Faculty Senate: Minutes

The University of Southern Mississippi
Faculty Senate Meeting
March 22, 2002
Advanced Education Center, Room 104
USMGC, Long Beach, Mississippi
2:00 pm

Members Present: College of the Arts: K. Davis. College of Business: D. Duhon, College of Education & Psychology: J. Olmi, J. Palmer, J. Rachal. College of Health & Human Sciences: M. Forster, S. Hubble. College of Int’l & Continuing Education: M. Miller. College of Liberal Arts: D. Cabana, A. Kaul, J. Meyer, B. Scarborough. College of Nursing: E. Harrison. College of Science and Technology: J. Miller, M. Hall, M. Henry. University Libraries: T. Graham. USM-Gulf Coast: D. Alford, Ka. Davis, S. Naghshpour, J.P. Smith.

Members Represented by Proxy: College of the Arts: D. Douglas (K. Davis), S. Nielsen (J. Meyer). College of Business: R. Smith (D. Duhon). College of Education & Psychology: S. Alber (J. Palmer). College of Health & Human Sciences: M. Nettles (M. Forster). College of Liberal Arts: D. Goff (A. Kaul), K. Greene (B. Scarborough), A. Wallace (J. Meyer). College of Nursing: K. Masters (E. Harrison). College of Science and Technology: P. Butko (D. Beckett), B. Coates (J. Miller), D. Dunn (M. Henry), C. Hoyle (D. Duhon), G. Rayborn (J. Miller). University Libraries: S. Laughlin (T. Graham).

Members Absent: College of Business: T. Green. College of Education & Psychology: E. Lundin. College of Liberal Arts: A. Chasteen, M. Dearmey, R. Esparragoza-Scott, S. Oshrin. College of Marine Sciences: J. Lytle. College of Science & Technology: D. Beckett.

1.0 Call to Order: 2:10 PM

2.0 Forum Speaker: Chevis Swetman, President of People’s Bank, Biloxi, MS

Pat Smith: Many will know Mr. Swetman as the Chairman of the Board for People’s Bank. He is a prominent Coast person and a strong USM supporter. When I have attended coast community meetings—I often see Chevis Swetman at the Chamber, Memorial Hospital, USM Foundation Board. He has two degrees from USM. He and his faculty have a long history of attending courses through USM—even when lower division courses were offered at Biloxi High School at night. I welcome Chevis Swetman to the Faculty Senate.

Chevis Swetman: My relationship with USM goes back many years. My aunt was the first graduate from Mississippi Normal Teachers College . My brother and two sisters are also graduates of USM and half of the children in our family. Right now, I also have a 7^th year senior at USM. Why is USM important to Gulf Coast and Hattiesburg? Would you take the packet I assembled for you and look at the fourth article which came out today. “Tulane Doubling its Space.” Notice the offer: Take six courses get the seventh free. Tulane is definitely entrepreneurial in my view. I’ve done research on Tulane. One new sight went from 200-1000 students in a two year period. At USMGC only 73 of 75 slots for freshmen were allotted for expansion. In two years Tulane will have an enrollment of 1000. USM will have 73-75 more each year. Finally, also from the Sun Herald editorials, there are two letters from people in Clarksdale and Tupelo opposing the expansion. We are entitled to an education on the Gulf Coast!

