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Faculty Senate Agendas

2012-2013

Western State Colorado University

All meetings are held in the University Center, South Conference Room, unless otherwise noted.

 May 6, 2013 

·         Approval of Agenda

·         Approval of Minutes

·         Report from President Jay Helman

·         Provost’s Report

·         Faculty Trustee’s Report

·         Other Reports

·         New Business

 

·         Acceptance of Year End Reports from Faculty Senate Committees

o   Curriculum Committee

o   Academic Policies

o   Faculty Personnel Action Committee

o   Intercollegiate Athletics Committee

o   Assessment Committee

o   Graduate Studies Committee

 

·         Announcements

·         Adjournment

 

Immediately following adjournment of the 2012-13 Faculty Senate, the 2013-14 Faculty Senate will be seated and the inaugural meeting will be called into session.

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Western State Colorado University

Proposed Agenda for the 2013-14 Faculty Senate Organizational Meeting

College Center, South Conference Room

About 4:45 pm, May 6, 2013

 

·         New Business

o   Election of Faculty Senate Officers

o   Committee Appointments

o   Other Business

 

·         Announcements

 

April 22, 2013

  

·        Approval of Agenda

·        Approval of Minutes

·        Provost’s Report

·        Faculty Trustee’s Report

·        Vice-Chair Report about elections

·        Handbook Committee Report

·        Other Reports

·        Old Business 

After a first reading at the April 6, 2013 Senate meeting, the motion will be voted on to make the GE Council a standing committee of the WSCU Faculty Senate by amending the Faculty Bylaws.  A redline version of the Bylaws is attached.  Since this is a change to the Bylaws, a 2/3 majority vote is required for passage.

·        New Business

 Gary Pierson and Chris Luekenga will describe the second year experience to the senate and will ask for feedback.

·        Announcements 

Final Senate meeting, May 6, 2013 in the South Conference Room

Other Announcements?

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

A.      Amendments to the WSCU Faculty Constitution 

The Faculty Senate has approved for the Faculty’s consideration the proposed redline amendments to the Faculty Constitution.  All of the changes are the result of our name change or are minor corrections.  Amendments to the Faculty Constitution require a simple majority vote of the faculty voting.  Ballots are required.

B.      Amorous Relationship Policy (and we hope to include a new Parental Leave Policy as well)

The Faculty Handbook is approved and adopted by the WSCU Board of Trustees (BOT).  Changes to the Handbook can be initiated by the Faculty, the President’s Office, University Counsel, and the Board itself.  Handbook revisions originating from the Faculty are recommended to the President, who may recommend Handbook revisions to the BOT.  At a recent Board meeting the Trustees requested that the Faculty revise the policy governing amorous relationships between faculty and students.  At about the same time the committee reviewing WSCU’s maternity/parental leave policy issued its report.  The Handbook Committee, an ad hoc Senate committee, has completed its work on the amorous relationship policy and is working diligently on the parental leave policy.  A simple majority vote of the Faculty is required to approve the policies.  Veronica Mendez, Chair of the Handbook Committee, recently sent the proposed amorous relationship policy to all faculty members and she will send a draft of the parental leave policy statement as soon as it is complete. 

C.      Proposed Changes to the Senate Committee Structure 

A proposal to make the General Education Council a standing committee of the senate received a first reading at the Senate on April 8.  A second proposal was introduced at the same and received a first reading at the senate, but Phil Crossley, the Assessment Committee Chair, has asked to remove this proposal from consideration until we are more certain about the future responsibilities of the Assessment Committee.   Heather Thiessen–Reily, Chair of the GE Council, will speak to the need to move GE under faculty governance. 

Changes in the Faculty Bylaws require two readings and a 2/3 majority vote at the Senate.  No action is required by the Faculty but a discussion of this proposal, including a broader discussion of faculty governance structures in general, will be conducted.

