very successful and has offered all areas an immediate short-term solution to a potential course offering crises due to sudden staffing or program changes. All other curriculum needs the full approval of the Senate, Provost, and, in the case of new programs, the BOR.  In addition, program changes can only ever go into effect in the Fall because of the calendar year issue, so it is a rather moot point on them being approved in the summer since they could not go into the catalog after March and still would not be available until the following year even if approved in the summer. Since the Graduate committee uses the Undergraduate forms and are also tied to the same time and practical constraints, these points apply at the Graduate level as well. See detailed guidelines at http://www.wku.edu/ucc/guidelines.html.”

The Kentucky Coalition of Senate and Faculty Leadership for Higher Education met today to orgainize their business for the 09/10 academic year. We are pleased to announce that Senator Molly Kerby (UC – Women’s Studies) was elected to the Executive Committee of COSFL in the office of Treasurer. Andrew McMichael (PCAL – History) was also appointed as our official WKU faculty representative with Kate Hudepohl (PCAL – Anthropology) as our alternate. Congratulations to Molly, Andrew, and Kate. We thank them for their service and know they will represnt WKU faculty well.

September 2009 Full Agenda and Docs

Senate Agenda – September 2009

May 14, 2009 University Senate Minutes

Grad Council – September 2009

UCC – September 2009

Gen Ed – September 2009

Clinical Ranks Memorandum

CLINICAL PRACTITIONER FACULTY RANKS Descriptions

Domestic Partner Vote Report

Sept-17-2009-University-Senate-Minutes