The University of Southern Mississippi
Faculty Senate Minutes
September 16, 2005
Hall of Honors 2:00pm
1.0 Call to order: 2:10pm
2.0 Approval of May 6, 2005 and June 10, 2005 minutes: moved, seconded, and approved.
3.0 Approval of Agenda: moved, seconded and approved, with an addition by Senate President Bill Powell to add a welcome to new Senators.
4.0 Officer’s Reports
4.1 President
4.1.1 Introduction of New Senators- all new 1 yr term replacements
Bob Press from the College of Arts and Letters
Bob Coates from Science and Technology
Jeff Evans from Science and Technology
4.1.2 Gulf Coast Status after Hurricane Katrina
4.1.2.1 . Bill Powell reported that the Gulf Park and GCRL campuses suffered much damage and there were major disruptions in faculty-student lives. Approximately 74 faculty/staff lost their homes and possessions. Pat Smith is trying to gather support for a trailer village for these USM faculty and staff. Other faculty/staff remain dispersed throughout the South/US living with friends and relatives.
4.1.2.2 USM GC Administrative offices and some classrooms are relocating to the old Gulf Park Hospital, owned by the USM Foundation. Portable classrooms are going to be placed on the Gulf Park Hospital grounds. Many faculty members have no homes and/or offices and lost their files, data, labs, etc. IBM is processing damaged computer hard drives for recovery of files/data.
4.1.2.3 Teaching will resume on GP/GCRL on October 10, 2005, and will be on a 10-wk schedule, to end on December 16, 2005. Highest priority will be placed on graduating students, and currently enrolled student progression.
Alternate class delivery methods are being explored.
4.1.2.4 A newly formed committee, which includes Bill Powell and Pat Smith, will be formed to address faculty-staff and student needs on the coast and in Hattiesburg.
4.1.2.4.1 Counseling services are needed due to the severe changes and losses students, staff and faculty have experienced. A phone-in Employee Assistance Program is in place through the State of Mississippi. Faculty should show sensitivity and consideration to colleagues and students during this time. Homer Kaufman is expanding email box capacities to accommodate the delays in email message retrieval.
4.1.2.5 Bill reported that Pat Smith had praised Associate Provost Joachim’s diligence and problem-solving skills for effective leadership during the Hurricane Katrina crisis.
4.1.2.6 The Academic and Graduate Councils are expediting review and approval procedures in response to program/course changes necessary after Katrina.
4.1.2.7 There will be provost and university calendar changes, soon to be released re: Tenure and Promotion timelines, University Grants and Awards, etc. Look for the announcements.
4.1.3 Library on Gulf Park campus
4.1.3.1 Barton Spencer reported on the G.P. Library status post-Katrina. The library sustained some flooding on the bottom floor, and lost some periodicals and microfiche. Overall, there were few losses. The library will establish more computer space needed by students and faculty who have lost their home computers.
4.1.3.2 G.P. Library usage issue pre-Katrina. The Faculty Senate passed a resolution on June 10, 2005 protesting the conversion of 3rd floor space into classroom space. The Faculty Leadership Council and the Academic Deans also endorsed a statement on August 24, 2005 protesting the conversion of library space into classroom space. This document was sent to the Master Planning Group. Even though this conversion may now be a temporary necessity, the Faculty Senate needs to remain vigilant about the matter.
4.1.4 SACS
4.1.4.1 Hurricane Katrina disrupted the SACS probation team visit. Phone interviews are being conducted instead. Bobby Middlebrooks reported that the process appeared to be “on track” even though the SACS team did not visit.
4.1.4.2 Accreditation efforts and documentation for the next cycle is currently in process.
4.1.5 Raises
Bill Powell and Myron Henry are investigating the raises given recently to administrators and some faculty. Some were equity raises, other were meritorious. Provost Grimes reported to Bill Powell that about 50 faculty and staff received raises. Bill Powell and Myron Henry are requesting information about who received raises, how much was received, the criteria and process used in the decisions, particularly for faculty. Did the raise process utilize approved faculty handbook methods? They will follow-up and keep the Senate apprised of the situation.
4.1.6 Drug and Alcohol Policy
The new policy states that an Employee Assistance Program will provide one referral visit for employees requesting assistance from the Employee Assistance Program for drug and/or alcohol problems. Discussion ensued regarding the 1 visit, whether this is sufficient, and how much insurance will cover. The scope of the EAP was also discussed. Bill Powell will ask the Faculty Welfare Committee to investigate and report back to the Senate.
