xt7np55dg228 https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7np55dg228/data/mets.xml University of Kentucky. University Senate University of Kentucky. Faculty Senate Kentucky University of Kentucky. University Senate University of Kentucky. Faculty Senate 1994-04-11 minutes 2004ua061 English Property rights reside with the University of Kentucky. The University of Kentucky holds the copyright for materials created in the course of business by University of Kentucky employees. Copyright for all other materials has not been assigned to the University of Kentucky. For information about permission to reproduce or publish, please contact the Special Collections Research Center. University of Kentucky. University Senate (Faculty Senate) records Minutes (Records) Universities and colleges -- Faculty University of Kentucky University Senate (Faculty Senate) meeting minutes, April 11, 1994 text University of Kentucky University Senate (Faculty Senate) meeting minutes, April 11, 1994 1994 1994-04-11 2020 true xt7np55dg228 section xt7np55dg228 LNHVERSHY OF KENTUCKY LEXINGTON. KENTUCKY 40506-0032 UNIVERSITV SENATE COUNCIL IO ADMINISTRATION BUILDING T0: AGENDA: 1. 4 ApriI 1994 V Members, University Senate The University Senate wiII meet in reguIar session on Monday, Wat 3:00 PM in room 115 of the Nursing BuiIding CON/HSLC). Minutes Chair's Announcements Resqutions President CharIes T. Methington, Jr.: Budget Address Action Items a. ProposaI to amend University Senate RuIes, Section V - 5.4.2, Commencement Honors (circuIated under date of 23 March 1994). ProposaI to amend University Senate RuIes, Section V - 5.3.1.1, Repeat Option. (CircuIated under date of 13 March 1994.) Proposed poIicy for extending the probationary period for facuIty. (CircuIated under date of 31 March 1994.) Randa11 Dah1 Secretary AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY UNIVERSITY MINUTES OF THE UNIVERSITY SENATE, APRIL 1 1, 1994 The University Senate met in regular session at 3:00 pm, Monday, April 11, 1994 in Room 1 15 of the Nursing Health Sciences Building. Professor Daniel L. Fulks, Chairperson of the Senate Council, presided. Members absent were: Debra Aaron*, Reginald J. Alston, James L. Applegate*, Stephanie Atcher, John R. Ballantine*, Mark C. Berger, Antimony Bishop, Rick Boland, Douglas A. Boyd, Joseph T. Burch, D. Allan Butterfield, Bradley C. Canon*, Ben W. Carr, Edward A. Carter, Shea Chaney*, G.L. Monty Chappell*, Louis C. Chow, Donald B. Clapp, Jane Clark, Jordan L. Cohen, Darby Cole, Georgia C. Collins*, Delwood Collins, Michael P. Connors, Melissa Cox, Nancy Custer*, Clarence Robert Dowdy, Richard Edwards, Joseph L. Fink, Juanita W. Fleming“, Donald T. Frazier, Michael B. Freeman*, Richard W. Furst, Joseph H. Gardner, Lorraine Garkovich, William Gibson, Lori Gonzalez*, William S. Griffith*, Lynne A. Hall*, J. John Harris III, Zafar S. Hasan*, Christine Havice, Robert E. Hemenway, James Hertog*, Edward J. Kasarskis, James Knoblett, Kenneth K. Kubota, Thomas W. Lester, C. Oran Little, Martin J. McMahan, Sandra Miller, David Mohney*, James S. Mosbey, Anthony L. Newberry, Judith Page*, Barbara Phillips, Rhoda—Gale Pollack*, Thomas C. Robinson, Ellen B. Rosenman, Daniel Rowland, Edgar L. Sagan*, David Shipley, Thomas J. Stipanowich, William J. Stober*, David H. Stockham, Michael Stover, Amy Sullivan, Phillip A. Tibbs*, Miroslaw Truszczynski, Salvatore J. Turco, Mary Walker, Greg T. Watkins, Chris Webb, Lora Weck, Brent White, Eugene R. Williams Emery A. Wilson, H. David Wilson. Chairman Fulks thanked everyone for coming to the meeting. Chairman Fulks stated that he would be turning the meeting over to President Charles Wethington, but first he wanted to say that the President had been terrific to work with this year, he had been very cooperative, his door had always been open, and they had comrhunicated very well. He then turned the meeting over to President Wethington who made the following remarks: First, I would like to return the compliment, Dan Fulks has been, as the Senate Leader, easy to work with during the year, they had discussed issues, concerns, and matters that impact the University. He has been always willing and able and presents well the opinions of the faculty in the discussions with the Administration and others. He thanked Professor Fulks for the leadership he had provided. (Professor Fulks was given a round of applause.) I also want to thank Peter Bosomworth for the leadership he has provided and continues to provide. As you all know Peter is anticipating making a change in assignment July 1, 1994. Let me express my appreciation and thanks to you for providing strong and effective leadership for the Medical Center and the entire University which you represent very well. (Dr. Bosomworth was given a round of applause.) I came today to talk about the budget and since we don't have one, the remarks will be very short. * Absence Explained JUL 28 1994 Minutes, University Senate, April ll, 1994 Seriously, I will give you a bit of the situation and the background and then avoid talking very much about what I think the future might hold. It is that the process is not yet finished and it probably is a time when we need to be following it closely, but not trying to predict what the outcome will be. It is a situation that, based on what the Governor has stated publicly, I do anticipate that he will follow through on his commitment and veto the budget