The People’s Bank is willing to pay for the education of our employees. Last May we had two employees graduate from USM. There will be two more this May, one with an Associate’s Degree and one with a Bachelor’s Degree. I don’t care where our employees attend classes, the business is willing to pay. Previously, it has become clear that if USM does not provide educational opportunities, others have done so. Now Tulane is seeing the need for more educational expansion. The business community will need to participate in designing programs at USMGC. We can’t afford to delay. Bureaucratic delays are not any longer acceptable to business on the coast. I finished the military 1971, and started attending classes at Gulf Park, Keesler, Jackson County, and Jeff Davis Jr. College. What I remember most about registration at USM , we were reimbursed 80% for courses on the coast (military benefits for education). Veterans in Hattiesburg received 100% reimbursement. That didn’t last very long. Just making threats of lawsuits turned this around. If benefits were paid at 100% at Hattiesburg, then they should also be comparable at the coast. Several years ago, the College Board study of needs on the Coast was essential. All of the USM course curriculum help to insure economic vitality in the region. History provides us with important information: Mississippi must balance agriculture with industry. We now need to take the work force up to next higher level. We need to get serious about higher ed. It is important to determine now where jobs are going to be in the next twenty years. There are 1600 oceanographers at Stennis--more than anyplace in the world. If we are going to compete economically, we have to develop the two major urban areas. The population is now 400,000 on the coast. Jackson is well served by higher education opportunities that we do not have on the coast. Think Jackson—think Nissan. We are looking for a skilled workplace here too. On the Coast there is a 15-16 % graduation rate for bachelor’s level. Yet, the coast has the highest high school graduation rate in the state. We can no longer be denied educational opportunities. For us to succeed there simply have to be more options in higher education opportunities. For us to complete 10 to 20 years from now, we need to change the higher education graduation rate from 16% to 25%. University expansion is basically a life and death struggle in the business community. We must see the expansion supported by the new USM President. USM must respond or someone else will—Tulane will.

Why have dynamics have been changing? Southtrust bought several little banks. Why does Amsouth bank keep one office here? Why would Hancock Bank go up to Hattiesburg? There is a link that cannot be denied. Banks know the future. Law firms in Jackson and Alabama are buying up firms on the coast. I was so relieved by the Mississippi Supreme Court decision. It was the right decision. It takes the shackles off finally. I’ve watched and thought about this for 30 years. The court decision has given me hope. We have the opportunity to take the coast market if Hattiesburg will take leadership in this process. If USM does not do this the opportunity will be gone forever. I think that there is a two year opportunity and after that it will be lost. We need to add gaming industry management courses. We can’t train our own graduates for our biggest industry as it stands now. What will happen is that the casinos will call and ask who can teach a course. There will develop a link between Tulane and the casinos. Soon this possibility will be met by Tulane. My son will graduate someday (I hope). He will probably go to Tulane. The courses will be in the casino. A classroom without walls.

B. Scarborough: I agree with what you say. But it is the legislature that presents the problem. We went up to Jackson to get support for USM and there is just no money. Probably the IHL board is another problem.

Swetman: IHL is committed now. Don’t you find it ironic that we can build prisons and now have an excess of beds, yet we can’t fund education? From the Lt. Governor to the Speaker of the House we have to push and it will change.

J. Olmi: What percent of legislators are in Jackson from South Mississippi? Is it 60% of the Representative in the House? We are consistent about what we want. With at block vote – many things would happen.

Swetman: Politicians look out for their own skins! We should have had more representatives but the redistribution of state population representation is slow to change.

J. Olmi: What about the Hundai plant that went elsewhere. Why would they look at Jackson as a second plant location? Why was not South Mississippi considered?

Swetman: I asked Trent Lott. Nissan was concerned about Hundai taking the worker pool. That location was never a prime location. They should have been pitching South MS from the beginning.

M. Hall: Will casinos ask for faculty to teach courses and invest more money in USM?

Swetman: My bank business has about a 70 % share of casinos accounts. I know that many groups have asked casinos to give money and not really expect to provide casinos with anything in return. Tulane will say: “What do you want?” We will come to the casino and train your workers on-site.

M. Henry: There is a very distinct difference. Tulane is a private institution which can move quickly. USM is encumbered by state laws that make change very slow. The persistence of the university shows that USM has been consistent in the long term.

Swetman: The casino industry doesn’t care about anything but results. We are working with legislature and they won’t get the bills out of committee and this has been going on for 10 years. Business does not care about academics. They are results-oriented. Something has to happen to change that. Funds have not been funneled down here fast enough to make it happen.

