Recommendations & Resolutions

1999-2000

#:  02-99/00
Proposed resolution concerning science education standards for instruction in Kansas Public Schools.
The Faculty Senate of Fort Hays State University, noting that recent action of the State Board of Education fails to provide statewide assurance of instruction in evolution, a subject held to be central to biology by the clear consensus of the overwhelming majority of scholars in the field, believes that academic freedom ins threatened by the State Board’s action in the following ways:
1. It willfully ignores the overwhelming (99%) consensus of scholarly opinion on a subject almost universally recognized as of central importance to a very large area of scholarship.
2. It exposes individual local teachers, principals, and school boards to pressure from comparatively well-financed, and well-organized groups advocating views held by tiny minorities.
3. It causes the science curriculum implicit in the Board’s action ot fail to meet Regents’ guidelines.
4. It may result in irreparable harm to schoolchildren, who may be deprived of education in a major area of science.
Accordingly, the Faculty Senate of Fort Hays State Univeristy respectfully urges the State Board to reconsider its action and to adopt standards which assure that instruction in all areas of science will accurately and fully reflect scholarly consensus wherever it exists.

#: 03-99/00
Approved by Executive Committee, August 27, 1999
Amended and passed by Faculty Senate, September 7, 1999
The Faculty Senate hereby requests the Virtual College Advisory Committee to review University Policy making in the area of distance-learning technology.
The faculty senate requests if practicable, answers to the following questions:
1. What is the University’s long-term strategy in the area of distance learning?
2. Is this strategy supported by (an) adequately c comprehensive long-term plan or plans?
3. Do the strategy and supporting plans cover all areas in which policy is needed?
4. Is there in place an effective mechanism for timely review with appropriate input of the adequacy of strategy and planning?
5. Is there in place an effective system for disseminating the strategy and plan(s) to University personnel who need to know about them?
The Faculty senate requests not a review the actual policies, but rather only of the policy-making system and procedures which formulate and review the policies.
The Faculty Senate requests that a report containing the answers to these questions be provided to the Faculty Senate by November 1, 1999.
Date of Senate approval:  unknown

#:  05-99/00
For all faculty members whose promotions become effective in FY 2001, the following base salary increases shall be established:  $3,000 for Professor, $2,000 for Associate Professor, and $1,000 for Assistant Professor
Date of Senate approval:  November 3, 1999

#:  06-99/00
The Faculty Senate recommends that faculty members who were awarded promotions to Associate Professor and Professor in fiscal years 1996 to 2000, inclusive, receive base salary increases based on a decreasing percentage (in reverse chronological order) of the difference between the current promotion adjustments and the adjustments recommended in Resolution 9900-05 in the following proportions: for fiscal year 2000: 83.3%; for fiscal year 1999: 66.7%; for fiscal year 1998: 50% for fiscal year 1997: 33.3%; for fiscal year 1996: 16.7%.
Date of Senate approval:  October 5, 1999

#:  07-99/00
At its regular meeting of October 5, 1999 the Faculty Senate Approved the following course:
ECFI 580/780
Date of Senate approval:  October 5, 1999
~Attachment~

#:  09-99/00
Approved by Executive Committee, September 24, 1999
See attached copy of resolution 9900-09
Date of Senate approval:  October 5, 1999
~Attachment~

#:  10-99/00
The Faculty Senate approved the change in name of the College of Business from the “College of Business” to the “College of Business and Leadership”.
Date of Senate approval:  November 1, 1999

#:  12-99/00
The Faculty Senate recommends that Fort Hays State Univeristy complete and submit the forms provided by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools to indicate interest in Fort Hays State Univeristy participation in the Association’s Academic Quality Improvement Project (AQIP) with the understanding that any additional information about AQIP will be referred to the Faculty Senate for consideration before Fort Hays State Univeristy finally agrees to participate.
Date of Senate approval:  November 1, 1999

#:  13-99/00
The Faculty Senate requests that the administration adheres to established policy as set forth in the Faculty Handbook in the determination of Summer salaries.
Date of Senate approval:  December 7, 1999

#:  14-99/00
Whereas- a faculty “straw vote” conducted in the Spring of 1996 supported an administrative proposal to transfer $100,000 from the unclassified salary pool to a new budget line designated for library acquisitions, and

Whereas- the University administration has apparently continued this transfer each year since for a total of $400,000 and

Whereas- some uncertainty exists among some of the Forsyth Library staff, and among other colleagues, as to whether the $400,000 taken from unclassified salary monies has in fact been applied to library acquisitions.
Date of Senate approval:  unknown

Therefore- the Faculty Senate requests that the Vice President for Administration and Finance provide it with a fair presentation, in accord with applicable generally accepted accounting principles, of the origination (source of funds) and expenditure (e.g. Action Plans) of each of the four $100,000 transfers.  (Did the $100,000 transfers to the Library actually take place each of the four years?  Were the funds placed in the base of the Library budget?  If the Library received the monies mentioned, was the total Library budget reduced in whole or in part during the same time period?)

#:  15-99/00
The Faculty Senate recommends that the Director of Academic Advising establish a committee to here academic suspension appeals.  The committee should have a composition and procedures comparable to those employed by the Financial Aid Suspension Appeals Committee.  The Director is requested to report to the Faculty Senate the composition of the committee as established
Date of Senate approval:  November 1, 1999

#:  16-99/00
As its regular meeting of December 7, 1999 the Faculty Senate Approved the following course
HIST 509/709
Date of Senate approval:  December 7, 1999

#:  20-99/00
See the following attachment for resolution
Date of Senate approval:  December 7, 1999
~Attachment~

#:  21-99/00
In Honor of Dr. James L. Forsythe
ON the Occasion of His Retirement as Vice-Provost and Dean of Graduate Studies on Research
December 7, 1999

Whereas Dr. James L. Forsythe, past President of the Faculty Senate, has, through many years of service as faculty member, department chair, Dean, and Vice-Provost, contributed greatly to the advancement of Fort Hays State Univeristy, the Western Kansas community, and to the scholarly community at large-
Whereas Dr. Forsythe’s service has been a model of leadership, integrity, intelligence, and devotion-
The Faculty Senate respectfully tenders its thanks on behalf of the faculty to Dr. Forsythe and its warmest wishes for a long, prosperous, and happy retirement.
Date of Senate approval:  unknown

#:  22-99/00
(approved by Academic Affairs Committee, December, 1999)
In the spirit of collegiality, the faculty Senate requests that the administration consult and involve the Faculty Senate with decisions regarding establishment or elimination of degrees and majors prior to public announcements and decisions.

#:  27-99/00
See following attachment for resolution
~Attachment~

#:  28-99/00
At its regular meeting of March 6, 2000 the Faculty Senate approved the following course
BIOL 222L
Date of Senate approval:  March 6, 2000