Faculty senate met briefly Tuesday for the last time this semester to discuss the Board of Trustees’ visit and wrap up any motions that had been brought before it.

University President Pat Long began the meeting by thanking certain members of the senate for their contributions during the BOT visit May 1. She said the trustees were very impressed by what they saw on campus.

Besides talking about the budget and finances, the BOT got the chance to speak with student representatives about any campus concerns.

“They had a great time talking to the students at lunch,” Long said.

Susan Emel, professor of mass media and communication, acted as faculty senate representative to the BOT. She shared a PowerPoint presentation highlighting various topics of the visit.

The PowerPoint included figures on faculty and staff trends, enrollment trends and the budget guidelines.

The first order of new business was the motion involving the FY150 program, which passed. This legislation will raise the number of credit hours earned by the student leaders in FY and make it a graded course for them as well.

Lisa Johnston, assistant dean for Student Academic Services, is the director of the FY program. As a part of this program change, the leaders will be responsible for planning classroom activities around the specified topics. The proposed syllabus also includes a final paper.

“The goal is to engage the student leader more than we have been,” Johnston said.

The number of hours required for a history minor was reduced from 18 to 15 credit hours by eliminating the required course History Methods.

A new course, Kansas History, has been added to the list of categories under the history major. The catalog of the major also has been reorganized. These changes will go into effect in time for the upcoming school year.

Associate Professor of Education Merrie Skaggs presented an endorsement proposal from the School of Education. The legislation would require all teacher education candidates, including those pursuing secondary education, to take the courses titled Classroom Management for Teaching English Language Learners, two credits, and Technology for Teachers, one credit.

This proposal also will eliminate the Education Field Service Practicum II course from the requirements.

Skaggs said even though the proposal was passed by the faculty senate, it must still be brought before the Professional Education Council for review May 26.

"These students are not just getting a degree, they are getting a teaching license certified by the state of Kansas," Skaggs said.<br/>