Faculty Senate - April 2026 Minutes

Call to Order: 3:31 PM

Not Present: Mary Draper, Rafael Powell, Daniel Frazier, Kimberly Onstott, Stephanie Zamora-Robles

Special Guests

1. President Stacia Haynie - Stadium Updates
   • Dr. Haynie thanked senators for their work, then indicated that she would discuss plans for the stadium. explained that administrators have asked SGA to provide feedback and to vote on an increase in Athletic fees to contribute to planning and funding for the new stadium project. They voted for the increase, which will contribute to funding the architect services and fees.
   • Dr. Haynie indicated that the City of Wichita Falls has separated from the Chamber of Commerce and that 4A & 4B Tax dollars contribute to Forward Wichita Falls, which will contribute to the economic development component for planning for the stadium/mall development project. Planners are coordinating, with the support of Populous, affiliated with TTU System, to ensure that the space will accommodate all the needs of MSU Athletics and align with our aesthetic design.
   • Dr. Haynie said that the team has been “stadium shopping” and has spoken with the teams running and using those facilities, including visits to West Texas A&M and Mary Hardin Baylor. There will be a time when administrators present more concrete plans to the MSU community, and Dr. Haynie would like to return to faculty senate with those plans when they are available. These plans will need to be negotiated with whoever buys the mall property and develops it; Forward Wichita Falls will guide those conversations with MSU’s needs in mind, and with Dr. Haynie.
   • Dr. Lei asked if we have a timeline on the stadium?
   • Dr. Haynie indicated that a specific timeline is not available, but before that happens, the guidelines need to be agreed upon between Forward Wichita Falls and the developer. Dr. Haynie would be happy if by this time next year, we have a developer that we’re planning with. The trend is toward more outdoor, and green open spaces rather than an indoor mall like Sikes Senter is currently structured.
   • Dr. Lei asked if the facility would eventually be the property of the city or the university?
   • Dr. Haynie said that will likely be up to the developer, but the hope is that the university would lease it and might eventually raise the funds to purchase it. Ideally, the university will be responsible for the property under the terms of the lease.
   • Dr. Stiles indicated that she hopes that this will create a greater opportunity for engagement with the community and local business.
   • Dr. Haynie agreed and said that is what we’re hoping for.
   • Dr. Leimer asked if the stadium will primarily be a sports complex or if it will be accommodating for musical and other kinds of art events?
   • Dr. Haynie said that in the interest of making greater use of the facility, we would love to make it accommodating for all kinds of events, including local and community sports.
   • Dr. Leimer asked if this will be a naming opportunity as well?
   • Dr. Haynie said “Absolutely!”
   • Dr. Elsharafi asked if this facility could also be used for other sports like soccer.
   • Dr. Haynie said that our National Championship Soccer team loves their grass field, but that we would hope to make it accessible for other sports.
   • Dr. Haynie shared that Emma Kaszyk Brown, who just won the US Gravel Championship, said that after she sprinted to the sand pit to get there first, she got far ahead of the pack, but then her wheel fell off. She got her tool out, put the wheel back on, and still won by more than 5 minutes; she also just got back from winning a medal at Model UN.
   • Dr. Shawver asked if the team had toured the Texas Wesleyan University’s stadium, which was named for Karen Kramer, Dr. Shawver’s cousin.
   • Dr. Haynie said that they have not, but they would like to see it.
   • Dr. Haynie expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to serve our university and support our students. She was proud of what our students and faculty did at STEM Day & in the NASA Suits team.

Housekeeping

• Approval of Agenda - Dr. Miller Whitmore motioned, and Dr. Dillard seconded. Majority approved.
• Approval of Minutes - Dr. Leimer motioned to approve the minutes from Mar. 19, 2026, and Dr. Diltz seconded. Majority approved.

Current Business/Information Sharing

1. Academic Dishonesty and Turnitin Update
   • Dr. Slavens explained that the President and Provost spoke with us about Turnitin, Clarity, and other add-ons, as recommended by Dr. Frazier. We’re awaiting further information about those programs.
   • Dr. Slavens also brought up the practices of reporting incidents of Academic Dishonesty, and Dr. Brown Marsden said that she would talk with Dail Neely about coming to speak with Faculty Senate. Dr. Slavens asked if we would like to invite him to speak with us in May.
   • Dr. Crossland said that Dail will be away at competition during our meeting time.
   • Dr. Coenen said it seems like a really appropriate conversation and visit to kick off the conversation at the start of the next academic year.
2. SGA Meeting on April 7th
   • Faculty Representatives attended: Jill Young, Tracie Fulton, Stacey Machado, Dawn Slavens. Dr. Slavens asked SGA members “Is there a need for students to have an avenue to challenge accusations of AI?” The conversation at SGA was productive.
   • Dr. Gupta asked if that is not in the Academic Appeal process.
   • Dr. Slavens said, that’s a part of the question; should it have its own process? Or does it always go through the academic appeal process?
   • Dr. Machado said that a lot of policies are not clearly articulated or that the programs that use AI are not always explicitly stated. Faculty may just ask them to rewrite, and it doesn’t always make its way through the reporting and appeal process.
   • Dr. Stiles asked if the academic appeal process would put it back on the student to show that they haven’t used AI.
   • Dr. Cobb explained that AI detection is very faulty and we can’t rely on it.
   • Dr. Machado agreed and said that we don’t necessarily need to prohibit AI because it can be a beautiful thing that can provide tools and support for our work.
   • Dr. Gupta said that Turnitin is one of the worst tools for AI detection, and that is the problem.
   • Dr. Yu explained that the English department’s new Writing and AI course will be offered by Dr. Jensen in the fall, and it focuses on ethical uses of AI.
   • Dr. Bunch indicated that the College Connections course incorporated AI using assessment data to develop personalized study guides.
   • Dr. Coenen reminded senators about the Grants for revisions of assignments and curricula that incorporate AI. Dr. Stiles asked if those will be shared with the campus. Dr. Gupta said they will give Celebration of Scholarship presentations.
   • Dr. Azzouz said that students can check AI detection before submitting. But Dr. Gupta indicated that when students do that, it may be more likely to flag it as AI generated. Dr. Azzouz said that the student could save and submit the report indicating that it is not AI generated.
   • Dr. Slavens said we should have attended more SGA meetings; Dr. Coenen suggested that we have a senator represent Faculty Senate at SGA meetings. Dr. Slavens indicated that those meetings are held in the evenings twice a month, which may be a lot to ask of one person. Dr. Slavens said that it might work better if a few senators tried to attend one or two SGA meetings per semester. Dr. Coenen said that we should also have a representative at Staff Senate meetings. Dr. Bunch indicated that no name was provided, but that Staff Senate does want a faculty senate rep there. Dr. Bunch said that staff senate meetings are usually held the Wednesday before Faculty Senate meetings at 3 PM.

