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Kentucky State University Faculty Senate Minutes January 29, 2018

SENATORS UNIT Ex Officio Members & Guests

Amusan, Ibukun Math & Science Milton C. Seymore

Andries, Kenneth AFE Tierra Freeman

Desborde, Rene Business Laurent Vesely

French, Asha LLP Elgie McFayden, Faculty Regent

Gebremedhin, Maheteme AFE Mirta Rimolo

Gibson, Caroline Fine Arts Wei-Sian Chen

Gilliam, Erin BSS

Griffin, Robert Fine Arts James Obielodan

Gyawali, Buddhi AFE Wilfred Reilly

Hampton, Dantrea President Library

Hannemann, Jens Computer Science

Vacant AQU

Lu, Li Math & Science

Marraccini, Patti Nursing

McKay, Marlin Fine Arts

Rajendran, Narayanan At-Large (MASC)

Ramon, Donavan Whitney Young

VACANT BSS

Rye, Reba Secretary At-Large (FA)

Sharma, Rita Math & Science

VACANT At Large

Smith, Peter Vice-President LLP

Ulrich, Stephen PUA, Social Work

Williams, Cynthia L. Nursing

Vedder, Catherine LLP

Walston, Herman Education

Wang, Changzheng At-Large (AFE)

The ninth regularly scheduled meeting of the AY 2017-18 Faculty Senate was called to order at 3:18 pm on Monday, January 29, 2018, Hathaway Hall 123. The agenda was approved with no amendments and minutes of the November 27, 2017 Faculty Senate meeting were approved with one friendly amendment.

Senate President Report:

President Hampton reported two Senators have accepted administrative positions and will step down as Senators. Wilfred Reilly, Political Science, has been appointed Faculty Ombudsman and Kim Sipes, Senator at Large, is Deputy Provost for Undergraduate Education and Faculty Affairs. President Hampton thanked them for their service. Reilly was Chair of PCC and now the committee needs to consider who will be elected chair and President Hampton directed PCC to elect a new chair at their next meeting. Sipes will continue to serve as secretary for the Curriculum Committee, as a non-voting member.

KSU President Brown arrived and President Hampton recognized him to present his report to Senate.

He welcomed all into a Happy New Year and said KSU needs Senate's help and "push" on several fronts. He has approved FSBASC 17-18-02 Pay Equity Study. External quotes from consultant firms are prohibitive, estimated up to 200,000, and this is not a good use of funds. Therefore, he is appointing Dr. Gus Ridgel, Senior Advisor to the President, to Chair an internal study. He will be asking Clara Stamp to lead the Administrative/Staff pay equity study and Reba Rye, Chair of BASC, to lead the Faculty study. They will recommend potential committee members and will have full access to all requested data.

He asked Senate to address the shortage of one Monday class for the Spring semester, per SACS accreditation. He pointed out Senate action is required to modify the academic schedule and the body needs to consider taking President's Day and/or Good Friday off as academic holidays. KSU's accrued inclement weather days (a Tuesday and a Wednesday) have created the shortfall of requisite instruction. He suggested no faculty office hours could be policy and library or "take-home" assignments could suffice for "instruction day". The option would be at individual faculty member's discretion.

Dr. Freeman pointed out that President's Day and Good Friday are not on the Senate approved Academic Calendar but is still listed as holidays by Human Resources. She said that other institutions address loss of academic days due to weather by giving assignments on blackboard. President Brown said administrative and staff employees could be on “liberal leave” if they already have other plans for the two holidays.

Secretary Rye raised the question if Senate needs to act on policy for making-up inclement weather days. Dr. Freeman said there is already Senate approved policy in place, from tenure of VPAA Thierstein. Rye suggested stated policy be circulated to all faculty and included on Public Announcements with cancellations.

President Brown said going forward class cancellations will not be the norm due to weather but faculty will have discretion to make alternate assignments and assume responsibility of “liberal leave”.

President Hampton pointed out that the two holidays in question are on the academic calendar for next year, as approved by Senate and Board of Regents. President Brown said Senate can initiate an action

item to alter the schedule and delete one or two of the holidays. He will approve Senate action, sign and get to Rayla Smoot, Director of Human Resources.

President Brown asked Senate to please consider Friday morning commencement as we look at altering the academic calendar.

KSU will be featured at the February 13 Kentucky General Assembly recognition of Black History Month.

The March 1, 2018 Board of Regents meeting will be in the Student Center and all are welcome. Dr. Belle Wheelan, President SACSCOC, will be guest presenter.

Senate President Report (continued):

Senate President Hampton resumed her report. She contacted Provost Thomas for an official list of funded faculty lines to prepare for Senate elections. She will work with Human Resources Director Rayla Smoot on that request.

She sent to APC the calendar issue, as requested by President Brown.

The Senate Executive Committee met on January 6 to discuss the items above and information from the two cabinet meetings she has attended. She received a copy of KSU's state budget requests. VP of Finance Appleton reported a $267,300 reduction proposed for KSU's Revived 2018 Executive Budget. KSU presented with the University of Louisville and University of Kentucky, both of which are dealing with millions in reductions, job losses, etc.

She received a copy of KSU's Management and Improvement Plan, which are available hardcopy somewhere. Secretary Rye asked if it can be published on the KSU web-site. Hampton will inquire.

She reported concerns expressed on COSFL Listserv about possible “weakening of tenure” in proposed House Bill 200, Section 29 page 236 that allows for dismissal of faculty when programs are eliminated, given 10 days notice. Rye pointed out that KSU policy already allows such dismissal but with a one-year notice, or one year’s severance pay, instead of 10 days if another suitable position is not available. President Hampton concurred. (Faculty Handbook 2.8.5.2 Discontinuance of Programs)

Registration, without charges, was extended due to weather closings. In the future President Brown directed Freshmen be given preference for campus housing and everyone else “first come first serve. A directory of rental properties will be created.