bill this week. I think the calendar requires that the veto be done no later than Wednesday. It is my anticipation that the Governor will follow up on his public commitment and veto the budget bill. That, of course, is likely to be followed by a special session of some kind to address the budget and to insure that we have a budget for the Commonwealth beginning July 1, 1994. As a result of this period of indecision, we are not able to move ahead with budget decisions inside the University of Kentucky; Budget decisions which affect the operating budget. Working with the Chancellors and vice-presidents and my staff we have been moving along in anticipation that the state appropriation would increase by two percent in 1994-95 and three percent in 1995-96 and that the appropriation in 1995-96 would require us to meet certain performance standards as recommended by the Governor's Higher Education Commission and adopted by the General Assembly. We are in a situation now where we must put everything on hold. Final decisions about our operating budget must be put on hold until we know what is going to happen with the General Assembly and the Governor this week and possibly what is going to happen in the special session to follow. It is my guess that Friday we will see the Health Care Bill addressed again. On the radio this afternoon I did hear that the Governor had decided that he was going to be supportive of House Bill 250, the Health Care Reform Bill and urge itspassage on Friday of this week. It is likely that we will see the House suspend its rules and address House Bill 250, with then the good possibility that the so called Health Care Reform Bill will pass. At least there will be an effort made to pass it in the House on Friday of this week. If in fact the budget is vetoed, and the House sustains the Governor's veto, the Governor, I'm convinced, will call a special session in the near future to address the matter of a budget for the Commonwealth. If that happens we have then an opportunity to address capital projects again. The Governor is interested in addressing capital projects again, as is the House, as are, I'm convinced, certain members in both the House and the Senate. We have an opportunity then, if the budget is vetoed, and the veto is sustained, to address our primary capital needs and capital priorities for the next two years. As you know, the library project on which we worked so long and hard for, the Mechanical Engineering project, certain Community College projects, certain Agriculture projects, all of these are removed from the present version of the budget which has passed both the House and the Senate. Virtually every capital project, renovation or otherwise, has been stripped from the budget at this point. I know that there is considerable interest by the Governor, by the House, and by the Senate in addressing certain capital construction priority needs for the state in the next two years. My hope is that if the Governor does veto the budget that the veto will be sustained, that there will be a special session, that certain capital construction projects will be addressed and that our principal and our primary Minutes, University Senate, April 11, 1994 capital construction priorities will be addressed in the special session. In other words, the opportunity is still there, I believe, for us to take another shot at what we think are our primary needs for the University of Kentucky in the next two years. I would anticipate that the other parts of the budget will likely remain unchanged. I do not see any effort to try to make major changes in the operating budget recommendations of the Governor as approved by the General Assembly. That is about the only report I can give you today. After the long process from January up until now we still are in a situation whereby the budget for the Commonwealth, the state appropriation for the University of Kentucky, has not been determined finally for the next two years. Until we have that final action by the General Assembly and the Governor we can not move ahead as we would like to be able to move ahead. It may mean that whatever we are able to do in the way of salary increases will not be determined by the end of the semester. All of that depends on how quickly the special session is scheduled and how expeditiously the House and Senate are able to move through a special session. I don't want to alarm you unnecessarily, but I want to alert you to the possibility that, depending upon the special session and the timing of the special session, we may not be able to make budget decisions and might not be able to know what we are able to do in the way of salaries by the end of the this Spring Semester. Obviously my desire would be to try to get to that done prior to having people leave at the end of the Spring Semester for the summer. Whatever happens in this budget process in the next few weeks, I want all of you to know that, in my opinion neither the library or any capital project that the University of Kentucky has put forth is looked at negatively by those leaders in both the executive and legislative branches with whom I have worked. There is strong support for this Commonwealth Library, there is strong support for our Engineering initiative, our Agriculture initiatives, our Community College initiatives. But of course we are caught up in the issue of capital construction generally. Just how much