A. Kaul: Do you see that happening in the two-year window?

Swetman: No. There is an election coming up. That means that there is more accountability.

H. Shoemaker: Are you saying that we should go to casinos and work within their limits?

Swetman: Certain dynamics have to change. Change the Lt.Govenor and Governor. South Mississippi has to get politically active. There must be some bloodletting. Until people get charged up, nothing will be done.

S. Naghshpour: We hear rumors that Fleming’s support of the coast led to him losing the Presidency. Do you think that business community decided to put support behind a private school to be sure that there would be more higher education options?

M. Henry: Don’t go by rumors. The IHL and USM stayed with court case.

Swetman: The IHL injustice has been seen. There will be some change whoever becomes the university president. It is incumbent on faculty and staff to make the coast a priority. If not, then Tulane will be the institution for the Coast. Could it be that Tulane is already teaching the gaming courses in New Orleans?

M. Hall: I have contacted the casinos on behalf of the MS Academy of sciences. I asked for any kind of donation. I don’t get any response. I am asking them to support young people in sciences. What would they not support this?

Swetman: What the gaming industry asks is: What have you done for me today? In answer to your question about a donation, about 1,000 people a month ask for donations. Distributors are so glad for the casinos because there is a shift of requests away from them. The university center is still being considered, but we need to fund USM first. We need to place our students in the industries on the coast and when the jobs are there and they need proper educational preparation.

J. Palmer: Sounds like the success of this campus depends on gaming. But the success of this campus is also being addressed by the addition of freshman and sophomores.

Swetman: I disagree. Where will the money come from? State? Not there. The quick money will come from businesses on the coast. The casino industry has the money. Tap into the casino employees. The story: son has a friend who valets. The friend was out parking cars and got a tip for $3000. High roller tipped him after the young man had wished him good luck at first encounter. By being himself, things can happen. You have to be there and be ready. There are a lot of opportunities out there, and advanced education is very important. But the 75 limitation on Freshmen here is limiting. Why not let the market determine the outcome.

A. Kaul: The Board actually questioned whether they need four new faculty for the Freshmen!

D. Cabana: Crucial choice of next president. Coast will bring to bear pressure in the decision about president. Lacking evidence, I am expecting that they will do that. But, if coast people don’t actively influence the IHL Board, the growth of this program is not assured. I think that the coast and Hattiesburg are finally linked. Coast leadership has to draw upon Hattiesburg business community and make sure that everybody is on the same sheet of music.

Swetman: The IHL board is already skewed. Jr. College Board member (Nicholson) and Klumb—he is an idiot. How did they let Fleming get through—were they asleep at the wheel? Is the process skewed? Yes. Hopefully, it will be the right decision? I have had a faculty member express concerns about the decision regarding the new president. We can only hope that it is fair.

M. Forster: Business will pay for education? Is that common?

Swetman: Yes. Casinos pay for employees to take classes. My competition for employees is not Hancock Bank. It is the casino industry.

B. Scarborough: Are you in favor of taxing casinos? How about raising the casino tax or use tobacco funds? They won’t give any education donations.

Swetman: The best casino study was done on this campus. The update is to be released soon. The study tracks the impact of 9/11 on the casino/tourism industry. We ran to bail out the flight industry—no one said tax airlines. Let’s take an industry whose profits have shrunk. Now people going back on welfare and there is a loss of jobs. The only thing that we have to give relief is the low tax base. Look at the Beau Rivage. That was supposed to be in Lake Charles and because more and more taxes were being demanded from the local government, it was built here instead. I would rather have the taxes that come from employees who have jobs at the Beau rather than levy more taxes on the casino directly. I would rather have the tax base that perpetuates these kind of monies. We will be able to see in a year if Louisiana did the right thing by raising taxes.

B. Scarborough: Where are we going to get more money?

Swetman: Cut government fat. There are too many state employees. They can’t even count the state cars. Why does everybody needs a car. Back eight and ten years ago, the Legislators did not make the hard decisions. My bank has 9% fewer employees than several years ago. My health premium went up.