D.   Announcements

4:15 pm, April 8, 2013 

  •  Approval of Agenda
  •  Approval of Minutes
  •  Provost’s Report
  •  Vice-Chair Report about elections
  •  Handbook Committee Report
  •  Old Business

  After a first reading at the March 11 Senate meeting, the motion regarding adding a representative from Athletics to the Academic Policies Committee will be voted on. A redline version of the Bylaws is attached. Since this is a change to the Bylaws, a 2/3 majority vote is required for passage. As we agreed at the previous Senate meeting, we will hold two votes. The first vote includes all of the redline changes except those shown in Section 11.2 All of the changes under consideration in the first vote deal with names changes and the Senate’s involvement with associations from the old State College System days. The second vote includes redline changes in Section 11.2. These redline changes place a representative from Athletics on the Academic Policies Committee as an ex-officio, non-voting member. 

  •  Announcements

Faculty meeting, April 16, 2013, 12:30 – 1:45 pm in the University Center Ballroom

Senate meeting, April 22, 2013 in the South Conference Room

Senate meeting, May 6, 2013 in the South Conference Room

Other Announcements?

 Approval of Minutes

 Provost’s Report

 Vice-Chair Report about elections

 Handbook Committee Report

 Old Business 

4:15 pm, March 25, 2013 

·         Approval of Agenda

·         Approval of Minutes

·         Provost’s Report

·         Other Reports

·         New  Business

o   Emeritus vote for Nella Bea Anderson

o   Heather Thiessen-Reily will speak to the Senate about GE

·         Announcements

Senate meeting, April 8, 2013 in the South Conference Room

Faculty meeting, April 16, 2013, 12:30 – 1:45 pm in the University Center Ballroom

Senate meeting, April 22, 2013 in the South Conference Room

Senate meeting, May 6, 2013 in the South Conference Room

Other Announcements

 

4:15 pm, March 11, 2013 

·         Approval of Agenda

·         Approval of Minutes

·         Provost’s Report

·         Faculty Handbook Committee Chair Report

·         Other Reports

·         New  Business

o   Membership on the Graduate Studies Council

o   First reading of proposed revisions to the Faculty Bylaws (attached) 

·         Announcements

Senate meeting, March 25, 2013 in the South Conference Room

Senate meeting, April 8, 2013 in the South Conference Room

Faculty meeting, April 16, 2013, 12:30 – 1:45 pm in the University Center Ballroom

Senate meeting, April 22, 2013 in the South Conference Room

Senate meeting, May 6, 2013 in the South Conference Room

Other Announcements

 

  Tuesday Febrauary 12, 2013 

3:30- 4:45 pm, Ballroom, University Center

President Jay Helman.   What do President’s do?  What qualities should we look for in our next President?

Western Values.  What are the widely shared core values, the beliefs, traits and behavioral norms, that guide us in the pursuit of our mission and vision?  If we can articulate these values, they can serve as essential criteria for evaluating presidential candidates.  If we share our values with candidates, it can help candidates decide whether they will fit at Western and help candidates understand changes we can embrace and changes we are unlikely to work at Western.

I plan to quickly identify a list of potential core values using a nominal group technique, followed by discussion and debate to narrow the list to the values that define Western as a unique community and institution of higher education.  Please keep in mind that we share many important values with most institutions of higher education, but there are some values, perhaps pertaining more to how we get things done, how we relate to one another, our attitudes about change and what it means to be a Westerner, that set us apart.  In the end, I would like to narrow the list to the 4 – 6 values that our next president ought to share with us.

Next year’s academic calendar remains uncertain.  Many of us have already provided feedback about the advantages and disadvantages of the two options being considered.  I would like to have a show of hands / vote to communicate the sense of the faculty about the two options, with the results shared with calendar decision makers.  Those unable to attend the meeting may forward their votes to Jason Mullins for inclusion with the vote tally from the meeting.


January 28, 2013 

·      Approval of Agenda

·      Approval of Minutes

·      Provost’s Report

·      Chair’s Report

o   Handbook revision status

o   Proposal to make the General Education Council a Senate Committee

·      Other Reports

·      Old Business

o   Discussion of the agenda for the February 12 Faculty Meeting agenda; the role of the faculty in the Presidential selection process.

