Faculty Senate Meeting Minutes
December 11, 2017
3:30 - 5:00
Senators Present: Asaduzzaman, Babnich, Bailey, Bolin, Brown, Castro, Celestin, Close, Cramer Decker,
Dehner, Dowling, Elder, English, He, Hull, Jameson, Jarman, Keene Woods, Markova,
Moore-Jansen, Price, Pulaski, Rife Rikosz Ross, Shaw, Schwartz, Mith, Smith-Campbell,
Sternfeld, Weheba, Willlis, Yildirim
Senators Absent: Ahmed, Anderson, Barut, Bryant, Jeffres, Mahapatro, Muthiachareon, Solomey, Taher,
Tamtam
Senators Excused, Bukonda, Dusenbury Johnson, Myose
I. Calling the Meeting to Order
II. Informal Statements and Proposals
NONE
III. Approval of the Minutes - Nov 27, 2017
Approved
IV. President's Report
a. PET team approved non-tenure track promotion policy today. Memo will be going
out to Deans and Chairs.
b. Legislative Update (provided by Zach Gearhart, Director of Governmental Relations)
c. Rick Muma updated on efforts aimed at trying to make the commencement more festive
and a celebration for the students. This will include posting names on jumbotron and
having Wu shock at the commencement.
d. Next meeting is on January 22.
V. Committee Reports
a. Academic Honesty (draft document on process / work flow). Kerry Wilks provided an update on progress
made on new academic honesty policy. Aimed at making policy transparent and “as painless
as possible.” Both graduate school and academic affairs feel firmly that academic
honesty should be handled by faculty. Student conduct will be managing the database
and keeping track of infractions to help identify repeaters or serial cheaters. Burden
of proof will not change. There is a reporting responsibility for faculty to report
infractions (e.g. a zero on an assignment) to Student Conduct. Academic Integrity
Committee will be made up of three faculty and two students who will be trained by
Student Conduct according to best practices. This committee will hold hearings for
cases that require possible action. Appeals will go to the academic dean of college
of student's major.
Q – If a case that extends over multiple colleges and goes to an academic dean what
dean will it go to? A – will go to home college of the student, not necessarily the
college of the professor involved. Q After a case is reported by a professor and goes
to Student Conduct, what role does the instructor play? A-After reporting and providing
any evidence the case is reported to Student Conduct. If a hearing is held the instructor
will likely be asked to contribute in person or writing. Q – If instructor has a disclaimer
in the syllabus “that a clear case of cheating results in failure,” will it still
go to a hearing? A- In rare cases that a student may try to override a case like this,
it will go to student conduct to provide clarification for the student. Part of the
intent is to try to make at easy and lesss messy for instructors to report.
b. Time and Attendance Committee - met with vendors last week and will make recommendations to steering committee.
VI. New Business
a. Kim Sandlin - Student Success – Shared flyer with senators and discussed ongoing SEM efforts in the Office of Student Success. Described efforts in first year programs, student money management, online student first year seminar. Military student retention efforts have moved to Community Engagement”. Discussed “Common Read” guide for instructors. Supplemental instruction – total enrollment 4,748 with 38% attendance and data shows significant difference in GPA for SI attendees who go to six or more sessions.
Comments were made regarding the limited number of sessions that conflict with other class times – Kim announced that SI leaders are holding regular office hours to help students who can't make SI sessions.
b. Kimberly Engber - Dean of Cohen Honors College – and Dean Matson from LAS discussion of 3+3 degree opportunities
Discussed a program for WSU similar to another program described in the MOU between KSU and the KU law program. Seeking input and feedback on a 3+3 program with KU law school. Program allows students to use credits from first year law as elective credits in their bachelors program. The KSU agreement allows 29 elective credits shared between undergrad and J.D. degree.
It was stated that:
o About ½ of the students in the KSU program complete the J.D.
o Honors law and public policy group at WSU have been meeting about this potential
program and logistics for WSU.
o Medical programs have been doing similar programs for decades.
o Feedback from Senate is requested.
Concerns were raised about student perception that a B.S. can be accomplished in
three years.
c. Mark Pocaro - Online Learning
Provided update on online degrees and programs in line with Goal 7 of SEM which has
been met by a 110% increase. Current efforts are focused on targeting students in
KS within 200-250 mile range and along I-35 corridor for online enrollment. Additional
emphasis is on presenting online opportunities for returning or continuing students
who need only approximately 12 hours to finish (KU model). A microsite, online.wichita,
has been established for these purposes. Online learning continues to meet with WSU
program directors monthly and has hired an enrollment specialist, Noelle Wilson. Also
carrying out a full-scale promostion of online microcredentials (badges and certificates).
F18 goal is 500 new students and 1000+ total enrollment. Three new programs are to
be rolled out for SP 18, four programs under development and exploring new programs
with partial-residential models.
d. John Jones - IDT > IDA updates
MRC name change – “Instructional Design and access.” Focus on
o Accessibility
o Financial success
o Other access issues
Efforts are directed toward training versus doing with emphasis on on-demand and
advocating for faculty.
New staff include Dr. Freh Wuhib for instructional design with an emphasis on STEM and Glenn Gunnels as lesion for faculty needs.
VII. As May Arise
Senate holiday social – 5:30 @ Deano's
Next Meeting: January 22