LFA General Assembly - Minutes - May 25, 2018

LFA (Library Faculty Assembly) Spring Assembly

May 25, 2018 Watson 455 1-2pm

Officers Present: Karna Younger, Lars Leon, and Andi Back

Present LFA Members: Corrine Forstot-Burke, Angela Rathmel, Scott Hanrath, Betsaida Reyes, Kent Miller, Mary Roach, Jill Becker, Miloche Kottman, Musa Olaka, Jon Giullian, Callie Branstiter, Michiko Ito, Amalia Monroe-Gulick, Elspeth Healy, Karen Cook, Lea Currie, Sherri Brown, Jamene Brooks-Kieffer, Rebecca Orozco, Judith Emde, Marcella Huggard, Kevin Smith, Erin Wolfe, Vickie Doll, and Brian Rosenblum

AGENDA

Minutes from last meeting were approved by unanimous consent

Conversation with Ombuds Dr. D.A. Graham

Dr. Graham explained what the Ombuds Office does for the University of Kansas and its history. Largely, there are four pillars of the Ombuds Office: independent office, don’t have to report what is said in confidence, act as the University’s neutral zone, and the office is informal. During the Q&A discussion ensued about the role of the Ombud in criminal cases. Dr. Graham stated that there are only two times is required to notify police, homicidal or suicidal situations. The Ombuds Office can encourage individuals to report situations to the police. Dr. Graham also mentioned that the KU Ombuds Office would like to expand conflict resolution on campus by opening a student conflict center.

 

Dean Kevin Smith’s Remarks

  • Read through Faculty Evaluation Plan and wants to emphasize the importance of the document in guiding the promotion and tenure process
  • Recently had a conversation with the Dean of the Law School about rubrics for post- tenure review due to the fact that there is currently not much to guide this process. Dean Kevin Smith distributed copies of the Law School’s rubric and welcomes feedback about whether developing something like this would be useful
  • The Resident Librarian for Undergraduate Engagement has been filled. Mesha Hayes will begin early July. This is a two year term professional appointment reporting to Jill Becker Head of Undergraduate Engagement. The position will explore working with other undergraduate offices on campus.
  • Implementation of the KU Libraries realignment is moving along

 

LFA Exec Committee Updates and Activities

  • Elections for LFA/LSA have commenced and results will be announced soon
  • The Associate Librarian position on the LFA Executive Board is now held by Sherri Brown due to Sarah Goodwin Thiel’s residency
  • There will be special charges for the Committee on Salaries and Benefits for 2019 regarding the recent discussion about pay gaps within the KU Libraries
  • Discussion ensued about how LFA Exec has met the special charges for 2018—see the forthcoming annual report

Revision of the Faculty Evaluation Plan

  • Dean’s Cabinet raised concern about line 304 and asked it be updated to reflect correct information about the annual evaluation process, salary increases are no longer related to merit or yearly notification
  • Open discussion ensued: There was concern raised about the need to consider some inclusion of merit in the Faculty Evaluation Plan, which prompted discussion about adjusting the language found in line 304. The edits were moved to ballot by unanimous consent.

 

Adjourned