WASHBURN UNIVERSITY OF TOPEKA BOARD OF REGENTS MINUTES June 10, 1998 ________________________________________________________ I. Call to Order Chairperson Parks called the meeting of the Board of Regents to order at 7:04 p.m. in the Convocation Hall of the Bradbury Thompson Center. II. Roll Call Present were: Mr. Craig, Mr. Dick, Mrs. Engel, Mr. Ferrell, Mrs. Parks, Mr. Roth, Mrs. Wagnon and Dr. Ybarra. III. Approval of Minutes of May 13, 1998 meeting as circulated It was moved and seconded to approve the Minutes of the May 13, 1998 meeting as circulated. Motion passed unanimously. IV. President's Report President Farley reported that Billie Jean Moore, an alumna of Washburn, is to be inducted into the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame in Abilene this Saturday, the first one of the Washburn alumni to be so inducted. Ms. Moore has been a coach at UCLA and also a coach of the Olympic basketball team. She also will be present at the Mayor's golf tournament this coming Monday, June 15. In that vein, Dr. Farley noted that in regard to the tournament being held next Monday, they still have opportunities for persons to play. He said the Mayor's golf tournament, being put on with the help of Washburn alum John Pinegar and the Athletics Department staff, is a fundraiser for women's athletic scholarship funding. Dr. Farley announced that Falley Field was the host site for the Kansas High School Activities Association sponsored 3A basketball tournament at the end of May. He said there were eight schools represented by over 150 players. He noted that the tournament was ultimately won by the Silver Lake Eagles. He said he's received a tremendous number of thank you letters and extended his congratulations and thanks to Loren Ferré, Athletics Director, and his staff. Dr. Farley announced that Washburn University has an intern in Hollywood. He said, Clinton Irey, a mass media major, is interning with the television show "The Young and The Restless" and "Entertainment Tonight." President Farley announced that Washburn University will serve as the host site of one of only two athletic injury treatment training seminars to be held in the entire country this summer. The workshop, led by head athletics trainer Steve Ice, will be held on our campus July 20-24. Dr. Farley announced that the Multi-cultural Affairs Office was a co- sponsor of the pow-wow held in May in conjunction with the Spirit IV Indian Center. Dr. Farley announced that the Mulvane Mountain/Plains Art Fair was held this past weekend, June 6 and 7. This is the sixth annual event and there were more than 75 registered artists and exhibitors. He noted that, just after the Oregon school shooting, Washburn University had an institute on school violence. He said it was our way in an attempt to try and make a difference. President Farley announced that he will be traveling to Winfield to participate in an alumni golf tournament event June 26. The event will be held at the Winfield Country Club and is being put together by Washburn alum Bob Burdette. Dr. Farley reminded members of the Board of Regents and others that the Sunflower Music Festival is presently underway through this coming Saturday night, June 13th. He reported that with the help of Vice President Sheley and others the Sunflower Festival includes the Blanche Bryden Sunflower Music Institute which this year has 25 high school and college students participating. V. Old Business A. Faculty Compensation Study and Proposal President Farley presented the agenda item on faculty salary, saying that a year ago there was intense discussion on the campus regarding faculty compensation, noting that the July Board of Regents meeting there were data provided to the Board of Institution which showed Washburn University faculty salaries compared with our "peer institutions." He said this was used as a beginning point for engaging in the process of leading to this evening's report. He noted that 80% of the University's budget is for personnel costs including salary and associated fringe benefits. Dr. Farley said it is important that we stay vigilant about our salaries and what our competitors are doing. He said he has had several anecdotal stories from six to eight departments each of which had a story regarding recruitment of faculty members. He said that many of the advertisements placed in publications announcing faculty positions at the University do not disclose the salary to be paid but that information is disclosed subsequently. He said that each of the departments with whom he spoke there was at least one instance of an individual who declined to remain in the applicant pool when the amount of salary was disclosed. He noted that in at least one instance there was an individual who took a job elsewhere for some $5,000-$8,000 above what the amount of salary was available here. He reported that the University had hired a professional consultant who, among other things, identified additional peer institutions. He said as a result of the consultant's report along with analysis of other data, the University's administration has borrowed a concept from the Kansas Board of Regents institutions. Those institutions report that generally they are some 12% behind their respective peers and have engaged in a plan to catch up over a three year period. He said the report put together