Members Present: Arts: Kimberley Davis, Shellie Nielsen; Business Administration: Trellis Green, David Duhon, Robert Smith; Education and Psychology: Jesse Palmer, John Rachal, Lillian Range, Daniel Surry; Health and Human Sciences: Jan Drummond, Michael Forster, Susan Graham-Kresge; Liberal Arts: Charles Bolton, Marie Danforth, Michael Dearmey, Linda Goff, Kate Greene, Kim Herzinger, Art Kaul, Bill Powell; Nursing: Norma Cuellar; Science and Technology: Delia Anderson, Robert Bateman, Bob Coates, Dean Dunn, Mary Dayne Gregg, Mary Lux, Lawrence Mead; Gulf Park: Dennis Krystek.
Members Represented by Proxy: Arts: Cheryl Goggin (pr. Shellie Nielsen); Business Administration: Ernest King (pr. Dave Duhon); Center for Marine Science: Steve Lohrenz (pr. Dean Dunn); Education and Psychology: Janet Nelson (pr. Lillian Range); Liberal Arts: Steve Oshrin (pr. Virginia Berry); Science and Technology: Mary Gregg (pr. Bob Bateman); Gerald Mattson (pr. Bob Bateman), Karen Thrash (pr. Delia Anderson); University Libraries: Sherry Laughlin (pr. Shirlene Stogner), Karolyn Thompson (pr. Kate Greene).
Members Absent: Business Administration: Scott Magruder; Gulf Park: Darlys Alford, Shahdad Naghshpour; Health and Human Sciences: Mary Ann Adams; Liberal Arts: Alexandra Jaffe, Mark Miller; Nursing: Janie Butts.
FORUM:
Forum was called to order at 2:05 p.m.
Rich Villarreal from football operations substituted for the vacationing
Jeff Bower. Mr. Villarreal is in charge of off-field administration
of the football program. He emphasized the commitment of the football
program to improvement of relations with faculty. He stated that
the program supports the total student athlete. Thirty student athletes
earned a GPA of 3.0 in the spring. The average GPA for 112 football
players in the spring was 2.45. Twenty-one football players earned
a place on the Conference USA Commissioner's Honor Roll. USM is one of
only 15 schools that has a 70% graduation rate for student athletes.
Mr. Villarreal reminded the Senate that athletics pays for itself. In addition, athletics generates 80% of the publicity for the University. When a team plays a televised games, it's essentially a free commercial for the school. It is estimated that athletics creates 60 faculty positions at USM. Mr. Villarreal emphasized that football players have required study halls, but seemed surprised when Kate Greene stated that professors cannot discuss the class performance or attendance of students.
Mr. Villarreal stated that 80% of the population of Mississippi lives south of I-20. He emphasized that USM has tradition and that these traditions must be promoted. Improvements include a new $1.8 million scoreboard with a 60 ft. screen for replay, and perhaps for use in televising away games. The scoreboard should generate advertising and has been paid for. A new sound system and video equipment will also improve the game experience for fans.
David Duhon asked how important football revenues were to the total athletic budget. Mr.. Villarreal responded that many other programs, especially women's sports, depend on the success of football. Mr. Villarreal emphasized that it is essential to fill the stadium. The theme for the 1998 football season is "Rock Solid."
Forum continued with a brief appearance by Jim Hollandsworth, Associate Vice-President for Academic Affairs. Dr. Hollandsworth indicated that August commencement would be divided into an afternoon ceremony for the Colleges of Health and Human Sciences, Nursing, Education and Psychology, and Business, and an evening ceremony for Colleges of Science and Technology, Liberal Arts, Arts, and the Institute for Marine Science. The President's reception will be held at the Payne Center from 4 until 5:30 p.m. Faculty will continue to form the procession in the Payne Center, as was done in May. There will be no speaker in August. The Commencement Committee hopes this arrangement will result in a more intimate, family-oriented experience for the graduates. In response to numerous questions, Dr. Hollandsworth indicated that plans for December are not firm, that the college assignments to time slots are not permanent, and that there are no plans to change the exam schedule. The Commencement Committee rejected the proposal to delete the calling of individual names.