New Business

1. Introduction of new, exiting, and continuing senators
   • Dr. Slavens asked incoming senators to introduce themselves. Those who were present did so.
2. Select Recommended Slate of Officers for AY 2026-27
   • Dr. Slavens explained that we have a slate of nominees for executive committee, and that we are accepting nominations from the floor, and we also wanted to give nominees an opportunity to say why they would like to serve.
   • Dr. Cobb expressed her interest in serving on executive committee in any role, and is willing to serve as secretary. A few senators were nominated for multiple roles, and nominees needed to select one role for the ballot, according to bylaws.
   • Dr. Slavens explained the roles of executive committee and the kinds of conversations we have with the President and Provost and in our agenda setting meetings.
   • There is some discussion about whom should serve in which roles and who prefers which roles, since some are nominated in multiple positions. Some nominees were unaware that they had been nominated, and they declined nominations or accepted nominations for other positions. Dr. Machado expressed her avid support for Dr. Crossland as an executive committee member. After some discussion, he declined the nomination.
   • Dr. Shawver moved to close nominations. Dr. Gupta seconded.
   • Dr. Miller Whitworth updated and provided the link to the ballot, which was as follows:
     • Presiding Officer: Tracie Fulton, Mary Draper
     • Associate Presiding Officer: Hillary Coenen
     • Secretary: Sarah Cobb
     • Treasurer: Jessica Fino
     • Parliamentarian: Stacia Miller Whitworth, Dittika Gupta

Unfinished Business

1. Course Evaluations
   • College Deans received and should have distributed the Spring 2026 Evaluation rollout schedule in February.

Committee and Other Reports

1. Student Government Association - Parwar Bin Hafiz
   In our last meeting we talked about the AI issues. Students discussed course evaluations and that they are available from March 27-May 8.
   (Senators indicated that faculty did not receive a reminder with dates.)
   (Dr. Miller Whitworth indicated that WCOE did receive an email with the specific dates for all terms.)
2. Staff Senate - Dr. Phillis Bunch
   You Make a Difference Award winner Matt Steimel received $100 and a certificate. Recognition of current MSU Employees who graduate with honor cords. April 25 is Admitted Students Day.
3. Academic Council - Dr. Darla Diltz
   No report.
4. Administrative Council - Dr. Dawn Slavens
   No report.
5. Student Allocations Council - Dr. Michelle Hall
   No report.
6. Athletics Council - Dr. Catherine Gaharan
   No report.
7. Student Affairs & Enrollment Council - Dr. Bev Stiles
   No report.
8. University Celebration of Scholarship - Dr. Darla Diltz
   Dr. Miller Whitworth shared that the Celebration of Scholarship is next week, and there are many volunteers in this room. Thanks to volunteers! The faculty committee has decided that the Celebration of Scholarship will be incorporated in the Fall next year too! Dr. Gupta asked if the COS has thought about making online presentations possible. Dr. Miller Whitworth said that Dr. Ziegler does that.
9. Emergency Management - Professor Jill Young
   No report.
10. Leadership Advisory Council - Dr. Dawn Slavens
    LAC attended Lead the Stampede last week.
11. Other Committee Reports - 
    No reports.

Announcements

• The May 7th meeting is an organizational meeting, so this will be an opportunity to provide guidance for continuity between outgoing and incoming senators.

Meeting adjourned at 4:54 PM. Professor Young made a motion to adjourn, and Dr. Fino seconded. The motion to adjourn passed by a majority.

Submitted,
Dr. Hillary Coenen, Faculty Senate Secretary
Dr. Dawn Slavens, Faculty Senate Presiding Officer

Meetings & Deadlines
The next Executive Committee will meet with the President on Friday, April 17th at 3 PM.
Agenda items for the next meeting should be submitted to Dr. Slavens by Noon on April 24th.
The next Executive Committee meeting will be April 28th at 3:30 PM.
The next Faculty Senate meeting will be May 7th at 3:30 PM.