WASHBURN UNIVERSITY OF TOPEKA
BOARD OF REGENTS
MINUTES
September 10, 1997
______________________________________________________________________
I. Chairperson Parks convened the meeting of the Board of Regents in the North
Gallery of the Mulvane Art Museum at 7:08 p.m.
II. Present were: Mr. Dick, Mr. Engel, Mr. Ferrell, Mrs. Parks, Dr. Robinson, Mrs.
Wagnon and Dr. Ybarra.
Chairperson Parks extended a welcome to the newest member of the Board of Regents,
Dr. Frank Ybarra. She reported that Dr. Ybarra has been inducted into the Kansas
Teachers Hall of Fame, formerly served as the assistant superintendent of the Topeka
Public Schools, and presently is director of personnel at the Kansas Department of Human
Resources. She also extended congratulations to Regent Engel who was recently
reappointed to the Board. She also reported that Regent Roth is still "under the weather"
recovering from serious surgery. She also reported Mr. Roth thanks the Board of Regents
for the flowers and for the visits he received from Regent Hal Dick and President Farley.
She said he plans to be with the Board of Regents at its next meeting in October.
President Farley also extended his welcome to Dr. Ybarra as a new member of the Board
of Regents and welcomed the return of Regent Engel.
III. It was moved and seconded to approve the minutes of the July 23, 1997 meeting
as circulated. Motion passed unanimously.
IV. President's Report
President Farley reported he has been provided the preliminary enrollment numbers
for the Fall, 1997 semester, most of which he said were all good indicators. He
said headcount was up nearly 1%, first time freshmen enrollment was up 2.5%,
graduate enrollment up nearly 5% and the minority student population at the
institution is nearly 15%. He said these are all very positive factors. He did say,
however, there is a slight decrease in the total number of freshmen but all others
are holding steady or have slightly increased. He reported also that the final
enrollment figures for the summer sessions at the University have been prepared,
reporting a 4.5% increase in headcount and a 5% increase in student credit hours.
Dr. Farley reported Washburn University has been involved for the past one and a
half years with the America Reads challenge. He said the program utilizes one half
of the increase in an institution's work study funds to provide for student tutors in
reading programs in high schools and elementary schools. He said we were one of
the first institutions to become involved of the original 100. He said in Kansas, to
the best of his knowledge, only Emporia State University and Wichita State
University are involved.
Dr. Farley reported that Washburn University, as part of its continuing close
relationship with the Topeka Symphony Orchestra and the efforts of Dr. Kirt Saville,
dean of the college Dr. Ray, Dr. Dick Driver, John Strickland, and Norma Pettijohn,
has filled a vacancy in the University's position of orchestra conductor. The
position will be filled by Dr. Strickland who is the conductor of the Topeka
Symphony Orchestra. He also said that in consultation with the Topeka Symphony
Orchestra there has been created a joint appointment for artist in residence and
concertmaster, and also that the Topeka Symphony Orchestra has provided $5,000
to be matched by the University to hire an acoustical expert to review the acoustics
of White Concert Hall and also possible changes in the concert rehearsal hall.
Dr. Farley reviewed some of the things he has done since the last meeting of the
Board with the Board of Regents. They included: a talk show interview with
Topeka's Public School Superintendent Dr. Weaver, an interview on Sam Elliott's
talk show on WIBW, as well as interviews with the local student newspaper, the
KAW, and with editorial boards of several newspapers in Winfield, Hutchinson,
Wichita and Arkansas City. He has met with the Washburn Endowment
Association Executive Committee and the Board of Trustees of the Washburn
Alumni Association and recently met with Governor Bill Graves who, he reported,
"didn't promise anything but was very nice." He said he attended a five day
session of a president academy in which he shared with twenty other new
presidents some of the issues facing higher education and how some others have
successfully dealt with those. He has met with several of the state's education
leaders including the executive director of the Kansas Board of Regents, Steve
Jordan, executive director of the Kansas Association of Community College
Trustees, Sheila Frahm, Dr. Tompkins who is the superintendent of the Kansas
Department of Education, and Topeka public school superintendent Dr. Weaver.
He announced that Dr. Rodney Boyd will be performing a world premiere of Fantasy
of Fives at a general faculty recital in late September; the local chapter of the Phi
Delta Theta fraternity is the first of the Greek organizations on campus to declare
having a "dry" house prohibiting the consumption of alcohol on its property; that
September 11 marks the first of the Wake Up with Washburn series on campus,
the presenter for the inaugural 1997-98 Wake Up with Washburn is Connie Yoxall
who will speak on humor in the workplace.
