The University of Southern Mississippi
Faculty Senate Meeting Minutes
April 13, 2007
Union Hall of Honors
2:00 p.m.
1.0 Call to order: 2:04 pm
2.0 Approval of past minutes: Move to accept by Redalje, second by Oshrin. Passed
3.0 Approval of agenda: move to accept by Hauer, second by Powell. Passed.
4.0 Officers Reports
4.1 President’s Report
4.1.1 Report on Cabinet and Meeting with President
4.1.1.1 Gulf Coast campus update. Dr. Henry reported that Dr. Thames discussed the locations that he understood were being considered. Additionally Thames indicated that the university and the primary insurance carrier came to an agreement of 23.2 million dollars would be forthcoming. Only after a settlement with the secondary insurance carrier would FEMA money be forthcoming. Dr. Patsy Anderson indicated that progress on Garden Park offices has been slow.
4.1.1.2 Trent Lott Center: President indicated that the first floor will be completed but that a budget of between six and seven million dollars was currently needed to complete construction.
4.1.1.3 Master Plan: Dr. Henry reported that Thames said that he expected the purchase of property across Fourth Street, north of the railroad would occur. Thames said he hoped to have the renovation of the Commons underway, as well as plans for a parking garage off Fourth Street for public parking.
4.1.1.4 Stadium expansion. Henry reported that Thames indicated that the shortfall for the stadium expansion would come from bonds and a bank loans.
4.1.1.5 Foundation fundraising. Henry reported Thames indicated that the Foundation fundraising was going well, but there were no large donors and money is not coming in as fast as he’d like. Thames indicated that fifteen million was raised last quarter.
4.1.1.6 Dr. Henry reported that Thames indicated that raises would occur. Thames also indicated that he intended to have the budget completed before he left office. (See discussion concerning raises in 6.0 New Business.)
4.1.1.7 Dr. Henry reminded senators that the May 4 meeting is at Gulf Park Holloway Center at 2:00. A van will be available. Pat Joachim and Richard Bass will kick off the meeting. The Gulf Coast Faculty Council has been invited to join the meeting.
4.1.1.8 Dr. Henry distributed the “Dead Week Policy” formulated by Student Government Association. Senators voted to strike the portion that required approval of Faculty Senate for exceptions and to substitute the chair for the dean for exceptions. Senators were to send in additional comments via the faculty senate listserve and he would forward recommendations to SGA.
4.1.1.9 Dr. Henry reported on the Presidential search process. He stated that the Search Advisory Committee was fully engaged by IHL board members and had numerous opportunities for input. SAC spoke to each of the finalists and all were strong candidates. Senators asked that Henry email Dr. Saunders and request a meeting with the executive committee.
4.2 President-Elect report
4.2.1 Professor Judd opened a discussion about inviting Dr. Saunders to the Faculty Senate retreat. He was authorized to issue that invitation to Dr. Saunders.
4.2.2 Judd stated that Faculty Senate might wish to review portions of the constitution to clarify Faculty Senate’s responsibilities and authority. Senators indicated that the Executive Committee make suggestions to be sent to Academic and Governance and Constitution and Bylaws committees.
4.2.3 Judd discussed the progress on the ELR inquiry, who had been interviewed and how the process of the appointment of the interim chair had appears to have occurred. The inquiry will continue with additional interviews. A follow-up report will be made in May.
4.2.4 Judd reported on the letter Faculty Senate executive committee sent to Mississippi Valley Faculty Senate
4.3 Secretary report: no report
4.4 Secretary-elect report: no report
5.0 Committee Reports
5.1 Academic and Governance: no report
5.2 Administration and Faculty Evaluations: Dr. Oshrin reported on the response rate (n=364). Coast senators indicated that they were not able to evaluate Provost Grimes but were given evaluation forms for Pat Joachim. Henry indicated that evaluations of Thames were delivered to Commissioner Meredith.
5.3 Awards: Dr. Lux indicated that the awards were approved by the President and notice was sent to HR for stipends. Awards will be presented Letters Day, August 30, 2007. Linda Pierce (English) will receive the Junior Faculty Teaching Award, Steven Stevenson (Chemistry) will receive the Junior Faculty Research Award. Bruce Tychinski (Music) will receive the Junior Faculty Creativity Award. Evanda Lyons (Nursing) will receive the Mentoring Award. Denise Brown (Nutrition) will receive the Community Service Award. Congratulations to all.
5.4 Budget: no report.
5.5 Constitution and Bylaws: no report
5.6 Faculty Welfare: Dr. Davis reported on working with Joan Exline and Russ Willis to set up a spreadsheet to evaluate salaries, SCHs, grants and other data. A discussion about dissatisfaction with FAR insued.
5.7 Government Relations: no report
5.8 Technology: report concerning the schedule for the Gulf Park library to open in October.
5.9 Elections: Smithka indicated that round two on elections was ready to go out.
5.10 Other committee and liaison reports
5.10.1 President’s Council: no report, no meetings
5.10.2 AAUP: AAUP Statewide Convention – meeting scheduled at Millsaps for April 28.
5.10.3 Facility Management Planning Committee: no report
5.10.4 Alternative Learning Committee: Powell indicated that deans will be voting on the proposal for salary adjustments next week and graduate students will be approved for stipends for mini-sessions.
5.10.5 Distance Education Committee: Powell reported on meetings with Sungard. One problem was that Sungard would be choosing which programs will be going online and objections about removal of Graduate and Academic Council on curriculum decisions were raised. Powel stated that WebCT had not been funded so far.
5.10.6 Faculty Handbook Committee: no report
5.10.7 Committee on Advisement: Hauer (chair) and Henry will meet with Dr. Grimes.
5.10.8 Evaluation of Teaching: no report
5.10.9 Academic/Graduate Council: Dr. Young reported on the problems with CISE attempting to offer an education course as a substitution for a psychology course was a misunderstanding of what a course substitution was. She indicated that the modification of curriculum needed to be brought before Academic Council. Dr. Evans reported that GEC feedback was due at the end of the semester.
5.10.10University Planning Committee: Redalje and others reported on the processes of budget planning was occurring and stated that the process was not working well. A general discussion of a perceived push to develop online programs and Sungard occurred.
6.0 New Business: Dr. Henry led discussion about how raises might be determined. After a discussion, Faculty Senate voted unanimously to push for a way for all faculty to receive a basic raise to help cover the rising cost of living.
7.0 Old Business: Dr. Henry is to complete a draft concerning reflections of events in Faculty Senate at USM over the past five years.
8.0 Adjourn: 4:32 p.m.
Respectfully submitted: Amy Young, secretary-elect