November 4, 2004

W. Bateman called the meeting to order at 4:04 p.m. in room 223 of the Student Union Building.

Present: Marilyn Baguinon (Secretary), Len Barish, Deborah Barlieb, William Bateman (President), Eric Beaven, Kristin Bremer, Dan Cates, Janice Chernekoff, Roberta Crisson, Brenda Innocenti for Miles DeCoster, Margaret Devlin, William Donner, Jack Entriken, Bruce Gottschall, James Hall, Kathy Hartman, Ted Hickman, Maria Hodel, James Hvidding, Deryl Johnson (Vice President), Kimberly Johnston, Patricia Kelleher, Tracy Keyes, Robert Martin, John McAndrew, Dennis Rains, Karen Rauch, Gail Rothermel, Paul Sable, Randy Schaeffer, Neil Shea, Peg Speirs, John Vafeas, David Wagaman, and Dana Wilcox.

Absent: Emily Button, Joan Davis, Dennis Dietrich, Ina Grapenthin, Roger Hibbs, David Laubach, Matthew McKernan, George Paterno, Morris Perinchief, Linda Rinker, James Sowerwine, Raymond Tumbleson, Edward Vicic, and Karen Williams.

Others In Attendance: Debra Lynch

I.    Announcements

W. Bateman gave the Senate a numerical update on the SECA campaign contributions that about 350 donors had donated about $33,000 so far. The last of five SECA drawings was conducted. W. Bateman announced that a SECA Wind-Up session is scheduled for Thursday, November 18, in the Blue Room at 3:00 p.m. All employees are invited. There will be light refreshments.

W. Bateman announced that the 2004 KU Presidential Scholarship Ball would be held on November 6, 2004. The cost per person is $175.00 and tickets are still available.

B. Gottschall moved, P. Kelleher seconded, to approve the agenda. The motion passed.

R. Schaeffer moved, and R. Crisson seconded, to approve the minutes of the October 7, 2004 meeting. The motion passed.

A.    Committee on Committees
D. Johnson, chair of the Committee on Committees, announced that the Senate Office has not received the annual reports, minutes, or the names of the chairs of a number of the committees that report to Senate. Apparently some committees have not even met in the last two years. D. Johnson asked that the missing information be sent electronically to the Senate Office so that it can be included on the Senate website.
D. Johnson moved a recommendation from the Committee on Committees that the Provost become an ex officio member of the Academic Technology Committee. T. Hickman seconded the motion. The motion passed.

B.  General Education Restructuring Team
D. Lynch, chair of the General Education Restructuring Team, reported that 72% of the responding faculty voted in favor of the proposed General Education Mission and Goals. D. Lynch distributed General Education Perspective handouts to Senate members. She also reminded them about the “Food for Thought” session scheduled for November 11, 2004.

W. Bateman spoke on the recent referendum on the Plus/Minus Grading Proposal. He reported that 120 voted in favor and 60 against. Therefore, the proposal passed by a two-thirds majority. He stated that the new grading system would not be implemented until the academic software package is written for S.A.P. The earliest that this may happen is Fall 2007.

W. Bateman announced that the Senate Constitution requires that a three-person Nominations Committee be formed to run the election for the Senate offices of President, a two-year term, and Secretary, a one-year term. Since no one volunteered at the meeting to serve, W. Bateman said that he would appoint the committee members after the meeting. Those Senators interested in serving should email him.

The Senate Constitution requires the current office holders to declare at the November meeting whether or not they are running again. W. Bateman announced that he would be running for President again. M. Baguinon announced that she would be running for Secretary again.

L. Barish, moved, and J. Hvidding seconded, that the meeting be adjourned. The motion passed. The meeting was adjourned at 4:25 p.m.