J. Olmi: Does academics have to operate like a business? When I produce more, I don’t get paid more. I get paid the same no matter whether I work hard or not.

Swetman: I know you have limitations placed on you. There was a researcher who raised chickens. The college wanted to raise the professor’s pay to keep him. They lost the college professor to another

Mega endowment. In order to compete, yes, I think that the university should be run like a business.

J. Olmi: In a good year I get 3% merit pay. It is nice to say that the university is like a business, but there is not money to reward those who are outstanding.

M. Henry: Just to say that we should operate like a business shows that you don’t fully understand a public university operation.

Swetman: When my son went to USM, he went to stay in a dorm room. There was one phone jack and a cable TV outlet. He could not hook up a computer. This was corrected in a short time. Wireless was the answer. There are a lot of funding inequities, I can’t deny that.

K. Davis: The majority of us have operated without a phone until three or four years ago. We did not have computers so wireless technology and connections meant absolutely nothing to us. We should have had the equipment before wireless connections. Now, when you are newly hired, the computers are part of the package. As for operating like a business, I do not mind writing grants , but I resent having to take time away from my teaching (rearranging students), practice, and other responsibilities to write a grant proposal for money that should already be a part of our operating budget. I understand that I/we have to solicit money from other sources because we can’t get it anyplace else, but because we are The Arts center for the state, we should not have to operate life that. I don’t see how responding more to the casino industry will help my department in Hattiesburg.

Swetman: Are you making the same thing that you were getting eight years ago? That is because of the change in this state due to the casino taxes generated.

J. Olmi: Short of secession, what do we do?

Swetman: Secession is a good idea. Higher education does not easily go to Jackson to demonstrate.

H. Shoemaker: We don’t have the incentives. We are told not to do certain things.

D. Cabana: What happens to these people that graduate from college and then go to Jackson and vote against higher education? What we are seeing here is great progress based on what the casinos have done. We knew that the rest of MS did not like us so we went ahead.

K. Davis: But I really do need to understand how it is going to help us. How is it helping the entire university.

JP Smith: There are quite a few musicians here being employed.

Swetman: The question is what in it for me?

D. Duhon: If we had pulled out of gaming, there would have been no increase in this state. We don’t have a money problem. It is a priority problem. That is the problem to solve.

Swetman: There is only one other group that has a big problem. Doctors.

M. Hall: As far as I am concerned, the biggest problem is the loss of faculty and the loss of faculty confidence. And there are more faculty who will leave. I am hearing more and more who will leave this summer and –technology advances don’t matter when there is no faculty. Replacing them takes hours and hours of hard work on committees and interviews. We are looking for some support from business to put pressure to help improve the situation. We are not doing right by them when we are losing faculty. This is a result of the decisions that have been made.

Swetman: My brother teaches at William Carey. Others in my family also are educators. The skills level of students is a concern of business. There needs to be more pressure on the lower grades. I don’t believe in Jr. College. There should just be K-14. The Jr. College should do work force training. The only mafia left in Mississippi is the Jr. College Board. Throw the rascals out.

JP Smith: Gaming. I’m not a gambler. What has happened is that we have been given the opportunity to stabilize thing with the casino industry. We have lost shirt factories that could not be replaced. We now have an economic base that is sustainable. The university should be contributing to enhancing all the industries… How do you lift people so that they can have more than gaming. If we are visionary, the next wave of residents will build a broader base of industries.

Swetman: Why are people retiring near universities? They like the cultural environment. How do you tap into it? Arts and retirees? Speakers forums. That’s a wonderful tie between retirees and universities.

H. Shoemaker: Education is not the only entity hurting. NPR cannot afford to fix the tower and we do not know when that will be remedied.

S. Hubble: Thank you, Mr. Swetman, for your efforts and support of USM. Take a five minute break.

3.0 Agenda: Several items were added to the agenda. 8.2 Setting yearly agenda, 9.2 Representation to the Student Printz Board, and 9.3 Budget Resolution. Approved by consensus.