·      New  Business

o   The WSCU Faculty Constitution and the Faculty By-Laws need revisions to fix name changes (Constitution) and to fix name changes and, if approved, to add GE as a Senate Committee (Bylaws).

§  Should we form an ad hoc committee to make name change revisions or should the chair undertake the responsibility for name change revisions?

Amendments to the Constitution are governed as described below: 

ARTICLE VI AMENDMENTS

 Amendments shall be initiated by a two-thirds vote of the Senate at any meeting where a quorum is present or by a petition signed by at least twenty percent (20%) of the faculty.  Proposed amendments to the Constitution shall be presented in writing to the members of the faculty at least thirty (30) days prior to a vote of the faculty.

 Ratification of constitutional amendments will require an affirmative vote by secret ballot of a simple majority of the faculty casting ballots.  Constitutional amendments ratified take effect immediately, subject to acceptance by the President and the Board of Trustees; except that bylaws ratified by the Faculty but not by the President may be submitted to the Trustees for their consideration should the Faculty or Senate request. 

Amendments to the Faculty Bylaws are governed as described below: 

AMENDMENTS TO THE BYLAWS

Section 1

An amendment to the Bylaws may be initiated by any member of the Senate by presenting it in writing to the Senate.

 Section 2

Proposed amendments to the Bylaws must be presented in writing at least one meeting, regular or special, prior to the Senate meeting at which the vote is taken. 

Section 3

The Bylaws may be amended by a 2/3 affirmative vote of the Senate at any meeting.  Voting shall be by ballot

December 10, 2012 

·         Approval of Agenda

·         Approval of Minutes

·         Provost’s Report

·         Old Business

 o   A third batch of proposed curriculum revisions has received Curriculum Committee approval and were presented to the Senate for a first reading on November 26.  Individual proposals are summarized in detail in the attached file, “Curriculum Committee and Senate Journal, revised Drexel Dec 5, 2012.”  For your convenience, curriculum proposals presented for a first reading are highlighted with a green fill in the far right “Approved Date” column and include proposals approved by the Curriculum Committee between November 6 and November 15, 2012. These proposals will receive a Senate vote at the December 10, 2012 meeting.

§  There have been at least 3 minor changes to proposals included in this batch.  You may review the redline changes in the above journal.  The three changes are found under Latin American Studies Minor, Political Science and Music.

 ·         New  Business

o   Two new curriculum proposals have been forwarded to the Senate; both are attached.  One is from ROE and the other is from CIS.

o   The Intercollegiate Athletics Committee has presented its Fall 2012 Report to the Senate.  IAC recommends to the Senate that athletes be allowed to register for classes earlier so that class schedules create less conflict with practice and travel schedules.

o   The Graduate Studies Council will have two temporary vacancies spring semester and has asked that the Senate appoint two temporary replacements.  Dr. Nella Bea Anderson and Dr. Jeff Sellen have been nominated and both are willing to serve. 

November 26, 2012

·         Approval of Agenda

·         Approval of Minutes

·         Provost’s Report

·         Old Business

 o   Consideration of the Master in Environmental Management (MEM) proposal approved by the Curriculum Committee and previously forwarded to the Senate for consideration.  The MEM received a first reading and was discussed at a second meeting.  A vote to approve or reject this proposal will follow any remaining questions and answers.

 o   A second batch of proposed curriculum revisions received a first reading at the November 5, 2012 Senate meeting and are ready for final consideration by the Senate.  Individual proposals are summarized in detail in the attached file, “Curriculum Committee and Senate Journal, November 26, 2012.”  For your convenience, curriculum proposals to be voted on at this meeting are highlighted with a yellow fill in the far right “Approved Date” column and include proposals approved by the Curriculum Committee between October 9 and October 17, 2012. 

 o   At the prior meeting there was some uncertainty about the curriculum approval process and timetable.  As shown in the Western State Colorado University Curriculum Committee Handbook for Curriculum Change, page 6:  “Any new degree programs, new submajors, and programs with substantive changes such as changes in emphases or increased number of credits in emphases are forwarded to the Board of Trustees (Western State Colorado University Board Policy Manual, Section 5.2)” 

Curricular changes will be considered by the BOT at the February 18 meeting and proposals need one month lead time to be placed on the BOT agenda.  The last Senate meeting at which curriculum proposals may be passed and meet the BOT deadline is January 14, the first Senate meeting of spring semester.  We are currently on track to conclude consideration of curriculum proposals at the December 10 meeting, the last Senate meeting of fall semester.

