February 26, 2018
Highlights from the Feb. 13 Faculty Senate meeting
Guest: Provost April Mason visited with senators regarding budget modernization, strategic enrollment management, and the 120 credit hour degree process. The 120 credit hour degree process is a change required by the Board of Regents. Units are currently submitting a request for degrees that they desire to remain above 120 credit hours. These requests, along with the justification, are being submitted to the board.
Standing committee and Student Senate reports:
- Student Senate: Elections are ongoing. A report was given on the Tuitions and Fees Strategies committee's work.
- Academic Affairs: Revised wording to the undergraduate retake policy, as found in University Handbook, Section F65.1, was approved. A new Master of Science in data analytics was approved and will be submitted to Kansas Board of Regents for final approval.
- Faculty Affairs: The 2017 Report on Faculty Salaries was received. Proposed revisions to University Handbook, Section C162.3 and Appendix A will come to Faculty Senate next month. They're also discussing the recent changes to student organizations and how they are organized.
- Professional Staff Affairs, PSA: A task force is working on a career ladder for academic advisors. Professional Staff Affairs continues their efforts to increase visibility and will be publishing an article in K-State Today soon.
- Technology, FSCOT: The committee met with K-State's chief information officer, Gary Pratt, at its last meeting. He shared his vision for IT. The committee discussed its mission and composition and how it can be involved strategically with IT campuswide.
- University Planning, FSCOUP: The resolution regarding support of the Library, which came to Faculty Senate in June, was deferred to their committee. After discussion and revised a new resolution from this committee will come to Faculty Senate next month. Budget modernization continues as a topic of conversation for FSCOUP. Results from the traffic study done by the City of Manhattan were shared with FSCOUP this week.
Announcements
- President Lindshield provided a written report regarding the January KBOR meeting. Provost Mason reported that there will be faculty career development presentations at the Feb. 14 Kansas Board of Regents meeting.
- Faculty Senate will begin primary elections next week. President Lindshield encouraged participation in this process. There are many benefits in serving as a faculty senator.
- Open forums with President Myers will occur on each campus this spring:
o The Manhattan campus forum will be from 2:30-3:20 p.m. Feb. 21, on the main floor at the K-State Alumni Center.
o The Polytechnic campus forum will be from 2:30-3:30 p.m. Feb. 26 in the College Center conference room.
o The Olathe campus forum will be from 10:30-11:30 a.m. March 7 in Forum Hall.
- The annual Faculty and Professional Staff Retiree Ceremony will take place at 4 p.m. April 17 in the K-State Alumni Center.
Open discussion period
- A senator commented on salaries at K-State and that it is of high importance to work diligently on the revised budget model.
- In the College of Engineering, a speaker and panel on diversity and inclusion are scheduled next week. The college is looking for persons to lead table discussions. Contact Amy Betz with questions.
Brian Lindshield
Faculty Senate President
Associate Professor
Food, Nutrition, Dietetics, and Health
Kansas State University
208 Justin Hall
Manhattan, KS 66506