The University of Southern Mississippi

Faculty Senate Meeting

March 12, 2004

Union Hall of Honors

2:00 p.m.

 

Members Present and Those Represented by Proxy (listed in parentheses):

 

College of the Arts and Letters:

Amy Miller, Phillip Gentile, Kate Greene, Stephen Judd, John Meyer, Bill Powell (Bill Odom), Bill Scarborough, Paula Smithka, Mary Ann Stringer, Susan Malone

 

College of Business and International Development:

James Crockett, David Duhon, Trellis Green, Mark Miller (Amy Miller)

 

College of Education and Psychology:

Taralyn Hartsell, Janet Nelson, Jay Norton, Joe Olmi, John Rachal, Janice Thompson (Liesa Williams)

 

College of Health:

Joyous Bethel, Margot Hall, Bonnie Harbaugh, Susan Hubble (Mary Frances Nettles), Amal Khoury (Margot Hall), Kathleen Masters (Bonnie Harbaugh), Stephen Oshrin, Mary Frances Nettles

 

College of Science and Technology:

David Beckett, Randy Buchanan, Peter Butko, Ray Folse, Mary Dayne Gregg, Myron Henry, Jerry Mattson (Gail Russell), Gail Russell, Denis Wiesenburg, Alan Thompson (Susan Malone)

 

University Libraries:

Mary Beth Applin

 

USM Gulf Park:

Darlys Alford, Kathy Davis, Shadad Naghshpour, Pat Smith

 

Members Absent: Tony Lewis

 

1.0                 Call to Order 2:04

 

2.0                 Approval of Agenda (moved/seconded/passed)

 

3.0                 Officers’ Reports

3.1                 President

3.1.1            Overview of week/next steps (Board of Trustees [BOT] meeting): Dr. Henry offered comments pertaining to the past week, noting the importance of such events; especially the turnout at Wednesday’s All Faculty Convocation. He referred to the transmittal letter that will be mailed to Dr. Potter regarding the emergency meeting of March 7th where the Faculty Senate cast a 40-0 no confidence vote and the March 10th faculty convocation where another no confidence vote (430-32) was registered by voting faculty and proxies who were in attendance. Please refer to the letter on the Faculty Senate web site. Regarding the BOT meeting that will occur on March 18th, Dr. Henry suggested that as many as possible should attend. He also spoke to the inaccuracies offered by Dr. Thames related to termination of tenured faculty as proposed in the current proposed edition of the faculty handbook. Questions/comments were taken from the floor. Concerns were also voiced by Dr. Scarborough regarding the person (the President) who initiates the termination proceedings would serve as the “impartial” judge of the case.

3.1.2            FAR Committee Report from Senate appointees (Stephen Judd called upon by Myron): Administration members of the Faculty Activity Report Committee were not interested in getting together for generating the report; the Senate members were, and thusly offered the report. Stephen referred to the report that was shared with the Senate members. The report will be distributed at the next regular meeting of the Faculty Senate. Stephen Judd noted that the FAR outcome (the changes from last years FAR to the current FAR) was agreed to by consensus by the entire membership of the FAR Committee.

3.2                 President-Elect: David reported a warm response from others (faculty and staff) on campus regarding the efforts of the Faculty Senate.

3.3                 Secretary: (reported proxies)

3.4                 Secretary-Elect: no report

 

4.0                 New Business

4.1                 Response to Dr. Thames’ Comments Regarding Faculty Senate President (Susan Malone): moved/seconded/passed [38-0] to endorse the statement as amended. It was also moved/seconded/passed by acclamation that the Executive Committee will determine how to transmit the statement. The statement follows:

“The Faculty Senate wants to address comments made by Dr. Thames attacking Myron Henry, our Senate president. President Thames claimed he was not making a "personal attack," merely telling you something about "the individual."  It is clear to the Senate that the President was attempting to discredit Dr. Henry's voice and to call into question his integrity, and by extension silence the voice and challenge the integrity of the Faculty Senate, whom Dr. Henry represents.

The faculty of USM is fortunate, indeed, to have Myron Henry as an advocate and a spokesperson. He is an honest, courageous man who has, on numerous occasions throughout his tenure as Senate president, urged the Senate to proceed cautiously and deliberatively in an attempt to preserve our ability to communicate and work with this administration. There is a sad irony in the fact that Dr. Thames has never recognized what a powerful ally and advocate Dr. Henry could have been for his administration with the faculty. Because of his own experiences as Provost, Dr. Henry understands the challenges the administration faces in ways some faculty might not fully appreciate. The Thames administration has repeatedly turned its back on that opportunity, choosing instead to attack a good man who serves this university well and could have been a bridge over these increasingly troubled waters.

Dr. Henry has already given statements to the press about the Kent State situation that was cited by Dr. Thames. This is only one example from a recent barrage of public relations strategies unleashed by his administration, statements designed to mislead and distract. The Faculty Senate will not be silent in the face of this attack on one of its members. It demands a public apology from Dr. Thames.”

5.0                 Committee Reports

5.1                 Constitution and Bylaws

5.1.1            Reapportionment of Senate: Proposal before the Senate offered by Darlys Alford (the apportionment grid was moved/seconded/passed by acclamation with regard to senate composition).

5.1.2            Moved/seconded/passed by 36-2 the proposed changes in the Senate Constitution Section 110; 38-0 for Sections 111, 112, 113. The text of these sections follows:

5.1.2.1        Section 110: The membership of the Senate shall be composed of elected representatives from the full-time faculties of designated academic division of the University with administrative rank no higher than Chair.

5.1.2.2        Section 111: Each of the following academic division of the University shall be entitled to representatives to the Faculty Senate: the College of Education and Psychology, the College of Health, the College of Science and Technology, the Gulf Coast Campuses, and the USM Libraries.

5.1.2.3        Section 112: The total number of senators shall range from 42 to 45 with representatives assigned by proportion of the total faculty members in the year of apportionment. Allotment of representative shall be guided by the following principles: (1) insure geographical breadth and (2) insure each department with at least ten full-time faculty has one senator before any department has two senators.

5.1.2.4        Section 113: Whenever academic colleges, division, or units are created or substantially changed, reapportionment shall occur as the terms of existing senators affected by the changes expire.

5.2                 Elections

5.2.1            Upcoming Elections: Peter Butko

5.3                 Ad hoc committee reports and liaison reports (AAUP and others):

5.3.1            Ad Hoc Committee on Credentials and Hiring and Tenure Processes: Susan Malone reported on the work of the Committee. She read from a statement composed by the Committee on the actions of the Committee. Please refer to the report on the Faculty Senate web site.

5.3.2            AAUP report from Bill Scarborough indicated that there will be a general meeting on the 23rd of March, 4:00 at a location TBD.

 

6.0                 Old Business

6.1                 Endorsement of NCAA request: deferred till the 26th of March meeting.

6.2                 Approval of Recommendation by (Bill Scarborough for Steve Oshrin) the Academic and Governance Committee (moved/seconded/passed by acclamation).

 

7.0                 Announcements: Darlys announced tickets to Psi Chi and Psychology Student Association activity at Gulf Park on March 27th; money will be used for scholarships. Dr. Henry thanked Noel Polk for his participation in recent events and Peter Butko for his rebuttal to the information sent out over USM Mail by Dr. Thames regarding termination of tenured faculty. A resolution for consideration for the March 26th meeting asking Dr. Thames to step down from the Presidency of the University given the recent events was offered. Bonnie Harbaugh requested that each Senator request from each respective College Information Officer the guidelines for appropriate use of university equipment.

 

8.0                 Adjournment 4:16