Dr. Farley reported he participated in a "magnificent event", one of the highest
quality events he has attended, in which Washburn honored Billie Jean Moore. He
said the event was planned by Patty Dick and Washburn athletics director Loren
Ferré. He said not only was Billie Jean Moore present for the event but Pat
Summit, nationally renowned coach at the University of Tennessee, and Jackie
Joyner Kersie, who flew in specifically for this event, were present.
V. New Business
A. Discussion and Action Items
1. University Health Plan Renewal
It was moved and seconded to approve renewal of the University's
group health care plan with Blue Cross Blue Shield for the contract
year November 1, 1997 through October 31, 1998. Dr. Farley,
during discussion of the motion, noted that the administration, during
the preparation of the budget for the current fiscal year, had
anticipated a premium increase but following review of the loss
experience by Blue Cross Blue Shield, premiums would be reduced.
He said the range of reduction generally is from 3.1% to 5.1% with
the exception of those persons covered under the MER (over 65)
coverage who are experiencing an increase. Motion passed
unanimously.
2. Bylaw Amendment, Article V. §§10, Second Reading
It was moved and seconded to approve the amendment to Article V.
§10 as proposed. Regent Engel inquired why the provisions relating
to the procedures to be followed by the University Council were
embedded in the Bylaws. University Counsel is to examine the issue
and to work with the administration in responding to Mr. Engel's
query. Motion passed unanimously.
3. Academic Program
a. Bachelor of General Studies (BGS) Revised
It was moved and seconded to approve the revised degree
curriculum within the Bachelor of General Studies degree as
proposed in the agenda item. Dr. Farley noted the Bachelor of
General Studies degree program offers students options to
devise their own degree under the guidance of an advisor. He
said this kind of a program permits students to tailor their
education. Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Wayne
Sheley, said the Bachelor of General Studies program was one
picked out by the program review committee. He said at the
time of the review there were only three majors in the
program. He said the program is very marketable, modeled
after Reed College in Oregon. He said this will allow students
to pick from two or more areas of emphasis for their program
and they can use courses crossing school lines. Motion
passed unanimously.
4. Emeriti Status
a. Vice President Emeritus
It was moved and seconded to award Vice President Emeritus
status to Louis E. Mosiman. Chairperson Parks noted Mr.
Mosiman will be retiring from the University at the end of the
calendar year after some 36 years of service, having served as
manager of the University's bookstore, business manager, and
most recently as Vice President for Administration and
Treasurer. She reported Mr. Mosiman is one of only two chief
fiscal officers Washburn University has had since its inception
as a municipal university in June, 1941. Mrs. Parks said under
Mr. Mosiman's fiscal leadership Washburn has been operated
efficiently and effectively enabling the faculty and staff to
provide quality educational opportunities for students. She
said Mr. Mosiman was here at the time of the 1966 tornado
and participated in the re-building of the University following
the destruction of much of our campus and since has led the
University in the enhancement of our facilities to carry it
forward into the next millennium. She said she would very
much like to commend Mr. Mosiman for his distinguished
service to Washburn University. Motion passed unanimously.
b. Faculty Emeriti
It was moved and seconded to award Professor Emeritus
status to Emanuel Calys, and Assistant Professor Emeritus
status to Carolyn Middendorf and Audrey Kennedy. President
Farley said he would like to call attention to the item in the
agenda noting it is really faculty who make an institution what
it is. He said a student's memory of an institution is not of the
president or even of the board but of faculty members with
whom they have interacted. He commended the retiring
faculty members for their dedicated service to Washburn
University. Motion passed unanimously.
B. Consent Agenda
It was moved and seconded to approve items constituting the consent
agenda as outlined in V.B.1. through 4. Motion passed unanimously. As
approved by the Board of Regents:
1. Policies
a. KS Dept. of Aging; Retired Senior Volunteer Program
A resolution was approved to provide for fulfilling the "reliable
evidence" requirement for the Kansas Department of Aging,
designating Jerry B. Farley, President; Louis E. Mosiman, Vice
President of Administration & Treasurer; Dolores Lewis,
Controller; and Jeff Peters, Assistant Controller, as persons
authorized to execute applications, plans, reports, budgets,
invoices, requests, contracts, notifications of grant awards
and other documents regardless of program effective
September 11, 1997 upon which the Kansas Department of
Aging can rely.
b. Law Library Student Employee Rate of Pay - Clarification of
Policy/Practice
A change in the University's policy with respect to student
employees providing that "the President may approve an
hourly wage rate in excess of the amount specified in
Section 2 [I. Section 7.7.b of the Business and Financial
Affairs Handbook] pursuant to the Law School Financing Plan,
for individuals enrolled in courses of study following the
acquisition of an undergraduate degree, but such individuals
shall in all other respects be subject to the University Student
Employment Policy."