and where it will be built and whether the projects will be those determined by the House, determined by the Senate, or determined by the Executive Branch. I want you to know what we will build this Commonwealth Library and in my opinion the next time that capital construction is approved in the Commonwealth, whether it be this week, next week, or at some later date, then I believe our chances our excellent in getting approval for that project and other projects which we have, since these are well documented, the need is determined, and there is strong support both in the executive and legislative branches for that which we are about. Clearly this year has been in many respects a challenging one for all of us. Challenging in a number of ways. First, the Governor's higher education commission which was established in 1993, which lead to performance based funding, which lead to some program elimination, which lead to a refinement of the missions of the Institution, was something we had to do. It was something we had to do to avoid further budget cuts. I would do it all over again as I have expressed to you before. It did not of course lead tc a process which would have been the one that you would have most preferred, or at least some of you would most have preferred, in that it made it extremely difficult to get the kind of advice, input, discussion into matters such as I Minutes, University Senate, April 11. 1994 would have liked to have seen and I know many of you would have liked to have seen. Clearly as a part of that process our Dental School was under attack. During this year the operating budget of the University of Kentucky supported by state funds went up one percent. We have had a difficult budget year. As all of you well know, we are dealing with what has been some rather severe damage to this campus as a result of inclement weather we had during the winter. So whether it be damage to our trees, damaged to our shrubs, damage to our infra structure; our roads, our parking lots, our sidewalks we have had damage done during this year which has been rather difficult for us to correct all at once. With this year we have successfully managed these issues, in my opinion. Thanks in large part to you, I think we have successfully managed this year. Because the faculty and staff of this University, your hard work, your dedication, your willingness to go the extra mile have caused us to be able to, generate the kind of support that I need and that we need to take on some of these major issues and concerns. We have, I believe, resolved the Dental School issue at least for the next two years. We have come up with an arrangement there that I believe can work. We have dodged further budget cuts. A one percent budget increase is certame better than a decrease, and a two and three percent increase for the next two years, if we are successful in that, is a start back in the right direction. By no means what this institution needs in order to carry out its mission, but it is a start back in the right direction. In this year there are I think are some indications of the fact that you and we together have successfully managed to handle some challenges that have been put before us and we have seen some successes. We continue to be listed, Jim Applcgate reminded me this morning, as a Carnegie One Research Institution, in the latest rankings that came out. All the signs point to the fact that we will have a better academic quality freshman class in the Fall of 1994 than we have ever had before. As you know 1993 was the best that we had. There continues to be a very strong student demand placed on this institution and a demand by a better and better academic quality student every year. Our Graduate and Professional Schools, several of them, have been singled out for successful ratings or rankings by one organization or another during this past year. In short, the qualitative aspects of this institution that I most want to see and I know you most want to see continue to progress. We are seeing progress in regard to many of those indicators of quality. If we can see those kinds of measures improve during very tough budget times, when times get to be better financially we should really see some progress. I am really very pleased with what you and what we have been able to accomplish during a time when we could have very well have folded up our tents and said we cannot do anything else until times get better. We haven't done that and you haven't done that. You have been willing to take on whatever serious academic and other issues that have faced us and I think we have demonstrated to ourselves and to our publics that we can take on these major issues that impact higher education in this state and in this nation and that we can handle them successfully, Minutes, University Senate, April 11, 1994 reasonably, with accountability, with responsibility. Without that kind of attitude on the part of the faculty of this institution we would not be making the progress that we are making. We would be using all of our time to be divisive and to argue over issues and concerns and we would not have been making the sort of progress that I think we have been making in 1993 and 1994. In short, I want to thank you, the faculty of the University of Kentucky for what you have done and what you continue to do. I want you to know that I understand very well the difficulties that you have faced