4.1.7 Shared Governance
Provost Grimes sent a draft document on Shared Governance to the Faculty Senate for comment/ discussion. Bill Powell will ask the Governance Committee to review the document and make recommendations to the Senate.
4.1.8 Parking
4.1.8.1 Parking fees have risen to $50.00 per year for everyone.
Discussion ensued about the hardship for staff, students, and faculty of a steep rise in rates. Bill Powell reports that he sent a memo of protest to Joe Paul and Greg Lassen.
4.1.8.2 Bill Scarborough, who is on the Parking Management Committee for USM, reports that the committee had no knowledge of the increase, and he is extremely disappointed that administration did not seek the Parking Management Committee’s input regarding parking matters on campus.
4.1.8.3 In a related matter, a new pay lot beside the Polymer Science Building was discussed. It is a reserved lot and costs $200.00 per year. Bobby Middlebrooks explained the process by which he obtained a parking spot in the lot. The process of selection of those spaces was discussed. Again Bill Scarborough expressed concern and deepening disappointment that the Parking Management Committee was not consulted regarding parking matters on campus.
4.1.8.4 Mary Lux expressed frustration about difficulty finding parking after 4:00pm. She recommended that Faculty/Staff lots should remain restricted 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
4.1.9 Search and Selection Processes
There were concerns remaining about the process of selection of the GP Associate Provost position. Bill Powell is making inquiries.
4.1.10 Graduate School
The Graduate Council and Faculty Leadership Council are considering a recommendation to reinstate the Graduate School. Senators recommended that a Graduate School director should be someone selected from a national search using an inclusive selection process that seriously includes faculty input.
4.1.11 Student Evaluation of Teaching
4.1.11.1 Bill Powell and Stephen Oshrin reported on activities related to the process of student evaluation of teaching at USM. There was a very low return rate of evaluations this last year, using the online process. Ideas to encourage student participation were discussed: Student can get grades early if they do teaching evaluations.
4.1.11.2 A permanent committee will work on such issues as: Who gets what data? Who gets written comments? Bill Powell asks that we share this information with our faculty.
4.1.12 Retreat
Dr. Tom Phillips said that the camp and the bridge are okay, but they lost many trees. Bill Powell thanked him for allowing the Faculty Senate to use the camp.
4.1.13 Refreshments
Bill Powell thanked Myron Henry for ordering refreshments for the meeting.
4.2 President-Elect
4.2.1 Myron Henry expressed his sympathies and concerns for those affected by Hurricane Katrina.
4.2.2 If a faculty member is interested in working on the Faculty Handbook this year, ask them to contact the Faculty Senate Officers.
4.3 Secretary
4.3.1 Committee lists were circulated and senators were encouraged to sign up.
4.3.2 After committees are finalized, and chairs selected, Bill Powell will assign specific duties to each committee.
4.4 Secretary-Elect- no report.
5.0 Committee Reports
5.1 Academic and Governance – no report
5.2 Administration and Faculty Evaluations- no report
5.3 Awards-
Bill Powell reported that the 2004-2005 Faculty Senate and Office of the President Awards have been processed, and awardees will receive their monetary rewards. At our next meeting, past Faculty Senate President David Beckett and USM President Thames will recognize the awardees.
5.4 Budget- See 4.1.5 above, Raises.
5.5 Constitution and Bylaws- No report
5.6 Faculty Welfare- No report
5.7 Government Relations- No report
5.8 Technology- No report
5.9 Elections-
Ballots are being sent out for a run-off for a Senator position in the College of Arts and Letters. A Coast Senator position run off is being delayed.
5.10 Ad hoc committee reports and liaison reports
5.10.1 President’s Council (PC)
Bobby Middlebrooks reported that the meeting focused on post-Katrina effects on the University. Specifically, ideas were generated on how to match faculty needs with Hattiesburg faculty who might be able to help with resource sharing.
5.10.2 AAUP
There will be a meeting on Monday September 26, 2005 at 4:00pm is LAB 204. Issues to discuss will include: Information about recent raises; Faculty Activity Reports, evaluations and job alterations caused by SACS probation/other accreditation work, and Katrina; Election of officers.
