The University of Southern Mississippi

Faculty Senate Meeting

November 10, 2006

Union Hall of Honors

2:00 p.m.

 

 

1.0       Call to order:  2:03pm


2.0       Approval of June 9 and October 6, 2006 minutes:  Both minutes approved.


3.0       Approval of agenda:  Approval of agenda with revisions in Committee Reports – 6.10.1.1  President’s Council  Election of New Representatives and 6.10.2.1 University Planning Council Election of New Representative moved to 6.1.1 and 6.2.1


4.0       Officers' Reports
            4.1       President

4.1.1    Welcome to New Senators – Myron H. welcomed newly elected or re-elected senators:  Bob Press, Bonnie Harbaugh, Catherine Price, Julie Cwikla, Stephen Bushart, Paula Smithka, and John Hannon.

4.1.2    Update on Search Advisory Committee – Senators who participated in the IHL “Listening Sessions” the previous day gave brief impressions of the event.  Senators’ impressions were positive.

4.1.3    Resolution Congratulating William Carey’s 100 Anniversary – Stan Hauer introduced a letter for senate approval congratulating William Carey University on its 100th Anniversary.  Senators overwhelmingly approved the letter.

4.1.4    Handbook Committee Update   - Six issues were addressed by the Handbook Committee (some which will come back to senate):

1)  Shared Governance Policy will enter the handbook but it has not been decided what section to put it – in the front in the Governance section (role of president, etc); others wanted it in Academic Freedom section.

2)  Titles and Procedures for Research and Clinical Professors of Practice and Artisans in Residents is being sent to Council of Chairs for their input.

3)  Section on Third Year Review has been modified to incorporate wording that clarifies that Third Year Review is developmental

4)  Possible Change in Third Year Review Form – it has been proposed that the form change to reflect better the developmental aspect of the review.

5)  Reconciliation of the Faculty Handbook with the IHL Policy Granting Tenure to Incoming Faculty – our handbook says tenure may be granted after a faculty member has been here a year.  IHL policy changed to say that under special circumstances, a faculty member can come in right away with tenure.  Handbook needs to adjust to reflect this change.

6)  Salary Grievance Process - change was made in the handbook’s Grievance Policy to include salary grievances.

    4.2    President-Elect

4.2.1    Admissions Director Search – there is currently a search going on for the Admissions Director.  A faculty member raised a concern that the faculty member that was appointed to the search committee is a one year appointment faculty.  Stephen J. has been trying to find out who’s on the committee and how were they selected?  Stephen is trying to ascertain answers to this since this position is a very key position in the university and should have a tenure or tenure track faculty member on the committee and not necessarily one that is only here short-term.


            4.3       Secretary

4.3.1    Update on Ad Astra Committee – The Provost approved the formation of a committee to look at Astra.  Mary A. has put together and sent to the provost a list of members (a faculty and an administration secretary from each college) and the provost has approved the names and sent a list of others he would like to have on the committee.  The committee will be meeting soon.

 

As the point person for the Astra committee, Mary A. has also been the point person for a classroom space issue concerning the Polymer Science Auditorium.  Several classes have been scheduled in the auditorium this semester and are being asked to cancel or move their classes for events being scheduled into the auditorium.  The executive officers have brought this to the attention to the president and provost on numerous occasions and both have assured the executive officers that students and classes have priority.  The president asked the provost to take care of the matter and the provost assured us that he would but never did do anything concrete to take care of it.  Mary A. submitted a letter for senate consideration addressed to the president and provost expressing the senate’s concern (see appendix 1).  The motion to accept and send the letter was made, seconded and passed unanimously.

 

            4.4       Secretary-Elect

 

5.0       Discussion Items

5.1       Departmental Governance Options – Discussion of this issue began at last senate meeting.  What is the interpretation of the Faculty Handbook – is it really three options or two options with sub-options?  Currently, the issue is being examined by the Faculty Handbook committee and the university’s attorney.  After a long discussion, a motion was made that the senate’s Governance Committee look at the Faculty Handbook wording as it now stands and make a recommendation for new wording which clarifies or better expresses the original intent of the three governance options. 

5.2       Tenure Appeals to IHL – Myron H. stated that this issue is a personnel issue and asked if the senate would entertain a motion to go into executive session.  A motion was made, seconded and passed and the meeting was temporarily closed.  When the senate reconvened, Myron H. announced that the senate voted 23-10-1 to take action on the personnel issue.


6.0       Committee Reports

            6.1       President’s Council

6.1.1  Election of New Representatives – Volunteers were sought for two representative positions for the President’s Council.  The council typically meets once a month at 7am.  One senator expressed his disappointment that the PC was still functioning and that we were still supporting it as it was really established by the president to avoid working with the senate.  Another senator stated that it was actually a good opportunity for all factions of the university to communicate with one another.  There were no out-right volunteers though Larry Mead expressed some willingness.  Myron H. asked that others consider serving and notify him.  If two nominees were found, senators would be asked to vote electronically.