and presented to the Board this evening represents a "precise appraisal of where we stand." In response to questions from Regents, President Farley reported that several of the peer institutions that we had identified previously were included in this latest rendering, noting that three of those institutions almost exactly match Washburn University. Those are Auburn in Alabama, University of Indiana-South Bend and the University of Michigan-Flint. Dr. Farley said that the University had asked the consultant to review each of the faculty positions. He said the consultant prepared a list comprised of approximately 20 individuals where it appeared there might be a problem. After a more thorough review by the academic administration, the list was pared down to 10-12, and he said that they had done something about 13 of the 20 positions identified. He also indicated that there are some areas in the institutions' academic areas where salary is really a concern citing by way of example the nationally recognized situation involving computer information science. He said this is a very competitive market. Dr. Farley extended his thanks for members of the administration and others participating in the preparation of the report identifying particularly Dr. Sheley, Dr. Cohen and faculty representatives Dr. Wolf and Dr. Eck. B. Washburn University Retirement Program It was moved and seconded to take from the table the agenda item on Washburn University Retirement Program. Motion passed unanimously. It was moved and seconded to approve the University rate of contribution for individuals participating in the Washburn University plan from 9% to 10% and to approve the adoption of a three year vesting period for all new employees hired after July 1, 1998. Chairperson Parks requested input from the faculty representatives. Dr. Eck noted that the earlier agenda item regarding faculty compensation shows that retirement benefits provided Washburn University is shown at 8.6% while II A comprehensive institutions is 9.6%. He said an increase in 1% on the University contribution rate puts us in line with the II A schools. He also noted that the same page that earlier item shows that Washburn is 1-3 points behind Kansas Board of Regents' institutions in total fringe benefits. He said this "addresses the necessity for the 1 point increase." Dr. Wolf noted that this would be helpful in terms of recruitment where, referring to the previous item on faculty salary, and said that we really are behind in fringe benefit programs. The motion passed with Mr. Engel voting no and Mayor Wagnon abstaining. C. FY 2000 Budget Request Dr. Farley presented the FY 2000 Kansas Board of Regents Budget Request, pointing out that this proposal takes a different step than in past years noting that this proposal provides no increase in taxes or in tuition, instead requesting an equity funding grant. He said the proposal contemplates that the equity funding concept be one built by coalition including the community colleges. During discussion of the item the consensus of opinion was that there is a necessity to begin working to develop plans to make this equity funding grant materialize in beginning now to build a coalition to garner support for the concept. It also was noted that it's not enough to make the argument that we are worthy and deserving, and it is equally necessary to plan just to keep what we have. Dr. Farley reported that the administration will be coming back shortly to the Board of Regents, developed in concert with Board members, of a plan to build support for the equity funding grant which would require their active participation to the extent possible. It was moved and seconded to approve the FY 2000 Budget Request and its submittal to the Kansas Board of Regents as presented. Motion passed unanimously. VI. New Business A. Action Items 1. Expenditures over $25,000 a. KTWU Transmitter Test Equipment It was moved and seconded to approve the purchase of KTWU test equipment in the amount of $49,149.54 from Tektronix, Inc. Motion passed unanimously. 2. Competitive Grant Program It was moved and seconded to approve the competitive grant program awards outlined in agenda item VI.A.2. Motion passed unanimously. As approved by the Board of Regents, the following amounts were authorized for expenditure in the following programs: Research and Compact Disk System - WAN for the School of Law - $34,080; COMWEB Classroom Instruction and Management System - $15,000; Internet Connection and Technical Support for Campus Macintosh Computer Labs - $25,000; Teaching Teachers Technology - $29,836; Distance Learning Program to Community College - $9,350; and Multimedia Production Studio - $17,800. 