Agenda and Meeting Notes

Deans Council - May 20, 2025

  • KU Reads: A Common Book Experience – Introduce New Librarian and Revamped Program – Carol Smith, Dean of Libraries; Sam Greeson, Common Book Librarian
  • Professional Development Model – Mary Banwart, Associate Vice Provost for Faculty Development, Mentoring, and Growth; Amy Mendenhall, Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs
  • Debrief Promotion/Tenure Process – Amy Mendenhall, Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs; Mary Banwart, Associate Vice Provost for Faculty Development, Mentoring, and Growth
  • Provost Updates – Barbara Bichelmeyer, Chief Academic Officer, Provost & Executive Vice Chancellor for Lawrence

Meeting Notes

KU Reads: A Common Book Experience

Sam Greeson, Common Book Librarian, and Carol Smith, Dean of Libraries, shared updates on the new KU Reads Common Book program, a revamped version of its predecessor. The goal is to demonstrate the program's growth beyond a first-year experience, to serve the entire KU community, align with the Jayhawks Rising strategic plan, and to promote open dialogue. Along with the nomination and selection process, the new program adopts a more interdisciplinary approach compared to earlier humanities-centric themes. 

The quality of the program relies on strong nominations for the selected book. As such, the Provost asks the deans to be champions of the program and to nominate books for future KU Reads. This year, the selected book is “The Anthropocene Reviewed: Essays on a Human-Centered Planet,” by John Green. Faculty are encouraged to incorporate the program into their teaching, with resources and assignment examples available on the website commonbook.ku.edu. The book’s author, John Green, will visit KU at the Lied Center and participate in a book signing on September 2.

Professional Development Model 

Mary Banwart, Associate Vice Provost for Faculty Development, Mentoring, and Growth, and Amy Mendenhall, Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs, presented a chart outlining four key themes for chairs and academic directors to enhance leadership capacity:

  1. Foundations for data-informed decision-making
  2. Academic and program planning and review
  3. People Support and Development
  4. Financial and operational planning. 

Programming will also include personal and professional leadership capacities. Feedback is requested from deans on which areas are most essential for new chairs, including a preferred timeline for learning. Banwart and Mendenhall proposed hosting a summer orientation for new chairs, in addition to an "essentials" series held for one day in the fall and spring; a mix of in-person and online formats will be offered. The importance of established structures in supporting leadership development was discussed, along with the need for clarity in redefining roles among deans and chairs. As the institution enters into a contract with UAKU, evaluation and management will be crucial for chairs and deans. 

In response to feedback from the previous year, Banwart and Mendenhall reduced the training for chairs from four days down to two. They acknowledged the varying financial responsibilities among chairs, proposing a structure that allows those without financial duties to opt out. Provost Bichelmeyer emphasized the necessity of financial literacy for all chairs. The summer outreach for new faculty is scheduled to begin on June 4. Orientation for new chairs is planned for August 11 and 12. The first workshop for associate deans, chairs, and directors will be held on September 5. 

Continuous Quality Improvement and the P&T and Sabbatical Processes

Committees have been asked to provide feedback on their experiences regarding departmental P&T policies and procedures. Clarity and coordination between department and school policies are necessary to avoid costly failures. Deans are asked to think through the titles within their unit and ensure that guidelines for naming conventions are followed, and that workloads and expectations are clearly articulated. Deans and committees should also ensure that valid explanations are provided if an exception is needed for peer reviewers. Dean Scholz asked that the number of peer reviewers be reduced to four or five, as it can be challenging to get six reviewers from a limited pool in their field/discipline. Four peer reviewers is the minimum number required. 

Mendenhall also reminded deans that individuals applying for a second sabbatical must provide a report for their first sabbatical. Reminder notices for the reports are sent out and often ignored. Mendenhall will send the deans a copy of the debrief guidelines; deans are encouraged to share these with their committees. Following a request from Dean Timmermann, Mendenhall will develop a post-tenure review tip-sheet. 

Provost Updates

Proviso Language 

Provost Bichelmeyer informed the deans that recent communications from several KBOR institutions indicate they are preparing to implement new directives in response to the proviso; however, KU will wait until KBOR provides a clear directive. It is expected that the proviso will apply to the use of pronouns and define DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) to encompass programs, trainings, or events that exclude or divide individuals based on any protected class. It is important to note that it does not extend to academic programs or academic freedom.

Budget

Provost Bichelmeyer will provide information regarding academic hires. Jeff DeWitt has one more week to address the comprehensive budget challenges currently facing the university, including the state budget, federal influences, and the implications of the House settlement for athletics. 

Provost Bichelmeyer noted that athletics previously covered tuition and housing for student-athletes, which is no longer the case. Because the state only provides 14% of Lawrence campus budget, when we increase wages by 2.5%, the amount is only partially funded by state appropriation. We must find the rest of the funds by decreasing costs or increasing revenues. K-State faces comparable difficulties, necessitating stricter procurement protocols. DeWitt emphasizes financial accountability in expenditures.