LFA Exec - Minutes - February 17, 2026

LFA Executive Committee Meeting       
February 17, 2026  

10:00 AM -11:00 AM    

     

Attending: Exec: Josh Bolick (Chair), Elspeth Healey (Vice Chair), Amanda Schlumpberger (Secretary), Scott McEathron, Angie Rathmel, Samantha Bishop Simmons; Observers: E Durham, Kate Stewart, Kelly Hangauer 

 

    

Absent:    N/A 

 

Minutes: 

 

  • Welcome 
  • Approve minutes from 1/14 LFA Exec Meeting [link] 
    • Discussion on changes, changes made
    • Motion to approve: Scott 
    • Second: Elspeth
    • Minutes approved 
  • Liaison reports: 
    • LCPT (Elspeth) 
      • PTTR reviewed files
      • Revisions to Academic Appointments doc will be discussed next for them
      • Carol would like to discuss proposed revisions with LCPT before they are put up for vote. This was communicated to LCPT chair. No further movement on this currently. 
    • SLPTR (Scott) 
      • No changes to report 
      • They have wrapped up post-tenure review
      • No further updates
    • Ad Hoc Committee for Review of PT Criteria (Elspeth & Josh) 
      • Proposed policy reviewed. In short, they will finish what they are working on, but not put to a vote until Union contract 
    • University Senate Library Committee (Josh) 
      • Meeting coming up in Feb. 
      • They are establishing some sub groups to focus on  priorities.
    • LSA (Josh) 
      • Will hold its discussion with Carol on 2/18. 
      • Samantha will be the LFA rep/observer 
    • UAKU (Scott) 
      • There is a Slack channel 
      • Kate also sends library email 
      • The big sticking point right now is compensation 
      • The union is trying to apply some pressure to change the power dynamic to get some things moving forward. The increased media pressure is one tactic. 
      • Admin has stalled on bargaining—no sessions have been scheduled
      • Group went to the KBOR meeting in Topeka. State Reps, came and talked with them 
  • Updates to priorities for FY26 
    • Eval reform (done) 
      • Will check in to see how it went 
    • Ad Hoc PT Guidelines--update provided in liaison reports above
  • LFA Assembly Action Items
    • Minutes: LFAassembly_minutes2025.11.17.docx 
    • Actions: 
      • LCPT new standing charge to be sent to ballot: “When requested by the Dean of Libraries, review new-hire faculty files to determine if awarding tenure and/or elevated rank is appropriate.” 
        • Sent to N&B on 2/12; live on 2/16 
      • Plan to assist Nominating & Ballot re: strategic selection of candidates for service on faculty committees (in particular) 
        • Pending; we will reach out to N&B in March 
      • In spring: work with LCPT towards next steps for proposed revisions to Academic Appointments in University Libraries document 
        • Pending, Chair of LCPT is working on a track changes document for Spring Assembly 
        • Schedule Spring Assembly (April/May) 
        • Brooke provided 90 minutes on May 7 1:30 to 3 and May 11 1 – 2:30 
        • Agenda for LFA Spring Assembly to be developed in March/April
  • Current state of salary discussions/Report on LFA Chair and Vice Chair/Chair Elect 2/9/26 meeting with Dean (Josh and Elspeth) 
    • Special Meeting on 1/23 resulted in requesting face to face dialogue 
    • Special Meeting on 2/5 was the dialogue   
      • LSA session 2/18 at noon in Spencer North Gallery 
        • Samantha observing, Amanda as backup 
    • 2/9/26—Chairs meeting with Carol occurred
      • Current directions: 
        • Carol wants to keep dialogue and is interested in setting up another meeting 
        • Coming up on first 1000 days and she feels she done a lot that needs to be acknowledged
        • She is aware that student workers are aware of the situation
        • She is working on a report on developing a report on the moderation of KULIBL. It is currently with leadership, and it will be shared with us and faculty insight collected soon 
        • We communicated our desire for an unmoderated list 
        • She mentioned the idea of for outside facilitation 
        • Three main things out of the meeting communicated with Carol from chairs 
          • continued dialogue (pressing to schedule soon). They would be separate from LFA, but we would be partner, but it would be separate from the whole Assembly/governance structure 
            • There is the potential that the SET and SET forum could support someway 
            • The question was raised as to if there would be a follow up in Assembly for those whose questions weren’t answered but were asked in the special meeting. 
              • E stated as someone who this affected, that they didn’t expect another follow-up Assembly meeting, but that communication of other dialogue and the plan would be appreciated. 
            • Carol’s response: she needs time, she has concern about her capacity. She also did not want to do another meeting like last time, but that may be related to room set up. 
          • facilitation (details tbd, possibly with input from ombuds office)
            • Carol’s response: she had questions about what this would involve and who
          • learning more about list moderation (position paper with LT this week) 
            • Carol’s response: report with leadership 
        • Chair follow-up to Carol’s responses: 
          • Faculty need to know they are prioritized and have venues to carry concerns forward 
          • Exploring what the ombudsman can provide
          • Josh expressed that if these things don’t take shape relatively quickly, LFA members may resort to other tactics. 
    • Exec is standing by to see what exec. Want next and how to pursue that. 
      • Standby on moderation at this time
      • The two main things: what does continuing dialogue look like with goal to communicate that as quick as possible 
    • Issue raised that some people are not happy with some of her explanations. 
    • One step taken: reminding Carol that there are levers through governance that can be pulled and moved to keep this prioritized 
    • Question raised about the process for LFA request for review/early review of Deans.  
    • Topic conclude with call to continuing conversations. 
  • Any other business? 
    • Angie: from 1/14, discuss bringing law library faculty (and staff) more integrated to library, including intranet access, kulib-l access, etc. 
      • Next steps are to ask about what Law Library faculty have access to and what they are eligible for in terms of governance, funding, etc. 
  • Conclude 
    • Motion to adjourn: Josh
    • Seconded: Angie
    • Motion carried, meeting concluded at 11:01am