1.0 CALL TO ORDER
Senate President Dave Duhon called the meeting
to order at 2:55 p.m.
2.0 APPROVAL OF AGENDA
There were no additions to the agenda.
3.0 APPROVAL OF MINUTES
One correction was noted under 8.3 Run
for Life should have been Relay for Life. The May minutes were approved
as corrected.
4.0 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE REPORTS
4.1 President's Report
IHL The IHL approved USM requests
for budget, Year 2000 goals, and the Gulf Coast. Talk continues concerning
a University Center on the Gulf Coast. The board went into executive
session to discuss development of Cadet Point and Cedar Point.
Salaries Dr. Duhon distributed a table of faculty salaries at Mississippi's major universities. USM faculty had been (by a small margin) the best paid nine month faculty. However, relatively larger increases at UM and MSU have resulted in USM falling below these schools at all ranks except instructor (for filled positions budgeted for 1998-99). Dr. Duhon reminded the Senate that Dr. Fleming is committed to raising faculty salaries to SUG averages.
President Fleming The Summer School Task Force will be formed and ready to work when Dr. Henry (new Provost) arrives in August. Strategic planning for the capital campaign is underway. The revised Faculty Handbook will be signed next week.
Summary Dr. Duhon thanked the Senate,
committee chairs, and officers for their assistance through the past year.
Some highlights of his term have been:
1) Hiring of 67 persons. The faculty
has been intimately involved in the hiring process. Only time will
tell if good choices were made.
2) Bringing a summer school salary proposal
forward.
3) Emphasizing participation in university
life, especially athletics.
4) Attending IHL meetings.
4.1 President Elect's Report
A Faculty Senate listserv has been established.
Everyone should have received a welcome message. Persons without
email should indicate the address of a friend or their department address.
4.2 Secretary's Report
Mary Lux reminded Senators of Section 207 of
the Constitution which states; "any voting member of the Senate unable
to attend a meeting shall designate a proxy in a signed statement.
The proxy must be eligible for membership as a representative of the Senate."
Jesse Palmer encouraged Senators to send a "warm body," not necessarily another Senator, to attend meetings if an absence is unavoidable.
The proxies were announced and an attendance sheet was passed to members.
4.3 Secretary Elect's Report
No report.
5.0 COMMITTEE REPORTS
5.1 Academic and Governance
No report.
5.2 Administrative Faculty Evaluations
No report.
5.3 Awards
No report.
5.4 Benefits and Work Environment
No report.
5.5 Faculty Development
No report.
5.6 Technology
Lawrence Mead asked if any progress had been
made on providing phone lines for the College of the Arts. Dean Dunn
suggested anyone with questions should address the questions to John McGowan.
Generally, the Senate is dismayed by the lack of phones in the College
of the Arts. Although phone lines may be available to the new theater
and dance building (although no one present could confirm this), the Departments
of Art and the School of Music are not moving to a new building.
Their prospects for individual phones are still poor.
5.7 Parking
No report.
5.8 Elections
No report.
6.0 OLD BUSINESS
6.1 Child Care Resolution
The Senate responded to a request for endorsement
from the Child Care Subcommittee of the Committee on Services and Resources
for Women of their Proposal of Child Care with a unanimous vote supporting
the proposal.
7.0 NEW BUSINESS
7.1 Elections
Elections were conducted by President Elect Jesse
Palmer. Shellie Nielsen and Dean Dunn were nominated for Secretary
Elect. Shellie Nielsen was elected.
The following persons were nominated for President Elect of the Senate: Kate Greene, Ernest King, Art Kaul, Bill Powell. All agreed to serve if elected. After the first ballot, there was a run-off between Kate Greene and Art Kaul. Art Kaul was elected President Elect.
8.0 TRANSITION OF OFFICERS
Dr. Duhon and Dr. Lux were presented with plaques
and thanks for their year of service. Dr. Palmer was installed as
President.
9.0 ANNOUNCEMENTS
No announcements.
10.0 ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Lux