Meeting of the Faculty Senate
Executive Committee
327 Graff Main Hall
5 June 2015
2015-2016 Members: Bradley Seebach, Chair
Anne Galbraith, Vice-Chair
Tisha King-Heiden, Secretary
Janet Kirsch, At-Large
Biology
Biology
Biology
Chemistry & Biochemistry
Members Present:
Galbraith, King-Heiden, Kirsch, Seebach
Guests/Consultants:
Martin Allen (Computer Science), Natalie Eschenbaum (English)
Meeting began at 11:05 am
I. CAPS emergency action for student. Discussed and unanimously approved a change in grade from
an F (incomplete) to an A in 449REC for a graduating student, based upon the recommendation from
instructor on record and from the CAPS Chair. The student originally was assigned an incomplete,
which later became an F; the instructor noted that the student had in fact completed the coursework
and should have received a grade of ‘A’.
II. Discussion of Hearing Committee. Discussed and unanimously approved to assign the Hearing
Committee to be the UWL committee for hearing layoff and termination grievances to reflect pending
changes to WI law.
III. Need for new members and alternates for Hearing Committee. Discussed that given new changes
to Hearing Committee charges, there is a need to ensure that there is a breadth of faculty voices
represented on the committee. Brad will notify faculty of the change in charge to this committee, and
will request additional volunteers/nominations to serve as members or alternates of this committee.
SEC will select from volunteers/nominations and present to Faculty Senate in Fall for approval.
IV. Changes to 2015-2016 Faculty Senate. Discussed and unanimously approved appointing John
Nunley to replace Peter Haried for the remainder of Haried’s term (1 year). This would fill the CBA
seat according to Article IV.B.6.d. We will endorse the senator at the Faculty Senate meeting in Fall
for approval.
V. Summer trail of 3rd party SEI software. Discussed how to evaluate alternatives to current on-line
SEI system to increase student participation. A new 3rd party software can include mobile devices so
that the evaluation can be done in class with neutral cost to University and program without privacy
issues. Will reach out to several faculty teaching summer courses in Biology, Chemistry,
Psychology, Math, Economics, and English to ask them to pilot the new software and present to data
to FS related to feasibility and effectiveness.
VI. Discussion of how to respond to pending changes in University structure (tenure). We discussed
our concerns about how the potential changes to tenure and faculty/student governance may impact
program quality and retention/recruitment of faculty and staff. We discussed how we might best
respond to faculty at large. Brad will look further into our options, and we may call for a meeting of
FS as a whole once we have something concrete to which we can respond.
The meeting adjourned at 1:05 PM.
Submitted by T. King-Heiden