Minutes Faculty Senate Executive Council Meeting August 27th 2010

minutes faculty senate executive council meeting august 27th 2010 1:30 p.m. present: * chair: dr. timothy r. ruhnk

Minutes
Faculty Senate Executive Council Meeting
August 27th 2010
1:30 p.m.
Present:
*
Chair: Dr. Timothy R. Ruhnke
*
Vice-chair: Dr. Robert Harris
*
Secretary: Dr. Jeffrey Pietruszynski
*
Historian: Deborah Wells
*
At Large: Mike Lewis
*
BOG: Dr. Tom Guetzloff
Absent:
*
At Large: Dr. Gerald Beller
*
ACF: Dr. Sean Collins
I.
Call to Order: The Meeting was called to order by Senate chair,
Dr. Tim Ruhnke at 1:15 p.m.
II.
Reading and Approval of Agenda: A motion to approve the Agenda as
modified was carried.
III.
Business:
A.
ADDITIONS TO FACULTY RETENTION COMMITTEE
At the General Faculty meeting it was noted that a past decision to
increase the number of members for the retention committee had not yet
been acted upon. The EC discussed the matter to find the easiest
solution, however it was determined that no action could be taken
without further research by Dr. Harris who would try to have an answer
for the next EC meeting.
B.
HONORS PROGRAM
Dr. Ruhnke shared with the EC information about his meeting with Dr.
Carter on the creation of an Honors Program at the university. During
this meeting Dr. Carter stated that he was favorable to the idea and
gave the official OK to move forward. Several ideas of how to set up
the program were discussed with a general (but not official) agreement
that the program should entail some type of General Education
component and then the student would work within each departments
parameters as designed by that department’s faculty. Ideas such as
honors seminars and additional coursework were discussed as possible
ways to accomplish the goal.
The following recommendation will be presented to the faculty Senate
at the Sept. 10th meeting:
The EC recommends to the Faculty Senate that an ad hoc committee of
the senate be created to investigate the global aspects of a
university honors program. The committee will consist of : College
Deans, a Representative of each College, the Chair of EPC, and a
member of the GE committee. Their task is to recommend viable options
for the creation of an honors program and report back to the senate by
the December 2010 meeting
C.
FACULTY PARKING AT WVSU
The unhappiness of the faculty at the current system for parking
enforcement was discussed at length. The major points of contention
included: a. the cost of a parking ticket for an employee who makes a
“meager” salary, b. the charge for permits of a second vehicle, c. the
collection of money for past parking tickets, and d. the establishment
of a Parking Appeals committee.
The following recommendation will be presented to the faculty Senate
at the Sept. 10th meeting:
The EC recommends to the Faculty Senate it makes a motion to remove
the reduced cost of a second faculty sticker and adopt a stance where
faculty parking permits pay for using a space and not for an
individual car.
D.
STATUS OF FINANCIAL AID
a.
The EC discussed the reported problems that happened in the
Financial Aid office and how they could be corrected. Dr.
Ruhnke suggested that in addition to Dr. Carter and Dr. Byers’
invitations to attend the Faculty Senate Meeting, VP Bryce
Casto would also be asked to attend so that he may answer
questions directly.
E.
SENATE’S VISION FOR THE SEMESTER
Dr. Ruhnke and Dr. Harris reiterated that the overall theme for the
senate this semester will be: “Greater Institutional Improvement and
Accountability”.
Both problems and accomplishments in the area were noted by several
members of he faculty senate. Dr. Ruhnke discussed issues with
specific departments (such as the registrar’s office where he noted
that students had come to him with complaints)
Dr. Harris concluded by reminding everyone that in order for the
university to accomplish its goals, everyone must work together and
follow through to completion on all actions (past, present, and
future).
F.
SEPT. FACULTY SENATE AGENDA
It was agreed that the following information would be placed under
“New Business” for the Sept. 10th Faculty Senate Meeting
1.
Senates Vision for the semester (Chair/Vice Chair)
2.
Establishment of a University Honors program
3.
Faculty parking at WVSU
4.
Status of Financial Aid
5.
Improving services to students at WVSU
6.
Removing non-attending students from courses
7.
Discussion of WVSU Foundation/Capital Campaign
IV.
Adjournment: There being no further business or announcements, a
motion to adjourn the general faculty meeting. Motion carried.
Meeting was adjourned at 2:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Jeff Pietruszynski, Secretary
Faculty Senate
Faculty Senate Meeting Sept. 10, 2010 Page 3