The
Faculty
Senate Meeting
Union
Hall of Honors
Members Present and
Those Represented by Proxy (listed in parentheses):
College of the Arts and
Letters:
Amy
Miller, Phillip Gentile, Kate Greene, Stephen Judd, Tony Lewis, John Meyer,
Bill Powell, Bill Scarborough, Paula Smithka (Kathy Davis), Mary Ann Stringer,
Susan Malone
James
Crockett, David Duhon, Trellis Green, Mark Miller (Amy Miller)
Taralyn Hartsell, Janet
Nelson, Jay Norton, Joe Olmi, John Rachal, Janice Thompson
Joyous
David Beckett, Randy
Buchanan, Peter Butko, Ray Folse, Mary Dayne Gregg, Myron Henry, Jerry Mattson
(Alan Thompson), Gail Russell, Alan Thompson, Denis Wiesenburg
University Libraries:
Mary Beth Applin (Sherry
Laughlin)
Darlys Alford, Kathy Davis
(Pat Smith), Shadad Naghshpour, Pat Smith
Members Absent: (none)
1.0
Call to Order (
2.0
Moment of silence
in memory of Past Faculty Senate President and colleague Jesse Palmer
3.0
Approval of
January 2004 minutes (moved/seconded/approved)
4.0
Approval of
Agenda (moved/seconded/approved)
5.0
Officers’ Reports
5.1
President
5.1.1
Request for 2003
and 2004 raise list (FS Web page): Myron reported on the request of the raise
list (faculty and administrators) from the Administration. The request was made
to ensure that appropriate governance procedures were followed within
departments across campus.
5.1.2
Faculty Handbook
Transmission Letter (FS Web page): Myron referred to the transmission letter on
the Web page regarding the Faculty Handbook in requesting a meeting with the
President. John Rachal brought up the issue of the 4th category and
clarification on that issue. He further brought up the issue of whether there
was a difference between contracts and research grants and whether both fell
under the heading of “Economic Development.”
5.1.3
FAR Preface and
FAR Committee Report from Senate appointees: (To be addressed under Ad Hoc
Committee reports).
5.1.4
Economic
Development Language on appointment letters: (covered in previous discussion in
5.1.2.)
5.1.5
FS Web page
manager: (Addressed under new business; Mary Beth Applin)
6.0
Closed Session
(Faculty Senators and Invited Guest Only)
6.1
Senate
voted to enter closed session for discussion of “personnel matters or other
sensitive issues.” (moved/seconded/approved)
Based on information offered during
discussion in the closed session and after coming out of closed session, the
Faculty Senate moved/seconded/passed (37-3-1) a motion to formulate a special
purpose committee of five people to further investigate whether Dr. Dvorak was
a tenured professor in English AT the University of Kentucky in
Lexington while President of Ashland Community College in Ashland, KY.
Additionally, the special purpose committee is charged with investigating the
process related to assuring appropriate qualifications of persons hired at USM,
especially at the administrative level. Another motion was made/seconded/passed
to respond to the Sound Governance Survey of the American Association of
University Professors. The remainder of the time was spent with Senators
responding to the Survey.
7.0
Committee Reports
7.1
Academic and Governance: Steve Oshrin offered a resolution addressing future
activities with regard to the hiring of administrators (refer to the proposal
offered by Steve on the part of the Committee). The resolution will be voted on
at the March meeting in accordance with Senate Constitutional guidelines.
7.2
Administration and Faculty Evaluations: Ray Folse reported on the completed evaluation
process. Data provided by the Committee included the following: number of those
evaluating the President (371); number evaluating Provost Hudson (292); number
evaluating Provost Grimes (98); number of evaluations of the Deans (370);
number of evaluations of Department Chairs (368); number of departments
participating (42); and number of departments who did not participate (2). Concern
was voiced that the Coast campus was not allowed to participate in the
evaluation at this time and would not be allowed to do so until March.
7.3
Awards: Tony
Lewis reported that the Committee met yesterday regarding the Faculty
Excellence (4 teaching, 2 service [professional service and service to
university], 1 librarian) and Grand Marshall awards. The Committee suggested
two additional awards including Faculty Mentor and Junior Faculty Award; they
would not be given this year, but would begin next year. Also added that one
could nominate themselves; nominations due March 10; dossiers in by April 5th;
Awards Luncheon on April 27th. Notification will be forthcoming. The
point was also made that the current Awards Committee process put into place by
the Administration is a one-year only process.
7.4
Budget: Mark
referred to the letter requesting information from the Provost related to
organizational chart and present salaries (monetary and nonmonetary
compensation) of everyone in the organizational chart. The letter will come
from the Senate. Senate moved/seconded/passed unanimously to forward this
letter to the Administration requesting the information. Further report will be
made at the March regular meeting.
7.5
Constitution and Bylaws:
7.5.1
Reapportionment
of Senate: deferred to Peter Butko of the Elections Committee; Darlys Alford
offered the listing of all benefits-eligible faculty members on both the
7.6
Faculty Welfare: John Meyer reported that we (USM) are in the bottom 9% nationally of
pay scale in part time adjunct faculty pay. Other information will be
forthcoming. Also reported on the campus mediation program in place at the
University.
7.7
Government Relations:
7.7.1
Report and List
of Representatives/Senators (addresses/contact numbers): Pat reported that one
could go to the Mississippi Legislative web site for contact information on
legislators. Reported grim forecast regarding the budget as related to
education.
7.8
Technology:
(no report)
7.9
Elections:
7.9.1
Reapportionment
and Upcoming Elections: Peter recommended that we stay with the current ratio;
1 Senator to each 15 faculty members per college. Myron brought up the issue of
designating senators from the Coast campus as opposed to including them in the
7.10
Ad hoc committee reports and liaison reports (AAUP and
others): no comments from Bill
regarding AAUP other than the establishment of a legal defense fund; regarding Transportation
Committee, there will be several construction projects that will adversely
affect parking. Additionally, he reported that other universities were surveyed
regarding cost of parking on campuses, and we are doing well (low parking fees).
8.0
New Business
8.1
Selection of a FS
Web page manager: Mary Beth Applin selected by acclamation.
8.2
Endorsement of
NCAA request: action deferred till Friday meeting before Spring Break (March 12th)
8.3
Resolution
offered by Steve Oshrin’s Academic and Governance Committee introduced. Will be
taken up at the March 26th regular meeting.
8.4
FAR report by
Steven Judd indicating that he had contacted the members of the committee to
generate a report. The administration members of the committee indicated no need
to generate a report (two did not respond; 1 indicated no); the faculty members
selected by the Senate indicated a need to do so (generate a report). The
faculty members of the Committee are in the process of composing that report,
and it will be disseminated at the regular March meeting.
9.0
Adjournment 4:51