during 1993-94 and assure you that if you are somewhat of an optimist as I am that you will believe and do believe that there will be better times down the road and that your efforts don't go unrecognized either inside or outside this institution. What we would, of course, like to see is to have those efforts recognized by some better level of funding for the state part of our budget from the state. Those areas in which we have some control whether it be the hospital or athletics or federal contracts and grants; to whatever extent we are dealing with parts of the University over which we have some control of the finances, then we are showing good progress, we are making headway, we are bringing in more dollars to try to keep this institution afloat. You are doing that very very successfully. As a last point let me say that I hope you will remember my feelings about this institution and I hope that they are shared by you. That this should be the principal statewide institution in the Commonwealth. That it is the principal institution for research purposes and it should be and will continue to be and we will develop it as that. That as a priority we have set for ourselves to bring up of the level of excellence of the teaching function in this institution to the point that we feel as comfortable with it as we do with the research success we have had. As a part of that we are focusing on undergraduate, especially freshman and sophomore level instruction and are bringing it to a level of excellence that will make all of us feel very comfortable. That we are continuing our efforts in every way we can to insure that we have computing and information technology that keeps us on the cutting edge and in the forefront of education and research. Computing technology that serves our faculty, our staff, and our students and keeps this institution out in the forefront. That we continue to make strong efforts toward making this a culturally diverse institution. To focus on issues that impact minorities and women. To continue to make progress every year in creating the kind of climate in the institution that all of us would like to see. Lastly that we do use our resources University-wide, the one University concept that I have talked to you about many times, that we focus on the development of this University and the achievement of our goals by using our resources collectively across the institution, whether they be in the Lexington campus, the Medical Center, or the Community College system. Our strength, I believe is in our faculty, our staff, our students, and the fact that we have some clear vision of where we are going, that we want to see an Institution that is nationally recognized for the quality of its teaching, research, service, and its graduates, and that we don't depart from that. The mission of the institution, the mission of the University of Kentucky is well set, it‘s well established, it's well documented, and it is defended when necessary. You play such a major role in that; I don't want to miss any opportunity to tell you how much I appreciate that, and how much I sincerely thank you for the Minutes, University Senate, April 11, 1994 responsible way, the very responsible way, that we inside this University collectively address what I think are the major issues that impact higher education in this state and across the nation. Dan, let me again thank you for your leadership this year. I thank you for the kind of support you have been able to secure from faculty, staff, and administration in canying out your responsibilities. The President then opened the floor for questions. Professor Lance Delong (Physics and Astronomy) asked about the trends for supporting maintenance and operations for new buildings. For example, the situation with robotics, if we get in tight budgetary times, these very large capital projects will the legislature in fact go along with the funding necessary? President Wethington answered that he hoped was that would take place. In the first biennium, we received funding for roughly one half of what we determined to be the maintenance and operations need for new facilities which have been coming on line during the last year. That is not sufficient, it has never been sufficient, it won't be sufficient. Remember in what context that was done; it was a context in which the state's budget was being cut all across the range. I know that during 1994-1995 we will have a look at formula which generates funds for higher education. By statute we must review that periodically. The current budget does carry some language that indicates that will be done again in 1994-95. As part of the Governor's Higher Education Commission, the Finance Cormnittee part of that, we discussed long and hard as we were talking about performance funding measures, talked about the fact that certain costs have got to be built in to any kind of'a funding mechanism for higher education. I am convinced that the performance funding measures approach is going to be revised again and we will have better opportunity for input than we did the first time. During 1994-95, as the formula gets changed, (the other Institutions feel as we do in this regard) certain fixed costs have got to be built into any kind of a formula funding mechanism. I can't assure you of anything except that issue has been raised and there are other Institutions that feel as we do. Assuming that we do have