4.0 Approval of minutes tabled by consensus to next meeting.

5.0 New Business A: President Susan Hubble explained that several questions were to be generated and posed to Presidential candidates by e-mail so that they can respond and present their positions on the Faculty Senate website in advance of the interviews. This procedure was established to compensate for the 45 minutes allotted to faculty during the presidential candidate visits. Dr. Hal Shoemaker, President of the USMGC Faculty Assembly served as recorder to prepare the questions for correction later in the agenda. Other questions generated by the senators will be asked during the early part of the 45 minute interview. Finally, there will be several minutes dedicated to questions from the floor to show more spontaneous reactions. Questions were then generated and are presented under item 9.0 below. It was suggested that a maximum of 500 words per question be set for those questions given in advance.

6.0 Officer’s Reports

6.1 President’s Report: Susan Hubble. At the IHL Board meeting, there was discussion of Targeted programs. Most departments on campus have already outlined a plan to deal with these. The provost will follow up with deans to address the plan for dealing with targeted programs.

J. Rachal: How can we get the details.

S. Hubble: See you deans. The MS Supreme Court announced the decision supporting the authority of the IHL Board to determine programs at USMGC. It clears the way for USMGC to expand its programs to Freshmen and Sophomores. Plan for Coast expansion will now proceed. Summer salaries. There were questions among faculty about whether the summer raises were one-shot deals. Hollandsworth has stated that these raises are permanent. Campus interview process will take place during the week beginning April 8. The announcement about the four finalists will be on Thursday, March 28. Evaluation of teaching committee is continuing its work on devising a campus-wide student evaluation form. There is also a newly formed technology task force committee. This committee is reviewing the plans of OTR to implement the new version of PeopleSoft.

B. Scarborough: The implementation is expected to cost $1.3 million.

S. Hubble: This breaks down to $300,000 in software and 1 million in consulting fees.

6.2 President-Elect’s Report. None

6.3 Secretary’s Report. None.

6.4 Secretary-elect’s Report. See above for Proxies.

7.0 Committee Reports

7.1 Faculty Welfare Meyer: See the handout that shows a proposed Academic Calendar that would shorten the semester by one week while still stressing the importance of research. Feedback is welcome.

J. Olmi: Is it acceptable to circulate this proposed calendar to faculty?

J. Meyer: Yes.

7.2 Administrative and faculty evaluations: Harrison. We are working on associate deans/assistant deans evaluation. There are some who have very little contact with faculty and feel that an evaluation from the faculty would not be appropriate.

K. Davis: The Associate deans are questioning why they have to be evaluated.

E. Harrison: We are interested in associate deans who have interaction with faculty. We tried to explain that it was not for everybody.

7.3 Faculty Awards Committee: D. Duhon: The awards have been decided and forwarded to the vice president along with a memo asking that the problems of notification from last year not be repeated.

7.4 Transportation Committee: B. Scarborough: There used to be six parking ticket writers and now there are only three. Hang tags will be smaller next year.

Rachal: I had mine stolen and found that I was able to get a decal to replace it. Staff council wanted hang tags. I would be interested in what this body would say about requesting decals or hang tags.

B. Scarborough: I will check it out and see if there is a choice. Lock your cars because the hang tags are being stolen. Visitors were parked in the Liberal Arts

7.5 UFSA: A. Kaul: We are all discussing the academic calendar proposal and others plan to take the proposal back to the various campuses. There are other senates that are interested. There may be a recommendation to the board to get in line with other colleges. The other issue is the role of faculty in presidential searches. MS State was very upset about not being allowed to elect members. There is a concern about the conduct of Program reviews. Several members were concerned about faculty involvement in program reviews.

7.6 Elections Committee: Mary Frances Nettles: We sent out ballots for qualified candidates and responses are coming in. When it is finished, we will decide if there is need for run-offs.

