Faculty Senate Minutes - January 22, 2001

OFFICIAL MINUTES OF THE FACULTY SENATE 1/22/01

Senators Present: Kay Bailey, Barry Daniel, Jay Helman (VPAA), Wendy Highby, Bill King (clerk), Steve Kugath, Terri Lennon, Terry Mullen, Heather Orr, Mark Riney, Dan Schuster, Allen Stork (chair), Jim Westerman

VISITORS: none.

Allen Stork called the meeting to order at 4:20.

1. The agenda was accepted and the minutes approved as read.

2. Chair’s Report.

• The FACT meeting was fascinating. Metro wants out of OSC, continuing to argue that they are ‘subsidizing’ the other member schools. Others made it clear that this is not so. Dr. Helman explained the source of this misunderstanding in a question that was asked at the beginning of the OSC examination of BAM (Budget Allocation Method): What is the average funding per student in the system? That figure led Metro to argue that they are underfunded since they do not receive that per student amount. Funding, however, has never been done on a purely per student basis. There was some discussion of whether it is to our advantage to have Metro in the OSC.
• Jim Westerman reported that Roger Hudson was meeting with the Common Course Numbering Committee.
• The Campus Foundation Committee has finished allocating funds and their report is filed with Allen Stork for our information.

3. VPAA report

• Our master plan will be complete with the new Taylor Hall renovation, so it is time to begin a new plan including infrastructure, technology, and "migration" (the movement of resources to accommodate changing needs and overlapping responsibilities). Planners will be coming to discuss the new plan with departments February 20-22. We should be "thinking big."
• Quality Indicators: WSC was the lowest scorer. Percentage graduation rate, e.g. of minority students hurt, for even though we graduated more than several other schools, our benchmark set by CCHE was higher. On standardized tests we were also hurt. PLACE and CPA exam scores (first time only) ended up as the chief indicators of our "quality." Much concern was expressed about public perception based on this report.
• Freshman Year Experience Committee plan is nearing completion. Roundtable Feb. 13.
• Budget cuts continue. This was covered in the latest Western Watch letter from the President. We are cutting now to save for next year and also planning for the impact of a larger freshman class, significantly larger (100-150).

4. Old Business: none.

5. New Business:

• Need to elect a new vice chair and a new senator at large. The chair and clerk will make plans for this. Solicit nominations from your departments.
• Curriculum Committee Report. Motion to approve the changes was made by Schuster and seconded by Mullen. We will vote in two weeks.
• Two emeritus nominations are before us: Frank Pribyl and Pat Sterling. Motion to accept made by Daniel, seconded by Mullen.

Announcements: none. Adjourned 5:22.

Respectfully submitted,

William E. King

Faculty Senate Clerk