2. Purchases over $25,000
a. Purchase of 41 Network Computer Terminals
The purchase of 42 NC217 computer terminals and keyboards
from Tektronix in the amount of $52,972.
* Payment of $79,431 to the Public Broadcasting Service for the
University's PBS member service assessment (MSA) for KTWU for
fiscal year 1998.
3. Personnel
a. Leave of Absence without Pay for the 1997-98 academic year
for Dr. Aaron Stucker;
b. Faculty Personnel
Dr. Larry Blumberg to serve as Acting Chair of the Math
Department effective September 1, 1997 with a total fiscal
year salary of $57,326; Dr. Al Riveland to serve as Acting
Associate Chair of the Math Department for the 1997-98
academic year with a total fiscal year salary of $60,036;
change in position line number for Rhonda Barlow in the Math
Department from 22500-01-2 to 22500-19-2 with a salary of
$18,000; and, the appointment of Dr. Carol Ferreira as an
assistant professor on tenure track in the School of Nursing at
an annual basic salary of $36,000.
c. Personnel; Salary Increase
An increase in the hourly wage rate for Paul Goebel effective
August 18, 1997 to $11.03 per hour for additional
responsibilities formerly performed by the assistant director of
the Media Center, Brenda White, until such time as the vacant
director position is filled and the assistant director resumes
performance of all such position functions and responsibilities,
together with the transfer of $6,000 from position line #01-
42000-2-1 to 01-42000-11-7.
4. Financial Reports
The approval of Liquidated Claims Approval, Public Fund Investments
and Depository Security Transactions as set forth in agenda item
V.B.4.a. through c.
* Special Assistant to the President
Dr. Farley said that since his arrival on the University's campus he's been very
actively involved in meeting with persons on and off the campus and, while he is
blessed with extremely good staff and his vice presidents and other staff positions
and has a "wonderful resource" in his office staff, Janet Martinek, he has a need
for someone to provide a greater degree of personal assistance to him as President.
He said that while he is very sensitive to adding administrative staff, in light of
needs for faculty, he is recommending the appointment of Tom Ellis to serve as
Special Assistant to the President at an annual basic salary of $60,000 effective
September 11, 1997. He said that after working with Mr. Ellis for some three
years at the University of Oklahoma he has come to have a good working
relationship with Mr. Ellis and has trust in him and, further, that Mr. Ellis brings to
him a great knowledge of Washburn University and the community. It was moved
and seconded to approve President Farley's recommendation and appoint Tom Ellis
as Special Assistant to the President. Motion passed unanimously.
* Item(s) added to the agenda at the meeting with the consent of the Board.
Mr. Hackler, Secretary to the Board, informed members of the Board of Regents that it
was not possible to schedule a Board Retreat for September 27, 1997 as had originally
been proposed. He reported that there are a possibility of three dates which might work
for such purpose, October 18, November 8 and the afternoon November 14 and morning
of November 15. He asked that members of the Board of Regents check their respective
calendars and call his office. Mayor Wagnon reported that she would only be able to
attend the November 8 meeting due to a conflict of schedule with special events that she
is serving as host.
Chairperson Parks thanked Dr. Soppelsa for the Mulvane's hospitality permitting the Board
of Regents to meet in the Mulvane Art Museum. Mrs. Parks also thanked Dr. Sylvia
Robinson for her service to the Washburn University Board of Regents, noting that this is
her last meeting. She said she has really enjoyed having Dr. Robinson on the Board and
wishes her the best. Dr. Robinson said that her service on the Washburn University Board
of Regents has been a very good and interesting experience. She said she appreciated the
camaraderie of the Board of Regents, especially during the recent successfully concluded
search process. She also said that she regards her experience here as a very warm and
worthwhile one. According to Dr. Robinson, she will be replaced on the Washburn
University Board of Regents by Harry Craig.
President Farley reported to the Board of Regents that the University has now begun the
search process for the upcoming vacancy in the Vice President for Administration &
Treasurer position following Mr. Mosiman's retirement at the end of the calendar year. He
said a search committee has been created comprised of faculty and staff as well as an
outside member from the community. He said the search process will involve the Board in
the interview process which he said he hoped would be not later than early December, as
the deadline for submission of applications and nominations is October 31, 1997.
Chairperson Parks noted that the weekend of April 18, also the date for the annual Alumni
Weekend, has been tentatively identified as a date for the inauguration of Jerry Farley as
President of Washburn University. She said the committee will soon begin work on
planning that event and will be working with the city and others to ensure that the event is
successful.
It was moved and seconded to adjourn. The meeting of the Board of Regents adjourned at
8:06 p.m.
_________________________________
Kenneth P. Hackler
Secretary, Board of Regents