some better growth in revenue in the next two years that we had in the last two or three, I feel we will begin to see a better approach to funding the maintenance and operation of new facilities. Clearly this current one is inadequate. President Wethington thanked everyone for coming to the Senate meeting on this rainy Monday afternoon and turned the meeting back over to Chairman Fulks. The President was given a round of applause. Chairman Fulks thanked President Wethington. Chairman Fulks said that there were about three weeks left until the end of the semester. He agrees with the President that it has been a very challenging year. There have been lots of opportunities, there has been” a lot done during the year. The faculty, the senate. the students, and the Senate Council have done much this year and there is much still to do. The Ad Hoc Committees will be working all through the summer and next fall as well. Minutes, University Senate, April ll, 1994 The Chair thanked Cindy Todd, who is the glue that holds the Senate Council together and keeps things going, Glifford Blyton, who has added another year onto his 20 years or so as Parliamentarian, Randy Dahl, secretary of the Senate, and Susan Caldwell who has been struggling with the minutes all year, in a year in which we decided to move from hard copy to putting the minutes on View. We have just about gotten that done. The Sergeants at Arms; Jacquie Hager and Michelle Sohner. All the former chairs of the Senate Council have been there when he has called and have been very helpful when needed, that has been a much appreciated crutch. The Chairs of the various Senate committees, have been working as well as the committee members have been working all year, and their work and service to the University is appreciated. The three Ad Hoc Committees, still working and being productive. Finally a special thanks to a couple of groups; the students as always have been refreshing, invigorating, and energizing and tend to remind us why we are here. To all members of the Senate, you have been a great group to work with. It has been a challenging and productive year. Since the last meeting, Professor Gretchen LaGodna has been elected Chair-elect of the Senate Council for the 1994-95 academic year, which means she will take over as Chair of the Senate Council for the 1995-96 academic year. The Senate will be in very capable hands with Gretchen. Professor Ray Cox has been Chair-elect this year, he has been a lot of help this year, on May 15, 1994 he will be taking over as chair of the Senate Council. Professor Fulks then read a quote from Ernest Boyer, from the Carnegie Foundation who said "A college or University must be above all a purposeful community, a place where teaching and learning matter most and if academic concerns are not vitally sustained, if faculty and students do not come together around a common intellectual quest, than all the talk about strengthening community in higher education is simply a diversion". I think we have shown good community spirit here during the year and I hope we will continue do so. The Chair made the following announcements: Commencement Day is May 8, 1994, he encouraged everyone to attend. Those who have been there know how exciting it is and will be there again, those who haven't attended need to try it. There is a new Ad Hoc Committee which will study the University retirement system and retirement incentives. There is a new federal law which says they can stay as long as they want as long as they are tenured. They need to look at what the University is doing to encourage faculty to take advantage of retirement. They have identified the people they would like to serve on the committee. Professor Chet Holmquist has agreed to chair the committee. He is from the emeritus faculty group. He encourages anyone with input, questions, or things the committee needs to address please contact Professor Holrnquist or call the Senate Council office. As you recall last month the Senate approved the nominations for the honorary degrees and as they did so, they asked for confidentiality in good faith. As many have pointed out to the Senate Council office, two days later there was an article in the Kernel discussing the nominees. That did not escape the Council's attention nor did it escape President Wethington's attention. They did correspond with the Kernel staff. Dan Reedy, John Piecoro, President Wethington and I did. Although the Kernel staff did not choose to respond, Mike Agin, the advisor for student media, responded to them. This was an embarrassing situation. We have decided in the future to call an executive session as they approve honorary degree nominees. Minutes, University Senate, April 11, 1994 There was some confusion with voting last month. The Senate was hit by surprise with a roll call vote. Most of the confusion centered around who is entitled to vote and who is not. There are several ex officio members of the Senate, some vote and some do not, that changes from one year to the next. If anyone has questions about voting eligibility they should check out Senate Rules 1.2.2.4. The Chair stated the first item on the agenda was to approve the minutes from the February 14, 1994 meeting. There were no corrections to the minutes and they were approved as circulated. Chairman Fulks then recognized Professor Ray Cox, Chair-elect of the Senate Council for the first action