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Chair Rye noted some faculty members have said they don't have enough data about the finances of the university, although some of that data is available in the Senate documents that have been sent out with meeting notices. Consultant Dr. Nelson noted that HBCUs spend less on instruction and more on student support. BASC is going back to look at benchmark institutions to compare. This information includes IPEDS data for June of 2015 and 2016.
Chair Glass reported that PCC continues to work on Tenure and Promotion revisions. The committee has finalized a new evaluation instrument for faculty. It has been given to Dr. Jackson, who forwarded it to chairs. President Sipes clarified that this is the first step in revising the guidelines. Chair Glass confirmed that point and said PCC is still working on the Faculty Handbook.
Faculty Regent McFayden reported that a new Regent was installed at the last Board Meeting: Ron Banks. A vote was taken, 7-3, to offer a contract to Dr. Brown as the new KSU President. Vice Chair Wang asked when the new president would start. Regent McFayden said he didn't know; contract negotiation is going on now. President Sipes added that Dr. Thompson's contract ends on 6/30. Regent McFayden noted that historically there has been an overlap, usually a month or so, so that the outgoing president can work with the incoming president.
A senator noted that he had been receiving phone calls from alums who were concerned about the upcoming vote of confidence. They wanted to know what he was doing about the issue. He had been trying to concentrate on his teaching and not become involved in the vote. He has asked what Senate could do to rectify the issues, but there have been no answers. Recruitment has proven difficult under these circumstances. He asked if there could be a motion to nullify the motion to take a vote. President Sipes replied that Senate doesn't have the authority to overturn what the full faculty has decided. He then asked if Senate could rescind the motion that had sent the question to the whole faculty, but President Sipes reiterated that once the full faculty has made a decision, Senate alone cannot overturn it.
A guest noted that according to Robert’s Rules a motion can be rescinded if there is a 2/3 vote. A different guest asked if would be possible to call a faculty meeting for tomorrow at 11 to discuss the motion. Past President Smith noted that state law says a body cannot call a meeting for business with less than 24 hours’ notice.
A senator asked that since Senate doesn’t have the authority to rescind the vote, can it pass a motion to urge faculty to vote confidence? There was no clear answer to the question. A guest asked if the vote could be delayed. Past President Smith noted that too would take a vote of the full faculty.