·         New  Business

o   As explained by Kim Gailey, HR Director, “The University needs to update our sexual harassment policy to be in compliance with the latest guidance from the Office on Civil Rights, related to Title IX. Currently, our sexual harassment policy is incorporated in the anti-discrimination policy. The sexual harassment policy is being separated so that compliance is more readily achieved. Consequently, the anti-discrimination policy has to be amended to remove references to sexual harassment there. The draft sexual harassment policy itself it fairly short and applies to all campus constituents. The procedures for handling complaints are just as important, but do not require Board of Trustees approval, and are not ready for review yet.”   Kim Gailey will explain the proposed changes at the meeting.  The Senate does not approve changes in the Appendices as these are Board of Trustee Policies; these changes are being brought to our attention and to solicit our feedback in the interest of shared governance.

 o   The Graduate Studies Council and the Academic Policies Committee may have a proposed change to graduate curriculum policies ready for introduction by the time the Senate meets.

 o    A third batch of proposed curriculum revisions has received Curriculum Committee approval and are presented to the Senate for a first reading.  Individual proposals are summarized in detail in the attached file, “Curriculum Committee and Senate Journal, November 26, 2012.”  For your convenience, curriculum proposals presented for a first reading are highlighted with a green fill in the far right “Approved Date” column and include proposals approved by the Curriculum Committee between November 6 and November 15, 2012.  It is expected that these proposals will receive a Senate vote at the December 10, 2012 meeting.

 o   The Curriculum Committee has issued its Fall 2012 report, attached, which includes two  issues for Senate consideration.  One issue deals with the approval of General Education courses and the second deals with minors that do not require upper division courses.

November 5, 2012

      • Approval of Agenda
      • Approval of Minutes
      • Faculty Trustee report
      • Provost’s Report
      • Old Business
          • Consideration of curriculum proposals approved by the Curriculum Committee and previously forwarded to the Senate for consideration.  These two proposals were distributed prior to the October 22 Senate meeting and will be discussed and probably voted on at the November 5 Senate meeting.
              • Master in Fine Arts curriculum revision proposal
              • Master in Environmental Management proposal
      • New  Business
          • A large number of curriculum proposals have been approved by the Curriculum Committee and forwarded to the Senate for consideration.
              • First reading of Curriculum Committee proposals.  The Chair of the Curriculum Committee has provided a summary of undergraduate curriculum proposals that have been passed or are being considered by the committee.  Please note for each proposal the far right column that shows the date the proposal was approved by the committee.  A blank in this column indicates the committee has not yet voted on a proposal.  We should plan to vote on proposals already approved by the Curriculum Committee at our next Senate meeting, November 26. 
              • Entire curriculum proposals are available for review on the WSCU website at curriculum proposals
    • Announcements
      • November 8, 2012 Faculty Meeting to be held from 12:30 pm to 1:45 pm in the Quigley Recital Hall
      • Next Senate meeting is November 26, 2012 in the South Conference Room, University Center at 4:15 pm

October 22, 2012

  • Approval of Agenda
  • Approval of Minutes
  • Provost’s Report
  • Chair’s Report regarding senate budget
  • Old Business
      • Priorities, responsibilities and timetables regarding revisions to the Handbook for Professional Personnel
  • New  Business
      • Curriculum proposals
        • Due to the length and complexities of the Master of Fine Arts curriculum revisions and the Master in Environmental Management curriculum proposal, the Curriculum Committee has forwarded both proposals to the Senate earlier than typical. The Curriculum Committee passed both proposals unanimously but notes that the proposals may require more discussion than is typically the case. The remaining proposals will be forwarded to the Senate at the end of the month.
        • Curriculum proposals have typically been acted on after a second reading but this is not required by Senate By-Laws or the Faculty Constitution.
      • Suggestions for the agenda of the November 8, 2012 Faculty Meeting to be held from 12:30 pm to 1:45 pm in the Quigley Recital Hall
      • Announcements
        October 8, 2012
    • Approval of Agenda
    • Approval of Minutes
    • Provost’s Report
    • Faculty Trustee’s Report
    • Chair’s Report from Budget Committee
    • Old Business
      • Revisions to the Handbook for Professional Personnel

