University of Louisiana at Lafayette Faculty Senate

Minutes of April 21, 2004

I. The meeting was called to order at 4:00 p.m. (44 Senators present).

Before the regular meeting began, Dewayne Bowie, Registrar, responded to questions from the faculty concerning deadlines for submitting grades. In some cases, there are only 30 hours after the final in which to submit grades. If the final is based on essay questions this is almost impossible. Since the grades will now be input into the system by the faculty themselves, rather than the Registrar's office, could this time be used by faculty to have three days after a final to submit grades? There are some problems with this, particularly checking that students about to graduate be cleared early. Bowie suggested eliminating Dead Day. The faculty disagreed. It was also pointed out that with the new system, you can put in grades early, save them and change them later if necessary. A settlement was reached, giving staggered deadlines for grades, with the last deadline being close of business on Monday. Questions were raised about security and about training the faculty to enter grades. Bowie assured the faculty that grades will be secure. Training will be held during the summer and in the fall. Grades will continue to go to ISIS for purposes of advising.

II The minutes of the March 24 meeting were approved.

III Report of the Executive Officer – Mickey Byrd.

The three most important areas for the incoming year are budget, budget and budget. I do not understand the ins and outs of state budgets, much less the Louisiana state budget. It does appear there are holes in the budget as yet undreamed of by mere mortals. Medicare, Medicaid, or anyhow, medi-something seems to be the root of the evil. If the worst were to happen, a hole will appear in this year's budget in early June. These consist of unfunded mandates, primarily the University's share of retirement costs, continues to rise. We will know more about the last of supply, I suspect. The coming year might be a good time to push for those things that will improve the quality of life for faculty but do not cost a good deal of money. We all know about those things we have asked for in the past but have not received either because some abstruse principle was involved or perhaps through general contrariness. Please be thinking about it over the summer. I am glad to report that I have determined the undisclosed location of Osama bin Laden. Sheer induction has done the trick. It has to be some place that you have to pay to get into. It has to be someplace that allows you to do nothing once you are there. It has to be some place where absolutely nobody will ever remember that you were there. With that it is obvious. He is in the Texas Air National Guard

IV. Reports of Senate Committees: Permanent Committees:

A. Committee on Committees: Steve Knouse, Chair. The slate for University committees was presented. There are two names for each committee vacancy. The administration will make the final choices. Sen. Gentry moved approval of the slate. Seconded and passed unanimously.

Sen. Berkeley asked about three new committees having to do with technology. There is now a permanent Academic Technology Committee, fully staffed.

B. Ways and Means Committee: Judy Gentry, reporting. Written Report Attachment 1

C. Academic Planning and Development Committee: George Thomas, Chair. No report.

D. Governmental Concerns Committee: Christian Okoye, Chair. No Report

E. Faculty Senate-Faculty Advisory Council. Harry Bruder, Chair Written Report. Attachment 2

V Reports of Special Senate Committees

A. Ad Hoc Committee on Adjunct Faculty: Nichole Stanford, Chair. .

Brought up three issues.

1.There was a previous suggestion to give adjunct faculty a pay raise to the level of new instructors This is reiterated. Put it form of a motion that there be a pay raise for adjunct faculty to the level of new instructors. Seconded Friendly amendment to add the words per course. Passed unanimously

2. That we move to allow adjunct faculty to take classes at a discount in tuition for the first three years, and at no tuition after three years of service as adjunct faculty. Seconded. Discussion of specific wording of motion. Original motion as reported by the committee passed unanimously

3.We move that adjunct faculty pay an amount for their parking permits that is in proportion to their time spent on campus and we refer this issue to the consideration of the parking committee. Seconded. Passed.

4. Later in the meeting, during unfinished business the chair of the committee remembers another motion: That the Business Office keep a complete list of Adjunct Faculty and their contact information. A friendly amendment was made and accepted that Business Office be changed to Faculty Development Office. Seconded. Passed. unanimously.

B. Ad Hoc Web Site Committee: Jack Ferstel, Chair. Written report. Attachment 3.

C. Ad Hoc Committee on the Faculty Club: Joe Riehl, Chair.

We have the permission of the students to use space in the Student Union and the renovated Student Union for a faculty club.

•  Ad Hoc Committee on Graduate Student Housing Concerns. Karl Volkmar, Chair. No report

•  Ad Hoc Committee to Revise Dismissal for Cause Procedures. John Greene, Chair.

