WASHBURN UNIVERSITY OF TOPEKA BOARD OF REGENTS MINUTES January 20, 1998 _______________________________________________________________ I. Chairperson Parks called the meeting to order at 4:02 p.m. in the Browsing Area of Mabee Library on the Washburn University campus. II. Present were: Mr. Craig, Mr. Dick, Mr. Ferrell, Mrs. Parks, Mr. Roth and Mayor Wagnon. III. It was moved and seconded to approve the Minutes of the December 17, 1997 meeting as circulated. Motion passed. It was moved and seconded to recess to Executive Session for the purpose of discussing a legal matter with counsel and to reconvene in open session in the Browsing Area of Mabee Library. Motion passed unanimously. The Board recessed to Executive Session in Room 105 of Mabee Library. Mr. Engel arrived at 4:08 p.m. Mrs. Porter arrived at 4:10 p.m. At 4:27 p.m. the Board reconvened in open session in the Browsing Area of Mabee Library. It was moved and seconded to recess again to Executive Session for the purpose of discussing a legal matter with counsel and to reconvene in open session at 4:55 p.m. at the meeting site in Mabee Library. Motion passed unanimously. The Board recessed to Executive Session in Room 105 of Mabee Library. At 4:55 p.m. the Board reconvened in open session in the browsing area of Mabee Library.. Mayor Wagnon left the meeting at 4:55 p.m. IV. President's Report President Farley reported to the Board of Regents that last Sunday afternoon, January 18, the University hosted a 1-1/2 hour program on KTWU, Channel-11, captioned "The Road to College." This program was intended to explain to prospective college students how to apply for admission and financial aid at higher education institutions and included information on the Hope Scholarship Credit and lifetime learning tax credit. It was followed by a call-in show. The panel included a local accountant, Ginger Powell; the director of financial aid, Ms. Annita Huff; admissions director, Greg Gomez; Dr. Farley and was moderated by Rich O'Brian. President Farley said the program appeared to be successful and it will be re-broadcast over Channel 16. Dr. Farley circulated to members of the Board of Regents a progress report on the University student athletes and their academic achievements. He said that all fall and cumulative fall-to-fall were exceptionally positive and commended the leadership of the athletics director and the staff as well as the students on the grades achieved by the students. President Farley said that in response to a question from Regent Dick about remedial programs at a previous meeting, the University does not have any specifically labeled remedial programs. He said the University does have a number of services available through the Center for Learning and Student Success which he would like to see the University expand. He said the University does have two pre-college math courses, one of which does not count towards graduation. He highlighted the existence of the English Department's writing center and noted there was a course several years ago with English but that has since been discontinued. Dr. Farley announced that the American Bar Association reports that Washburn University School of Law is third in the nation in the percentage of its alumni contributing to it. Washburn's School of Law is behind that only of the University of Virginia and the University of Georgia. He said that 31% of the University's law school alums are contributing back to the law school, noting that presents a 69% opportunity available to the University for further fundraising. Dr. Farley noted that 75 of Washburn University seniors have been nominated to Who's Who in Higher Education. He also reported that the University's enrollment is underway and that last Saturday, January 17, represented the first day of classes. Dr. Farley noted that a half dozen or more of newspapers in the state of Kansas will be featuring a recent Topeka Capital-Journal article on Dr. Tom Wolf's research, along with research by undergraduate students on fluorescent pattern of fruit flies. Regent Dick noted that the article had already appeared in the Hutchinson News. Finally, Dr. Farley reported that there will be an open town meeting for faculty and staff on the University's campus February 9 to talk about admission standards. He said that the results of this discussion as well as from previous discussions will ultimately be brought to the Board for discussion with the Board on the issue. V.New Business A. 1. Expenditures over $25,000 a. Memorial Union Air Conditioning Replacement It was moved and seconded to approve the award of a contract to The Trane Company for the condensing unit and chiller equipment and for approval to contract for the installation of said equipment to the low and best bidder to be determined at a cost not to exceed $150,000. Motion passed unanimously. b. Academic Sabbaticals - 1998-99 It was moved and seconded to approve the award of academic sabbaticals for the 1998-99 academic year as recommended. Motion passed unanimously. As approved by the University's Board of Regents, the following persons have been awarded academic sabbaticals during the 1998-99 academic year: Prof. Ali Khan, Spring '99; Prof. John Kuether, Spring '99; Prof. Ronald Ash, Fall '98; Prof. Nancy Maxwell, Fall '98; Assoc. Prof. Kay Rute, Spring '99; Assoc. Prof. Robert Hull, Fall '98; Assoc. Prof. Barbara Burgess, Spring '99; and, Prof. Ronald Evans, Spring '99. B. Consent Agenda It was moved and seconded to approve the items on the consent agenda. Motion passed unanimously. Items approved were: 1. Depository Security Transactions; 2. Liquidated Claims Approval - November, 1997; 3. Liquidated Claims Approval - December, 1997; and, 4. Public Fund Investments. C. Information Items 1. FY 1999 Budget Request - Information Item President Farley circulated a handout item summarizing Governor Graves' recommendations for state funding for Washburn and indicated that the information provided to the Board next month will be presented with an item with respect to the budget for FY 1999. He also said that next month the Board will be receiving a faculty salary review. He noted that the administration had decided to expand the analysis of faculty salaries to include information from other data bases. President Farley highlighted that the Governor has recommended that the University's Operating Grant be increased nearly $480,000 and that he also has recommended that the one-time funding of $2 million in technology grants be shared by Washburn and the community colleges. 2. Phased Retirement Program President Farley noted that the voluntary phased retirement proposal had been one under study by the University Faculty Personnel Committee for a number of years and that it has recently been approved by the University Council as a whole. He said under the proposal a University employee might request participation in a voluntary phased retirement program which would be reviewed by the department. This would allow the person to phase down from full time employment to a lesser time. This would permit departments to know a date certain for an individual's retirement. He said each such request would be brought to the Board of Regents for its action following a review to determine whether the proposal was in the best interest of the institution. Dr. Farley then introduced Prof. Harold Rood, who chaired the group putting the proposal together. Prof. Rood highlighted the essence of the proposed program as shown in the agenda item. Mrs. Porter departed at 5:45 p.m. Dr. Farley said this matter would be brought back to the Board in a future meeting. Regent Craig noted that the voluntary phased retirement program has been getting solid reviews from the Kansas Regents' institutions. There were concerns about "double dipping" and working for a University competitor while receiving full fringe benefits from the institution. There were other issues raised, including what would happen in the event of a participant's death for the inclusion of the phased retirement. It was moved and seconded to recess to Executive Session and to reconvene in open session in the browsing area of Mabee Library at 6:20 p.m. for the purposes of discussion of a personnel matter. Motion passed unanimously. Chairperson Parks noted that no action would be taken following conclusion of the Executive Session. The Board recessed to Executive Session in Room 105 of Mabee Library. At 6:20 p.m. the Board reconvened in open session. It was moved and seconded to adjourn. Motion passed unanimously. The meeting of the Board of Regents adjourned at 6:20 p.m. ____________________________ Kenneth P. Hackler Secretary, Board of Regents