 The Handbook revision requires the following work, with key stakeholders listed in parentheses:

        • Name changes, including University for College (Senate)
        • Amending selected disciplinary policies (Academic Affairs, FPAC, HR, Legal Counsel, Senate)
        • Maternity policy (Academic Affairs, FPAC, HR, Legal Counsel, Senate)
        • Separating Faculty and Non-Faculty Professional Personnel chapters (Academic Affairs, FPAC, HR, Legal Counsel, Senate)
        • Statement of Academic Freedom (Senate, Academic Affairs, Legal Counsel)
        • Statement of Intellectual Property Rights (Senate, Academic Affairs, Legal Counsel)

After revisions are complete, revisions must be approved by the Faculty Senate and the Board of Trustees.

Should an ad hoc committee be appointed with representatives from Academic Affairs, FPAC, HR, and the Senate to undertake these revisions, with a deadline included in the committee’s charge?

  • New Business
  • Salary Comparison Study
      • As explained in Appendix J of the Handbook for Professional Personnel, faculty salaries at WSCU are determined, in part, by comparison with peer institutions.  The peer comparison data is out of date and the selection of peer institutions has never been transparent.  If desired, the Faculty Senate can take the lead in recommending peer institutions to the Provost, after which the Provost’s office can purchase salary data and prepare comparisons between WSCU salaries and those at peer institutions.    Is it so desired?
  •   Announcements
      •  The Curriculum Committee will forward curriculum proposals, including revisions to the MFA and a proposal for a Master’s in Environmental Management, to the Senate by the end of October. 
      •  Next Senate meeting is October 22.

September 24, 2012

 

  • Approval of Agenda
  • Approval of Minutes
  • Provost’s Report
  • Faculty Trustee’s Report
  • Old Business
    • Review / Assessment of First Year Experience

The following motion has been presented from the Academic Policies Committee.  A motion from a standing committee of the Senate does not require a second.

Request that the initial charge for the AP during the 2012–2013 academic year be to begin assessing the benefits of academic components of Western’s FYE as part of university-wide FYE assessment efforts.

    • Faculty Handbook

FPAC is willing to be responsible for revisions and will coordinate with Academic Affairs, with final approval from the Senate. 

If this approach to revising the Handbook is considered appropriate, a motion is needed to refer this assignment to FPAC and establish a deadline.

    • Chair Training

CTE has agreed to provide chair training, with the first session on September 27.  CTE will coordinate with the Provost and seek chair feedback about future topics and delivery options.

While no motion is required to launch these activities, a motion thanking CTE for providing this training would be appropriate. 

  • New Business
    • Review of campus security by Gary Pearson, VP Student Affairs
    • Report by Rob Fillmore, Faculty Liaison to the WSCU Foundation
    • Temporary additional membership on the Assessment Committee
        • A motion is needed to temporarily increase membership on the Assessment Committee from 5 members to 8 to 10 members, as requested by Phil Crossley, Chair of the Assessment Committee, at the recent faculty meeting.   
  • Announcements
    • CTE will hold a workshop on meeting management by Michaela Drive on Thursday, September 27th at 12:30 pm in Borick 104. 
    • Next Senate meeting is October 8.


September 10, 2012

 

  • Approval of Agenda
  • Approval of Minutes, available here
  • Provost’s Report
  • Faculty Trustee’s Report
  • Old Business
  • New Business
      • Appoint Parliamentarian
      • Faculty Meeting
      • Handbook Revisions
      • Update Salary Comparisons
      • Chair training
      • Campus Security
  • Announcements

Next Senate meeting is September 24