March 21st, 2025
ARKANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY
FACULTY SENATE MEETING
March 21st, 2025
Reynolds 222
Attendees: Julie King, Alexandr Sokolov, Dwayne Powell, Shanon Brantley, Stephanie Hoeckley, Audrey Folsom, John Hershberger, Katie Camden, Trinity Pullam, Robert Williams, Pradeep Mishra, Kristen Sumler, Donna Caldwell, Toccara Carter, Argelia Lorence, Suzanne Melescue, Khem Aryal, Richard Segall, Bert Greenwalt, Mark Lewis, Gary Edwards, Kim Vickrey, Paul Finnicum, DayDay Robinson, Veena Kulkarni
Proxy Attendees: Rob Williams proxy for Ibrahim Duyar, Natalie Gatlin proxy for Rashele Wade, Trinity Pullam for Jamie Passmore, John Hershberger for Amanda Mohler, Wayne Wilkinson for Jessica Curtis, April Shepard for Eric Dry
Guests: Kevin Hennings (parliamentarian), Will McLean, Alyssa Wells, Tom Moore
Absentees: Hao Yang Teng, Zahid Hossain, LTC Morgan Weatherly, Hung-Chi Su, Guolei Zhou, Scott Mangan, Ed Salo, Rollin Tusalem, Karen Graham
The meeting was called to order at 3:00 pm.
Order of the Day: Motion to approve the order of the day by Richard Segall, seconded by Julie King all in favor, motion carried.
Approval of Minutes: The motion to approve the March 7th, 2025 meeting minutes by Katie Camden, seconded by Kim Vickrey, all in favor, and the motion was carried out.
New Business:
Dr. William Mclean Q&A
Can you provide an update on centralized scheduling?
Course Dog is the vendor for centralized scheduling. The contract has been signed, IT is working on it, and everything is on schedule. Someone will be appointed over CourseDog to run it and train people. Spaces have been mapped out, some rooms have been blocked out (like specialty labs). It will be helpful. Issues with rooms can be handled through it. There is a possibility that fall class assignments could change at the last minute as things get updated in the schedule. The software will run all the spaces on campus, including the Reng Student Union and the Cooper Alumni Center. Will students be notified if class assignments change? Yes, it will be automated. What about building or classroom access? Someone will have to unlock classrooms that are needed.
Why are emeritus faculty being removed from email servers?
This is an ongoing discussion. It was a system policy that went into effect in October 2023, for security purposes. They can provide a personal address to still get updates but they no longer have an A-state email. They may keep it if they are still doing research. A review is needed to have emeritus status. If someone is kicked off, they can reach out.
What is Astate’s facilities management model? Is there a time limit for when service requests must be completed?
Will does not know. The Faculty Senate should ask Russ Hannah or Brian Lasey to speak to this. They report to Finance & Administration.
What is the rationale and process for providing raises to faculty?
(statement about high pay in Athletics) Athletics does not report to the Provost. They are allowed to make a certain amount of money, which is dictated by the state and any money beyond that is paid for by private foundation money. The bonuses (etc) are negotiated with the foundation.
Addressing the dean-level pay question. If one moves jobs/positions, they can negotiate more money. Dean's pay is on par to be competitive in the market.
Is there a redundancy between the dean and chair positions? There are some, but they are different positions with different responsibilities and accountabilities, especially in this higher ed. climate and with the growth in programs. The budgets are coming back to the deans and the department chairs. Merits and raises are going to be under their purview, as well as scheduling and planning. The deans are earning their money.
Discussion about equity and salary compression, faculty retirements, etc. Our enrollment needs to increase for a few years before we can address all the salary compression. The equity committee (FEqC) is working on a policy for a transparent process. Discretion will be at the college level. Some of this is market-driven. Job performance is a metric to be considered too, more so than seniority.
New Business
Testing in access and accommodation issues. Cheating issues happening in Access and Accomodations Services (AAS). Proctoring is not happening, rules are not followed. Some students have taken the exam/computer and walked out of AAS to take it, then come back to turn it in. Access and Accomodations Services may not have the capacity to accommodate so many people and proctor them the way it should be. We will invite AAS to speak.
Can we have a Zoom option for remote faculty to serve on the faculty senate?
Old business
Committee Reports
Ombudsperson committee – they have met. They are researching what it is at other universities. The report should be ready in early Fall 2025.
Faculty Equity Committee – report due for the first meeting in April
IRB committee will meet after Spring break
The meeting was adjourned by John Hershberger at 4:04 pm.
Minutes recorded by Audrey Folsom, approved on 4/4/2025 (uploaded to KB 10/14/2025)