LFA General Assembly - Minutes - October 12, 2017

Library Faculty Assembly (LFA) Fall General Meeting

Thursday October 12, 2017 10-11:30am Watson 455

Present: Karna Younger, Lars Leon, Andi Back, Scott Hanrath, Sara Morris, Angie Rathmel, Erin Ellis, Michael Peper, Fran Devlin, Judith Emde, Scott McEathron, Sarah Goodwin Thiel, Corrine Forstot-Burke, Ada Emmett, Lea Currie, Kent Miller, Rebecca Orozco, Jamene Brooks-Kiefer, Mary Roach, Erin Wolfe, Miloche Kottman, Betsaida Reyes, Musa Olaka, Jon Giullian, and Callie Branstiter

Minutes

  • Minutes approved
  • New Member Intro: Neil Axton and Carmen Orth-Alfie were not in attendance, will be introduced at the next LFA general meeting
  • Dean Kevin Smith’s Remarks:
    • Dean Kevin Smith recently had a conversation with the new Chancellor Doug Girod. Major themes of the discussion included:
    • The inadequacy of collections funding and the need for funding which is a complex message
    • Considerations about future uses of library space for example the recent study carol project and the recent Student Success Report, which designates Anschutz as a main hub for student success and resources
    • Research statements and the recent library survey about research support survey, the major themes being the need for more funding and time. Dean Kevin Smith reminded everyone that there are still library research funds.
    • Dean Kevin Smith also spoke in general about the research support survey results and his particular interest about the need for help in developing skills in other research methodologies, he would like to know what in particular these are. The Dean also spoke to the importance of having accountability with your own research such as, having a partner to keep you on track.
  • Chris Brown, Vice Provost for Faculty Development Introduction and Q & A: Introduction:
    • Chris Brown shared the following priorities as the new Vice Provost of Faculty Development:
    • developing programing and effective/awarding work across all stages of one’s career, as this extends to all faculty affairs.
    • to consider time and help ALL faculty in developing approaches to existing roles so KU is a place for change (also for retention)
    • To achieve these goals there is a need for outreach to faculty programs, fellows, and this will start slow, but the libraries can play a part in being faculty fellows, and in faculty development
  • Chris Brown also discussed the following topics:
    • streamlining faculty hiring documents, so information is more readily available to those involved in the process
    • importance of faculty inclusion and the need to infuse faculty development with diversity and inclusion with what we do
    • Chris Brown would like to know more about resources for research in libraries for promotion to new faculty research
    • Mentioned new GRF and general GRF funding to ensure we know it is available. There is also new online resource for faculty development and diversity as an opportunity for faculty mentoring on a national level. Those that have participated have found it very helpful to be connected with those at other universities. There will also be an upcoming call in the spring for Big 12 fellowships, which provide an opportunity to work with faculty at other universities.
    • Chris Brown is interested in how the libraries facilitate interdisciplinary research. He then provided examples of his own projects where he could use more assistance from the libraries. These included: metadata (his own projects not documented well), getting the word out more about the difficulties with publishers and the challenges, how to get work into KU Scholar Works and advertising the benefits of downloads and a future don’t have to pay, and how to get faculty to use information in KU Scholar Works for CV/tenure, exp. international downloads
  • Q & A with Chris Brown:
    • A library faculty member mentioned that the library has been working on the projects Chris Brown mentioned for years and there was emphasis on the importance of his voice in showing the relevance of these projects as a way to get the message through during key moments. Chris has the ability to amplify and refresh past messages.
    • A library faculty member mentioned that the libraries also regularly offers workshops and learning opportunities and that it is valuable to know that the faculty development office support these programs. Library emails are not always the best way to get word out. Also library data services are available to any KU faculty member.
    • It is possible that data management training could be a part of new faculty orientation.
    • There is a need for a more comprehensive data plan for campus, involving IT, faculty development, and the libraries. There is an ongoing larger conversation about how to manage data by faculty on campuses across the U.S. and KU should be one of them.
    • What are the plans to support mid-career faculty (Associate and Full) and faculty retention? Chris Brown spoke about the need to move toward a network model where faculty help/mentor other faculty in other units. The idea of networking mentoring comes from the national center of faculty development. The key is that mentoring is needed across many areas not just research and that we don’t go to just one person for this. There may be a better person to answer your question who may not even be in your department. KU would like to develop faculty writing routines and identify people to help guide others in their writing. Mentoring goes beyond tenure and he would like to create a climate of care amongst faculty. In regards to retention, there is a committee looking into the issue of faculty compensation and if compensation is related to identity. Going to work with Jennifer Hamer, Vice Provost for Diversity and Equity, on retention as well so KU is a place people want to stay at. The long range view is that people will know KU is a place can they can stay at because inclusion and faculty compensation is visible and nowhere else compares. Tuition assistance for dependents is also going to be examined.
    • What keeps us committed to our work at KU in regards to salaries and benefits? Chris mentioned that this is intangible, the long-term outcome is not known. It costs more and more to do what we do. We have to think together with how to make work rewarding beyond financial, and he needs everyone’s’ help on this. For example at UCLA, within rank they have steps every 2-3 years. Very limited in current structure with financial support. Where we don’t have the opportunity for development resources, there should be opportunity to speak with donors. Development dollars are miniscule to raising salaries. A library faculty member mentioned that fellowships, conferences at KU, and sabbaticals are all incentives.
    • A faculty member mentioned there is a current issue to hiring PhD students. Chris Brown stated he will work with Dean Kevin Smith to try and fix the issue.
  • Report from University Faculty Senate: Amalia discussed the goals for the year: core curriculum, sexual violence stats, non-tenured faculty, and diversity, equity & inclusion. Comments from the recent climate survey will be released to all units this fall.
  • Revision of the Faculty Evaluation Plans: Goals of the revision were to update the format to the Provost’s template for all units, incorporate University Academic Staff, and update the allocation of effort (research, service, and professional performance). Language was changed to ‘library faculty’ in all instances. Discussion ensued about the revisions. Changes will be made, there will be a move to ballot, and voting on approving the document in the near future.
  • Adjourned