item. Professor Cox stated there were two changes to the proposal. The first change is the effective date will be August 1994. The second change is under 5.4.2 Commencement Honors, Item 1, there is no such thing now as highest distinction so the strikeover should not even exist. All of item one is essentially new language and a new designation of commencement honors. Professor Cox on behalf of the Senate Council moved approval of the proposed change to the Universig Senate Rules, Section V, attending the University. Chairman Fulks pointed out a clarification from the Senate Rules. Students with a minimum of two but less than three years of work at this University, that is students transferring in, should receive the appropriate commencement honors if they obtain a GPA of .2 percentage points higher than these listed. That would not change. There was no discussion. In a voice vote, the proposal as amended unanimously passed and reads as follows: Proposed changes to Universng Senate Rules, Section V, attending the University. Background and Rationale: Current Senate Rules concerning graduation with honors make reference to "Distinction, High Distinction, and Highest Distinction." The Senate Council believes that our graduates would be better served if the more commonly used "cum laude" designations were adopted. These designations are more universally utilized by the academic community and, consequently, better recognized and more meaningful.” Proposal: (Delete strikeovers; add underlining) 5.4.2 COMMENCEMENT HONORS 1. Students shall be graduated "Summa Cum Laude" who attain a grade point average of 3.8 or higher for at least three years of work at the University of Kentucky (excepting correspondence study). Minutes, University Senate, April 11, 1994 2. Students shall be graduated With-High—Bistiflefienl "Magga Cum Laude" who attain a grade point average of 3.6 to 3.8 for at least three years of work at the University of Kentucky (excepting correspondence study). . Students shall be graduated W "Cum Laude" who attain a grade point average of 3.4 to 3.6 for at least three years of work at the University of Kentucky (excepting correspondence study). Effective Date: If approved by the Senate, these changes will be effective for August 1994 graduates. The Senate Council recommends approval. Chairman Fulks recognized Professor Ray Cox for the next agenda item. Professor Cox recommended approval, on behalf of the Senate Council, of the proposed changes to the repeat options in the Universig Senate Rules, Section V, Attending the University. The item was circulated under the date of March 13, 1994. Professor Hans Gesund wondered how this would affect calculation of probation, suspension, and advancement to upper division. All of which depend upon grade point averages. At this time, the student has to make the selection of the repeat option before final exams, under this the student will know exactly what grade he has received. Since the student does not have to exercise the option until graduation, how will this work, when the other calculations have to be made in between. He can see some real problems. Chairman Fulks said in his opinion it was the student‘s call to exercise the option whenever he or she wanted to. If the students do not exercise the option until very late, then probation, suspension, and admission to upper division would have to move along with the GPA as is. The student has the control over that. Those would be the consequences of not exercising the repeat option until late. Professor Gesund asked what would happen if the student took the course three times? There is another rule that says only the second time counts. This is meant to make advising easier and clearer. Professor Dan Reedy (Graduate School) said that since this written primarily for undergraduate students that it did not impact the one repeat only for graduate students. Since pass fail is not an acceptable grade at the graduate level that it does not involve that. In terms of practice he is not opposed to the idea of approval after the fact. He often writes letters asking that the rules be suspended, because it is a problem in advising. Dr. Reedy wanted to be certain that this does not supersede the rules of the graduate faculty on one repeat option. Chairman Fulks answered that it did not. Professor Louis Swift (Dean - Undergraduate Studies) asked if this meant there could be two separate records out for a particular student who has been certified as meeting certain requirements. How will that be managed? If a student does not graduate, do they simply go by his or her graduation year? If the student drops out of the University and wants to get something changed on their record are they able to do that? He is more concerned about two sets of records. Chairman Fulks asked why there would be two sets of records? Professor Minutes, University Senate, April ll, 1994 Swift answered that Dr. Dahl had told him there were times when he had to certify that the student meets certain requirements, under certain circumstances the student does, with the repeat option he may not. Dr. Randall Dahl (University Registrar) stated that in thinking through the proposed change, this could have the effect of altering history for a given student. There is the possibility of multiple, conflicting, valid official transcripts being in circulation simultaneously. The repeat option could be exercised at some time