The Committee has met and is making progress.

VI. Reports of University Committees

A. Curriculum Committee: Paula Broussard, Chair. No report.

•  Faculty Grievance Committee: Ron Heady, Chair. Written Report Attachment 4

Sen. Gentry remarked that she hoped that in the next two year report will show the President will under usual circumstances concur with the judgment of the committee

C. Faculty Benefits and Welfare Committee: Melinda Oberleitner, Chair. Written Report Attachment 5

D. Library Committee: John Greene.

The committee met and chose the winner of the 2004 Jefferson Caffery Competition. This year's winner is Eric J. Rivet for his essay entitled “Training for War, Preparing for Peace: the Navy v12 program at Southwestern Louisiana Institute, 1943-1946. Honorable Mention was given to Yvonne Brown for her essay “Tolerance and Bigotry in South West Louisiana: Ku Klux Klan in the 1920s.”

E. Committee on Academic Affairs and Standards: Lewis Deaton, Chair No Report.

F.  Parking and Planning Committee: No report

G. Student Evaluation of Instruction: James Flaitz, Chair. No Report

VII Unfinished Business

A. Sen. Dorwick reported that the Ad Hoc Committee on Charges for the newly created committees on sexual harassment, the status of women and sexual orientation and trans-gender issues have met and will finish their work. Their report is Attachment 6 The report includes the charges for each committee and also includes one two part motion:

1.That the Faculty Senate charge the Ad Hoc Faculty Senates Committee on Sexual Harassment of Women, the Ad Hoc Faculty Senate Committee on the Status of women and the Ad Hoc Faculty Senate Committee on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity as detailed in the reports issued by the Ad Hoc Faculty Senate Committee on Charges on April 21, 2004. Seconded. Passed. Unanimously

2.That the Faculty Senate dissolve the Ad Hoc Faculty Senate Committee on Charges to AD Hoc Committees Sexual Harassment, Status of Women, and Sexual Orientation and Transgender Issues without further action by the Faculty Senate upon the naming of committee members to the three new Ad Hoc Faculty Senate Committees created by the Faculty Senate at the end of this current semester. Seconded. Passed. Unanimously.

The executive Officer appointed Sen. Dorwick chair of the Ad Hoc Committee on Sexual Orientation and Transgender Issues. Sen. Gentry is chair of the Ad Hoc Committee on Sexual Harassment and the Executive Officer will ask Sen. Ridgeway to chair the Ad Hoc Committee on the Status of Women.

B. Sen. Gentry moved that the Faculty Senate request the Secretary of Faculty Senate to let the record show that prior to the discussion today Mr. Dewayne Bowie, Registrar agreed that he would arrange it so that grades for final exams scheduled Tuesday through Thursday would be due the following Monday at 10 a.m. and that grades for exams scheduled on Friday and Saturday would be due the following Monday at 5 p.m. Seconded. Passed

C. Questions concerning the Academic Planning and Development Committee and its consideration of distance learning. There is confusion about whether committee should continue investigating distance learning or whether this has been taken over by the Academic Technology Committee. Sen.C. Bruder reported there are now three committees established for technology.One is the Academic Technology Committee. The other two are Ad Hoc Committees. One deals with the tech aspect of the problem, and other is devoted to training the faculty. Distance learning will be a subset of the Academic Technology Committee. Sen. Gentry moved that the Faculty Senate absolved the Academic Planning and Development Committee of the need to examine the issues in the establishment of the Academic Technology Committee. Seconded. Passed. Sen. Bruder will e-mail the Executive Office the charge for the Academic Technology Committee

D. There is a minor change on p. 3 of the Ways and Means Committee report. While it is true that after changing the CLID the faculty member MAY change his Cajun Card number, unless he or she does change the Cajun Card, the change of CLID will make no difference.

E. If anyone has access to documents on Distance Education, send the information to Keith Dorwick.

VIII New Business

•  Sen. Berkeley moved that the Faculty Senate unequivocally support the students of the Philosophy Department and urges the Administration to defend its majors to the Board of Regents in the strongest possible manner. Seconded. Passed unanimously

•  Sen. Cicardo spoke on insurance. There are still many problems and lack of communication.

IX. Adjournment. The meeting was adjourned at 5:30 .

Respectfully submitted,

Barbara Flynn

Secretary