8.0 Old Business

8.1 The questions that were generated for the Presidential Candidate Interviews were typed and projected for senators to discuss and modify. The following list shows four that will be edited and circulated to finalists. Responses will be posted to the website:

1. Give specific examples how you have incorporated shared Governance. History of what you have done (evidence). Include budget. Role of Senate.

2. Fund raising (government board negotiation & public fundraising). How successful in past or skills that would make you successful.

3. Structure of multi-campus institution to work effectively. View of what should be done for coast (imagined idea how to create viable well-functioning University).

4. How going to stem tied of faculty exodus. How do you handle salary compression.

Other Questions

5. Share vision of University.

6. How do you understand the role of tenure and post-tenure review.

7. Safeguards for intellectual freedom within the University.

8. Faculty inclusion in budget process.

9. Role of athletics in University life.

10. Proper relationship of business community to University.

11. How do you view quality of instruction facilities & plan to upgrade.

12. Role of President & role of Provost. Model for relationship of President & Provost. How would you model your upper administration?

13. Attitude toward arts in university setting.

14. Where have you been with issues?

15. Perspective on graduate & advanced level given the expense & resources. Advocate increasing graduate stipends.

16. Critical mass of departments for what you think school is.

S. Hubble: We have a draft of an evaluation sheet that the executive committee will review after the meeting. We took the lead and are making a modification in the form from last time.

JP. Smith: Are the business constituents going to come to our meetings?

S. Hubble: The faculty interviews are separate from community meetings and evaluations will be separate.

B. Scarborough: On the overall rating, what are the categories?

S. Hubble: Extremely Positive, Relatively Positive, Undecided, Somewhat Negative, Extremely Negative.

J. Meyer: After the last candidate, well we be able to give a ranking for all?

S. Hubble: I know that you want this.

M. Henry: The ranking of candidates—do you want to do that or say which are acceptable. Sometimes it is better to say whether unacceptable of acceptable so that the Board makes the actual decision.

J. Rachal: What if all are acceptable?

JP. Smith: Maybe we should say if a candidate is unacceptable.

S. Hubble: I’ve told you everything I know at this point. I know there are rumors that the decision is already made. If we do not participate, there will be no way to know about faculty’s preferences.

J. Olmi: Only two names have been given, who else? The candidates have self-identified in these cases.

S. Hubble: There are meetings next week on the proposed core changes.

J. Meyer: Nobody ever asked us in communication skills. For us, this is a step backwards. Now it is supposed to be incorporated into a seminar supposedly taught by anyone. It is not OK.

M. Forster: Faculty senate does not need to take a position. Many opportunities have been available for people to give input.

JP. Smith: We were told to do the best we could and the president was supposed to take the responsibility to fund it.

M. Henry: The upper division writing courses will require considerable faculty to support.

S. Hubble: Is there a consensus about the Faculty Senate taking a stand?

D. Duhon: Encourage faculty to participate in the forums and voice concerns about problems before it is finalized.

S. Hubble: Seeing no objection, there will be no official position taken by the Senate.

8.2 Setting Yearly Agenda for Faculty Senate: Reserved for April Meeting.

9.0 New Business:

9.1 Request for a delay in the announcement of the USM President.

S. Hubble: There has been a letter sent to Ms. Virginia Shanteau-Newton, chair of the IHL Board Search Committee for USM President, requesting that the IHL Board delay announcement of the selection of President for several days. There is concern that with such a rapid timeline, careful deliberations will not be possible.

B. Scarborough: See the handout I circulated. We want a delay in the decision. The candidates have to agree when they accept the invitation that they will essentially make a decision on the spot.

Moved: Smith. Seconded: Cabana to suspend rules. PASSED

S. Hubble: A letter of endorsement has been requested. Would it be stronger to request a letter from Faculty Senate? Moved: Scarborough. Seconded: Cabana PASSED (a friendly amendment that Faculty Senate write a separate letter that has the same sentiment.