3. Winter Holiday Closing It was moved and seconded to approve the holiday closing plan outlined by the agenda item grouping a total of four holidays into the period between Christmas and New Year's with a one day personal leave day to be implemented for the 1998 Christmas holiday between Christmas and New Year's. Motion passed unanimously. B. Consent Agenda It was moved and seconded to approve the consent agenda items outlined in VI.B.1. through VI.B.6. As approved by the Board of Regents: 1. Revision to Classified Compensation Schedule a new classification was added to the classified compensation schedule of Library Assistant III; 2. Faculty Personnel the award of a leave of absence without pay to Dr. Gary Schmidt for the fall 1998 semester; the employment of Bruce Plenk as Visiting Associate Professor in the School of Law on a non- tenure track, three-fourths time contract at an annual basic salary of $54,000; the employment of Dr. Kenneth Ohm as a Lecturer--full time at an annual basic salary of $34,776; employment of Richard Driver as Lecturer--full time at an annual basic salary of $34,296; employment of Evelyn Pitts as Instructor--3/4 time at an annual basic salary of $19,500; employment of William Gahnstrom as Instructor--3/4 time subject to an anticipated vacancy in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at an annual basic salary of $18,000; employment of Mark Kaufman and Fred Besthorn as assistant professors, full- time tenure-track positions in the Department of Social Work at the annual basic salaries respectively of $36,900 and $37,500; and, employment of Gerrald Reed as an Instructor on a non-tenure track contract in the Department of Computer Information Sciences at an annual basic salary of $30,636; 3. Faculty Personnel - Elrod the award of a leave of absence for the fall 1998 semester to Professor Linda Elrod in the School of Law to serve as visiting professor at Washington University subject to a contract between the institutions under which Washburn would continue to carry Professor Elrod on its regular payroll but would be reimbursed in full for her fall salary and fringe benefits by Washington University; 4. Public Fund Investments, 5. Depository Security Transations and 6. Liquidated Claims Approval - May 1998 the approval of Public Fund Investments, Depository Security Transactions and Liquidated claims identified in the agenda items. C. Information Items 1. Leadership Program President Farley said the University's proposal for a leadership program may be a defining characteristic of Washburn University and a hallmark of a degree from this institution. He noted the program had been under study for a couple of years and introduced the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, Dr. Karen Ray, to make a presentation on the program. Dr. Ray reported that the overall goal of the program is to create civic leaders for the future. She reported that the institution presently has the core academic curriculum in place to begin a fledgling program as early as the fall 1998 with the overall goal of full implementation of the initial program beginning in the fall of 1999. She said that "volunteerism will be a major component" of the program with that volunteerism likely to occur in the senior year. Suggestions offered by members of the Board of Regents in response to the information item is to ensure that the capstone experience be one that is not individual based but rather that the identification and proposal for a workable solution to it would occur in a team environment; that sales be considered as an area to focus leadership; that the administration contemplating the application of the principles and concepts emerging form the leadership program be considered for spinoff potentially in commercial applications for one to three week courses; that the University encourage qualified individuals as adjuncts or visiting professors of one day, week long, month long, semester long programs; and that there be real hands-on work with people in a leadership area. The consensus of the members of the Board of Regents is that this is a "really exciting" concept. VII. ELECTIONS Chairperson Parks requested that the ad hoc committee for preparation and nomination of candidates for office, comprised this year of Mr. Roth and Mayor Wagnon, make its report. Mr. Roth reported that he and Mayor Wagnon had chatted several times about a potential slate of candidates and that they have unanimously agreed on a slate of candidates for office. The nomination submitted by the nominating committee were Blanche Parks for chair and Chuck Engel as vice chair. It was moved and seconded to cast a unanimous ballot for the slate. Motion passed unanimously. VIII. Executive Session It was moved and seconded to recess to Executive Session for the purpose of discussing a legal matter and to reconvene in open session in the Convocation Hall of the Bradbury Thompson Center at 9:15 p.m. Motion passed unanimously. The Board recessed to Executive Session at 8:45 p.m. At 9:13 p.m. the Board reconvened in open session in the Convocation Hall of the Bradbury Thompson Center. It was moved and seconded to recess to Executive Session for the purpose of discussing a personnel matter and to reconvene in open session in the Convocation at 9:45 p.m. Motion passed unanimously. The Board recessed to Executive Session at 9:14 p.m. At 9:45 p.m. the Board reconvened in open session in the Convocation Hall of the Bradbury Thompson Center. It was moved and seconded to recess to Executive Session for the purpose of continuing discussion of a personnel matter and to reconvene in open session at 10:00 p.m. in the Convocation Hall of the Bradbury Thompson Center. Motion passed. At 9:56 p.m. the Board reconvened in open session in the Convocation Hall of the Bradbury Thompson Center. It was moved and seconded to adjourn. The meeting of the Board of Regents adjourned at 9:56 p.m. __________________________ Kenneth P. Hackler Secretary, Board of Regents -6-