5.10.3 Faculty Leadership Council
See President’s report above 4.1.3.2 and 4.1.10. Also this committee represents the past, current and future leaders of the Senate, Graduate Council, Academic Council, Coast Council, Staff Council, Council of Chairs. The FLC facilitates cross communications between and among major committees at USM.
Bob Coates reported that while fast-track approval by Graduate and Academic Councils is occurring now, we don’t want the Katrina crisis to produce a long-term style of emergency meetings and decision making that becomes the norm for approving programs, courses and revisions.
5.10.4 Transportation- See report above in Parking 4.1.8
6.0 Old Business
6.1 Bill Powell reported that there had been a plan to ask Ken Malone to speak to the Faculty Senate. However, this has become a non-issue since Dr. Malone is no longer an administrator on the Coast.
7.0 New Business
7.1 Search for the second Associate Dean in Education and Psychology.
7.1.1 Senators discussed what occurred during the process of this search. Vice President Joe Paul initiated the search process and chaired the committee. Department chairs formed the committee with the exception of the psychology department, who was excluded. A member of the search committee reported that faculty on the committee were not listened to regarding having a psychology representative on the committee, nor to continue the search to seek more applicants. As a result, an internal candidate was selected.
7.1.2 Associate Dean Mitch Berman resigned after the candidate was selected, but reasons for the resignation were not yet clear.
7.2 Problems with Searches at USM
7.2.1 Tim Rehner identified problems with searches (particularly for administrators) as being a negative, continuing pattern at USM. See 7.1 and 4.1.9 of these minutes. He also noted that the administration continues a pattern of conducting University business that affects faculty without going through proper faculty/shared governance channels. For example, the process for a College of Health undergraduate degree in Human Performance was not sent forward, instead, administration in the College of Science and Technology created a joint PhD and Master’s degree program in Human Performance/Polymer Science. Administration sent it forward to IHL before it was reviewed or approved by the academic department in College of Health, the College of Health Curriculum Committee, and the USM Academic and Graduate Councils. Approval was attempted retroactively.
7.3 Mary Dayne Gregg stated that the NCAA is reviewing USM and will visit in May 2006. There is a link to the NCAA documentation on the Faculty Senate website. Please provide feedback, and encourage others to visit the site also.
7.4 Jeff Evans expressed concern that the last exam for Fall 2005 semester is on December 21st and grades will be due on the 22nd because of Hurricane Katrina. The exam schedule will be discussed at the next Academic Council meeting. Any changes will be announced to faculty.
7.5 Room scheduling problems were discussed at length. Ad Astra has caused confusion, and senators noted that disruption of class time and student learning has been occurring due to the system assigning rooms with too few chairs, or rooms at unfamiliar locations. This disruption reflects negatively on USM’ s reputation as a student friendly school.
8.0 Other
8.1 Casino classes
8.1.1 The status of USM teaching casino management classes is unknown since Katrina has disrupted Gulf Coast and Casino operations.
9.0 Adjournment
9.1 The meeting was adjourned at 5:00 pm.
Members (N=43) Present and Those Represented by Proxy (Proxies are in Parentheses):
College of the Arts & Letters
Anita Davis
Stanley Hauer
Stephen Judd
John Meyer
Bill Powell, President
Bill Scarborough
Paula Smithka
Amy Young
College of Business
David Duhon
Bill Gunther (David Duhon)
College of Education & Psychology
Ann Parker Blackwell
Taralynn Hartsell
Joe Olmi (Mary Beth Applin)
Antonio Rodriguez-Buckingham
College of Health
Wendy Bounds
Bonnie Harbaugh, Secretary
Mary Lux
Stephen Oshrin
Tim Rehner
Coastal Science, Marine Science & Gulf Coast Research Lab
College of Science & Technology
Randy Buchanan
Eyler “Bob” Coates
Mary Dayne Gregg
Jerry Griffith
Myron Henry, President-Elect
Lawrence Mead
Bobby Middlebrooks
Gail Russell
J Evans
University Libraries
Mary Beth Applin, Secretary-Elect
Jay Barton Spencer
USM-Gulf Coast
Members Absent:
College of the Arts & Letters:
TBA
Cheryl Goggin
Bob Press
College of Business:
James Magruder- absent
TBA
College of Education & Psychology:
Janice Thompson
College of Health:
Coastal/Marine/GCRL:
Chet Rakocinski
Don Redalje
College of Science & Technology:
University Libraries:
USM-Gulf Coast:
Patsy Anderson
James Miller
TBA
Eric Nelson