 

            6.2       University Planning Council

6.2.1  Election of New Representative – Don Redalje presently serves as coast rep. on this committee.  Dr. Exline asked the senate to select an additional representative.  This committee helped write the Strategic Plan.  It also helped complete SACS action items concerning the Strategic Plan (Don R. gave a handout from this process).  There are some new tasks and goals that the committee needs to address.  It doesn’t meet all that often but is a crucial committee concerning university planning.  Catherine Price was nominated from the floor.  Catherine Price stood for selection and was approved enthusiastically.  

6.3      Academic and Governance
6.4       Administration and Faculty Evaluations
6.5       Awards – Mary Lux has initiated discussion, through an email to the provost, about returning the faculty awards to the senate.  Nothing has happened yet.
6.6       Budget
6.7       Constitution and Bylaws – Randy Buchanan passed out a handout (Appendix 2) of some draft recommended changes to the senate’s Constitution and Bylaws concerning election procedures and voting eligibility qualifications.  Senators discussed the changes at some length.  Randy B. stated that the committee is still working on this draft and that he wanted to bring it to senate for comments.  Randy B. asked that senators send comments and feedback to committee members. 

6.8       Faculty Welfare
6.9       Government Relations
6.10     Technology
6.11     Elections
6.12     Other committee and liaison reports

6.12.1  AAUP – next meeting is November 15th.  AAUP was included as a representative member of the Presidential Search Committee.

6.12.2  Facility Management Planning Committee – Mary A. stated that the committee would soon be meeting to decide on draft proposals.

                        6.12.3  Alternative Learning Committee

                        6.12.4 Distance Education Committee

                        6.12.5  Faculty Handbook Committee

7.0       New Business

7.1       Dead Week Policy – Myron H. provided senators with a proposed “Dead Week Policy from SGA for senate review.  Also provided was a draft policy “Relief Days” developed by past senate president Dave Beckett and past SGA president Jonathan Krebs (July 2005).  Senators asked for electronic copies that they could send around to departments for feedback.  Randy B. stated that he would scan them in and make them available to senators on the senate web site.

7.2       Psychology clinic is still waiting for approval from the provost to advertise for positions.  This is becoming a serious issue as the department will be way behind in the hiring process.  The slowdown isn’t a monetary issue as the ads are paid for out of the faculty’s personal funds.  Myron H. asked if any other departments were having this issue.  Another department also stated that they were having this problem.

7.3       A senator stated that a few departments (such as music and theater) were required to attend an ethics and sexual harassment workshop.  The senator asked why all faculty were not required to attend.  Stephen J. responded that Becky Woodrick had given the reason that departments were invited that had unusual student/faculty interactions because of in the nature of their disciplines.

7.4       Julie Cwikla announced that the coast council committee would be distributing a letter soon concerning faculty evaluations and she would see that senators receive a copy for distribution in their colleges.

8.0       Old Business
9.0       Other
10.0       Adjournment 4:56pm

 

Appendix 1

 

 

Faculty Senate Motion to the President and Provost Expressing Continuing Concern about the Displacement of Scheduled Classes from the Polymer Science Auditorium

 

November 10, 2006


The Faculty Senate is very concerned about the number of forced relocations or cancellations of classes that had been assigned to the Polymer Science auditorium this semester.  Relocations and cancellations of these large classes are a direct result of the continued scheduling of other events in the auditorium.
 
Senate officers initially expressed their concerns regarding this issue to the President and Provost on October 10, 2006 and have since continued to express concerns in meetings and emails.  Each time, the President and Provost have assured officers that students come first and that classes scheduled in the Polymer Science auditorium would not be displaced by the subsequent scheduling of ad hoc events.   Nonetheless, relocations and cancellations of regular classes have continued. 
 
In an August 31, 2006 email to all deans, the Provost emphasized that “classes take priority” and that “students are the priority at Southern Miss.” Considering the assurances we have been given by the senior administration on this matter, we are disappointed that the displacement of regularly schedule classes from the Polymer Science auditorium has continued.  The Faculty Senate urges the administration to take the appropriate action to ensure that there are no more cancellations or relocations of classes from the Polymer Science auditorium during the remainder of the fall semester.  We further urge the administration to take immediate steps to ensure that this matter is not a recurring one in the 2007 spring semester.

 

Appendix 2

 

Report to the Faculty Senate

by the Constitution and Bylaws Committee

Friday, November 10, 2006

 

Members: Randy Buchanan, Cheryl Goggin, John Rachal, Paula Smithka

 

Committee Discussion Issues:

1. Election runoff procedures

2. Qualifications for voting eligibility, and consistency between serving and voting eligibility requirements

3. Composition of Senate in regards to academic units representation (work in progress; no discussion today)

4. Typographical and grammatical errors in constitution and bylaws (work in progress; no discussion today)

 

1. Election Runoff Procedures

Background: Due to current election guidelines in the Bylaws, spring elections may carry over into summer and fall semesters. In addition, some election process procedures are ambiguous or undefined.