D. Duhon: I think the answer should be NO. They are not going to wait until Wednesday. Should they wait?

M. Henry: Candidates also need more time.

S. Naghshpour: I suggest that we give a preference for more time and don’t give a specific date.

S. Hubble: A letter will be sent to Newton to ask for more time before the President is selected. VOTE: passed by acclamation.

9.2 There is a need for someone to serve as a Member of the Publication Board of the Student Printz. Kimberly Davis was appointed.

9.3 Budget Resolution was circulated for the review of Faculty Senators.

Resolved,

Whereas the Faculty Senate represents the entire faculty, who fulfill the primary task of the university in teaching and research,

And whereas the University’s annual budget deliberations profoundly affect teaching and research,

And whereas administrative budgetary decisions in recent years have in some instances adversely affected teaching and research, and recognizing that such decisions might not have been made if fair and adequate faculty representation at budgetary deliberations had been in place,

And whereas Faculty Senate, Academic Council and Graduate Council represent the three faculty bodies concerned with teaching and research, and should each have a representative in annual budgetary deliberations,

And whereas three representatives, one each from Faculty Senate, Academic Council, and Graduate Council, would only increase the number of persons in the deliberations slightly (by two persons),

And whereas both the Association of Governing Boards and the American Association of University professors concur in stating that:

The faculty should participate both in the preparation of the total institutional budget, and (within the framework of the total budget) inn decisions relevant to the further apportioning of its specific fiscal divisions (salaries, academic programs, tuition, physical plant and grounds, etc.) [AAUP Red Book, p. 115],

And whereas the administration under the leadership of Aubrey K. Lucas has stood firmly over the years for democratic and shared governance,

We the Faculty Senate, do hereby affirm and request the approval of a three-person faculty representation at the annual budget deliberations, commencing in the Spring, 2002, with one member from each of the three faculty bodies (Faculty Senate, Academic Council, and Graduate council). We the Faculty Senate, request this as a final step and a final benefit for the faculty in the long and distinguished march towards shared governance by the Aubrey K. Lucas administration.

B. Scarborough: This was drafted by M. Dearmey. It is a way to involve the faculty in the budget process. Refer to your handout. Lucas is lukewarm. We are really only asking for two more. It would help Griffin when he goes into the meeting with more support from faculty. The budget will be done in early April. Lucas will not plan until the final budget from the legislature and IHL are provided. Then decisions will come very fast. The general sense is that we want more representation for faculty in the process.

Moved: Scarborough. Seconded: Kaul to suspend the rules.

M. Forster: We are on record twice before and this is unnecessary.

D. Cabana: This will be the new president’s introduction to the idea.

Palmer: I call the vote.

S. Hubble: Is there any more discussion on the motion?

D. Duhon: Is it only one position? Does the Faculty Senate President actually sit on the budget committee?

M. Henry: There is a deans hearing that includes the President of Faculty Senate. The third year that disappeared. I am not sure what is happening now.

S. Hubble: I attended with Sherry. There was a steady stream of presentations. Although there was an established committee, the cuts were already decided.

M. Henry: Deans compete with each other and that is not workable for academics to compete.

S. Hubble: The academic side seemed to be the only ones who had to justify their positions.

B. Scarborough: We want to be a part of the decision making process.

J. Palmer: Before, what did we decide? There are to be three people from Senate to participate in the budget process. That has not happened.

J. Olmi: Can passing this hurt?

D. Cabana: Call the question.

Vote by acclamation: YES.

10.0 Announcements: Trellis Green has had knee surgery. He is experiencing challenges in recuperation.

Susan Graham-Kresge’s family has experienced a serious fire. She has a toddler and a teenager. There is a need for clothing and other items. Pass around an envelope for donations. They were staying in a guest house of neighbor. Church will help with home.

J. Rachal: Forward the contributions to Exline, Joan. I will serve to collect for our group. Questions can be directed top her department: Center for Community Health.

11.0 5:40 PM adjourn.