Claude Huddleston, Dean of Students is no longer with the university.

On April 13 KSU is hosting the Bluegrass Higher Education Consortium. Each school can nominate two attendees. Sonia Sanders is the contact person.

As of January 31st the reported KSU student headcount is 2,180, but accounts were not yet settled. Secretary Rye inquired if those students who were still on rosters last fall but never actually came are still counted? Hampton said she did not know. A Senator pointed out that dual credit high school students must also be included in that count. Hampton reported that if student's balance is 1,000 or less they can make payment arrangements.

Graduation will be in Bradford Hall Auditorium, with overflow in Little Theatre and the Student Center Ballroom. Students will be given two priority tickets for parents, but those are still “first come first

serve". A Senator suggested faculty could cede their seats to family members and Secretary Rye agreed. President Hampton said that idea had been considered in the Cabinet meeting but was rejected.

Brandon Williams will be dealing with Title IX.

Curriculum Committee:

No items were presented by CC and Chair Andries was not present.

Academic Policy Committee:

There was no report by APC. President Hampton said she did attend the committee meeting and discussed the two day holiday issue. She met with Dr. Broady and will talk with Dr. Thomas about our concerns with the options, but since this is a Board approved item it will have to be redone if changed, as President Brown requested. We need to get the FY19 academic calendar out.

Professional Concerns Committee:

President Hampton reported PCC did not meet due to Chair Reilly assuming an administrative position as Ombudsman and she was of the opinion that no one wanted to serve. Senator Vedder declined on inquiry by President Hampton.

Extensive discussion ensued regarding Wilfred Reilly’s qualification to serve as Parliamentarian of Faculty Senate and Chair of PCC considering his appointed position as Ombudsman. With his resignation Senate does not have an acting Parliamentarian. Vice-President Smith opined Ombudsman is not an administrative position and the appointment should be treated the same as things such as the release time he receives for SACS editing. Hampton and other Senators contended such comparison is not solid because the SACS editing position is not salaried and not administrative.

Smith said there is a “long standing” policy that only one course release time does not classify as administrative and if Ombudsman Reilly is still teaching three classes he should be qualified to serve in Senate. President Hampton argued the position is administrative and, as such, prohibits him from serving as a Senator. Secretary Rye suggested the issue of additional salary is a significant factor.

A non-Senator said in the past Senate has had individuals move up to administrative positions. Hampton said they should have then resigned from Faculty Senate.

Considerable debate ensued as to the definition of “administrative position” and “administrative duties” and if Ombudsman qualified as either.

A Senator said that Senate was out of order in her opinion, according to Robert's Rules of Order, due to conducting a meeting without a Parliamentarian.

Secretary Rye made a motion to elect a Parliamentarian. Vice-President Smith said that was “jumping the gun” until such time as the issue of Reilly’s qualification is determined. Rye amended the motion to qualify that “Senate elect a temporary Parliamentarian to serve until such time as the issue of qualification is resolved.” Motion carried with one nay and one abstention. The Senator voting abstention recorded vote reflected opinion that “same people continue to be elected”. President Hampton said others need to then “step up to serve”. Debate ensued.

Senator Wang volunteered to serve as temporary Parliamentarian if nominated and elected.

Rye nominated Senator Wang for temporary Parliamentarian until such time as the qualification issue is resolved. Motion carried unanimously.

Budget & Academic Support:

Chair Rye reported that since committee minutes were approved and submitted President Brown responded to her inquiry about requested budgetary data per FSBASC 17-18-4. He directed VP Appleton to supply the requested data and she hopes it will be available for review in the next committee meeting. Approved BASC minutes included discussion of intent to file a freedom of information request if requested data was not received by February 4, signed by Chair Rye and other BASC tenured faculty. She reported hopefully that action will no longer be necessary.

Members went over KSU's submitted budget for state funding and compared it to action items FSBASC 16-17-01 and 02. They specify a 2.4 % annual increase in Instructional spending over the five year strategic plan, which would put KSU at 30% for Instruction by FY22. In contrast KSU is now down to17.5% for Instruction. The submitted executive budget states "requested" 21% and "recommended" 19% of the total budget for Instruction in FY19 and "requested" 22% and "recommended" 20% for FY20. These are discouraging figures.

Regent McFayden said one board packet he received had included a statement of mandate (by some entity) to provide a minimum percentage for Instruction in the budget. He will try to find that document.

Other Business and Announcements:

Senator Vedder commended President Hampton for the voter registration drive and hopes it continues. Hampton said they registered 50 people. However, she contended students say they are not interested in politics and that there is “no point” in voting. Vedder suggested we need educational plans and Hampton said she will be glad to come into classes for discussions.

A health fair, “Blazing Off the Pounds – Building Toward Healthy Living and Wellness”, is planned in partnership with Dr. Tope and in collaboration with CAFSSS, Health and Physical Education and local vendors. Thursday Feb 27th, 11-1:00. Healthcare providers may be present.

Dr. Freeman announced the next SACS workshop by Dr. Silvers tomorrow, Tuesday. She will walk us through creating rubrics and map in Campus Labs and will come to departments on request.

A Senator brought up issues in his unit with not being able to print. Other Senators said when they are over-budget for printing they just have to continue to print.

Dr. Freeman said SACS requires a minimum of 45 contact hours each semester per class. Secretary Rye inquired if that referenced credit or contact hours. The response was that lab hours count 1/2 hour per contact hour.

Senate adjourned at 4:35 pm.

Minutes Submitted by: Reba Rye, Faculty Senate Secretary