 

Bylaws of the Faculty Senate

Division 1: Faculty Senate Elections

Article 6 Voting Procedures

 

Current Bylaws:

Section 344

Based on the distribution of votes cast for the first round of balloting in a given Senate representative election, the Elections Committee shall exercise its collective judgment in determining whether an additional round is necessary and the number of candidates to be listed on that ballot. The Elections Committee will also determine if a third round is necessary. At the end of each round, potential new members shall be contacted to determine their willingness to serve.

Section 345

A majority vote (one more than half of the valid votes cast) shall be required to elect a Senate representative on the first and second rounds of balloting. If a third round of balloting is required, the candidate or candidates receiving the greatest number of valid votes cast shall be declared the representative or representatives. A tie vote on the third round of balloting shall be resolved by lot by the Elections Committee.

 

Recommended changes in Bylaws:

(changes in italics)

Section 344

Based on the distribution of votes cast for the first round of balloting in a given Senate representative election, and given no candidate receives more than 50% of the valid votes cast, the two candidates receiving the most number of votes shall proceed to the second round ballot. At the end of the first round, potential new members shall be contacted to determine their willingness to serve. In the event a candidate is unable to serve, the candidate who receives the next higher number of valid votes will proceed. A third round will be necessary only in the case that the second round results in a tie.

Section 345

A majority vote (more that 50% of the valid votes cast) shall be required to elect a Senate representative on the first round of balloting. If a second round of balloting is required, the candidate or candidates receiving the greatest number of valid votes cast shall be declared the representative or representatives. If in the event of a tie, a third round of balloting is required. A tie vote on the third round of balloting shall be resolved by lot by the Elections Committee.

 

 

2. Voting Eligibility Qualifications, Consistency between Serving and Voting Eligibility Requirements

Background: Voting eligibility is defined differently in various parts of the constitution and bylaws, and recommended changes would bring consistency throughout.

 

Bylaws of the Faculty Senate

Division 1: Faculty Senate Elections

Article 4 Voter Eligibility

 

Current Bylaws:

Section 320

As prescribed in Section 130 of the constitution, only those individuals who are employed by USM and are full-time faculty or professional librarians without any qualifying designation such as "visiting," special," or "adjunct," shall be eligible to vote for representatives to the Senate.

 

Constitution of the Faculty Senate

Division 2: Membership

 

Current Constitution:

Article 1 Composition

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.

 

Article 3 Eligibility Requirements

Section 130

To be eligible for membership on the Senate, the faculty member must be an employee of USM and must be a full time member of the faculty without any qualifying designation such as visiting," "special," or "adjunct." Professional librarians are members of the faculty at USM.

 

Recommended Changes in Bylaws:

(changes in italics)

Section 320

As prescribed in Section 130 of the constitution, only those individuals who are employed by USM and are full-time faculty or professional librarians without any qualifying designation such as "visiting," special," or "adjunct," shall be eligible to vote for representatives to the Senate. And, as referred to in Section 110 of the constitution, the membership of the Senate, composed of the full-time faculties of designated academic divisions of the University with administrative rank no higher than Chair, shall be eligible to vote for representatives to the Senate.

 

3. Composition of Senate in regards to academic units representation

Committee work in progress; nothing to report at this time.

 

4. Typographical and grammatical errors in constitution and bylaws.

Committee work in progress; nothing to report at this time.

 

 

Members present and those absent [in brackets] but represented by proxy (in parentheses):

 

College of the Arts & Letters   

Anita Davis

Stan Hauer

Stephen Judd 

John Meyer

[Greg O’Brien] (Mary Beth Applin)

[Bill Powell] (Stan Hauer)

Bob Press

Paula Smithka

[Amy Young] (Dana Fennell)

 

College of Business

Stephen Burshardt

Scott Magruder

Catherine Price

 

College of Education & Psychology

Mary Ann Blackwell

Taralynn Hartsell 

Joe Olmi

Tony Rodriguez-Buckingham

[John Rachal] (Ann Blackwell)

 

College of Health

[Wendy Bounds] (Bonnie Harbaugh)

Bonnie Harbaugh

Mary Lux

Steve Oshrin

Tim Rehner

 

College of Coastal Science

Chet Rakocinski

Don Redalje

 

College of Science & Technology

[Jeff Evans] (Peter Butko)

Randy Buchanan

Jerry Griffith

John Hannon

Myron Henry

Larry Mead

Bobby Middlebrooks

[Gail Russell] (Mary Beth Applin)

 

University Libraries

Mary Beth Applin

Jay Barton Spencer 

 

 

USM-Gulf Coast

Julie Cwikla

 

 

 

Members Absent:

College of the Arts & Letters:

 Cheryl Goggin

 

College of Business:

Bill Gunther

 

College of Education & Psychology:

 

College of Health:

 

College of Coastal Science:

 

College of Science & Technology:

 

University Libraries:

 

USM-Gulf Coast:

Patsy Anderson

Darlys Alford