April 30, 2014
Input on social media policy requested by 5 p.m. Friday
Dear K-State Employees and Students:
In reaction to the concerns expressed by many to the Kansas Board of Regents Social Media Policy passed on December 18, 2013, a work group was established to recommend alternate language. The work group presented its recommendations April 16. These recommendations preserved Academic Freedom and university employees’ First Amendment freedom of speech rights as citizens, and eliminated the policy’s disciplinary language.
The KBOR’s Governance Committee has revised the policy, incorporating much of this language, but still retaining some of the most punitive components of the original policy. This new version will be voted on at the May 14 KBOR meeting.
KBOR has asked us to provide input on the new draft of the policy by 5 p.m. Friday, May 2. This policy affects all of Kansas Regent university employees, including those at Kansas State University.
There are five things you can do to provide your input to both the original and revised policy language:
1) Send communication reflecting your views to the KBOR President and CEO Andy Tompkins, and ask that the communication be forwarded to each of the nine regents. Because this is a gubernatorial appointed board, it is appropriate to also send your correspondence to Gov. Brownback and Kansas State University’s Director of Governmental Relations Sue Peterson.
2) Respond to the request for feedback before Friday's deadline at 5 p.m.
3) Provide an electronic signature on the letter to the KBOR that is being sent on behalf of Kansas State University employees and students. Your name will be included when you complete the three-question survey.
4) Attend the KBOR meeting at 1:30 p.m. May 14. This meeting will take place in the Board Office, Suite 520, Curtis State Office Building, 1000 SW Jackson, Topeka. Students, faculty and staff are all encouraged to attend. Please indicate if you are planning to attend using the following Doodle poll.
5) Faculty can include a short but clear explanation of academic freedom within their classes. Those willing to take advantage of this teaching opportunity can reference the guidelines for guidance.
Your input and participation is important on this issue, because this policy has the ability to affect all higher education institutions in Kansas. Your action and voice is urgent and critically important to this process.
Sincerely,
Julia Keen on behalf of Faculty Senate Leadership
Faculty Senate President