LFA Exec - Minutes - May 28, 2025

LFA Executive Committee Meeting  
 May 28, 2025

10:30 PM-12:00 PM

 

Attending: Jon Giullian (Chair), Josh Bolick (Vice Chair), Angie Rathmel (standing as Secretary), Brian Rosenblum, and Adrienne Sanders.

Absent:  Kodjo Atiso (Secretary)

  1. Approved minutes from the 04/28/2025 meeting as amended.

 

  1. Update from the LFA chairs' meeting with Dean Carol Smith 

    1. Discussed the scope of LFA Governance in the context of Carol’s encouragement of Library faculty to participate in commencement and the question of LFA taking on the future encouragement/coordinating role. Josh shared (via kulib-l) the Dean’s message of encouragement and resources available, which is what led to the discussion summarized below.  

       

      LFA-Exec discussion: members agreed that this activity is out of scope for LFA Exec. For example, Faculty Senate would likely not take up/consider commencement participation within its scope. Additional questions remain as to the value of such communications or activities being coordinated by LFA vs Library Administration.

 

  1. LCPT.   Discussed of policy of hiring mid-career librarians at the associate librarian rank. 

     

    LFA-Exec discussion: Questioned whether LFA members are aware of a previous Ad hoc committee report (from 2-23?), which outlines the policy and guidelines for LCPT’s review of hires at the Associate rank with tenure. Josh will share this report with the Dean.

     

    1. Service Audit Survey – see LFA-Exec agenda item below.
    2. Update on upcoming elections and call from NB
      1. As usual we’ve had a difficult time getting people to run for elections, which raises the issue of capacity; people feel already beyond capacity.
      2. Low response rate on surveys may be an indication of capacity

      3. See also LFA-Exec agenda item below.

         

         

         

    3. Faculty Evaluations

      1. Evaluations will likely be part of the discussion between UAKU and KU Admin. Therefore, it may not be a good idea to work on major changes to the process in FY 25-26. 

         

      2. The goal for FY 25-26 is to make the Evaluation process as simple, and clear as possible. No drastic changes (e.g., online forms, etc.); clear timeline (Admin and HR will propose and manage the timeline); clear expectations of who is doing what.

         

        LFA-Exec discussion: Discussed the bottleneck in the evaluation workflow caused by the Dean adding comments directly to faculty evaluation forms. Does the value of comments on the form outweigh the bottleneck in workflow? Josh and Mike will continue to meet and work toward the goal (above), including the elimination of redundancies on the faculty evaluation form.

         

    4. KU Libraries' organizational structure. The Dean acknowledged that the structure needs to be adaptive, but the Dean is committed to not performing a major reorganization.  Discussion included acknowledgement of the variation in supervisory structures and evaluation discussion above. 

     

     

  2. 2025-26 election results

    1. Faculty have a sufficient number of votes to certify the election of LFA Officers for FY 2025-2026. No contested seats. LSA is still gathering ballots. 

     

  3. Service Audit survey results
    1. 20 respondents only (“less than half”). Recommended resending the invitation and extending the deadline by one week. Recommended that supervisors of faculty encourage their faculty reports to fill out the survey. 

 

  1. Committee reports
    1. LCPT. Nothing to report beyond the discussion from the Dean’s update regarding Associate level candidate review.

    2. SLPTR. concluded work for the year, pending final report.  A key issue raised this year was the request for more time for the committee to review applications for Sabbatical Leave. The Committe chair worked with Mike to make the application deadline two weeks earlier (as discussed at the Spring LFA Assembly).

       

  2. Ad hoc Committee for Review of P&T Guidelines.
    1. Has met and given themselves until the end of June to review (42) institutions’ P&T Guidelines. Not many are different than KUL’s. Some appear more prescriptive in detail but without clarity in whether those details are more or less beneficial. Discussed likelihood of full LFA meeting (next Spring?) to review findings and discuss the best approach for updating the Criteria. 

    2. John McEwan filled the slot left vacant by Jaime Groetsema-Saifi's departure. 

       

  3. Governance membership transition planning will take place at the final LFA meeting for FY 2024-2025 on Mon June 23rd. Jon plans to reach out to incoming members to attend and may adjust the date to accommodate schedules. Will address transition planning with Brian Moss as part of LFSA.

 

  1. LSA Chair Report. The LSA Talent Development committee was formed. LSA-Exec is working on a final report and considering discussion of equity in Dean evaluation check-in with Faculty vs Staff. 

 

Adrienne moved to adjourn. Angie seconded. Meeting was adjourned.