University of Louisiana at Lafayette Faculty Senate

Minutes of January 12, 2005

I. The meeting was called to order at 4:00 p.m. (32 Senators present).

II. The minutes of the November 2004 meeting were approved. (Berkeley, Second)

III. Report of the Executive Officer – Mickey Byrd

If I were king, bringing any technology on a campus more sophisticated than a number 2 lead pencil would be a felony. But I am not king and the genie is out of the bottle. We will be using Blackboard, or some such, until some well-meaning IT person develops something worse. The mother church across the river uses it, other colleges in Louisiana use it, and the people who pay the bills want it. I might suggest top you SNAFU and FUBAR as two words that may be of use to you in the coming semesters. I know some people who like Blackboard, but then again I know people who will like up to eat goose-liver on an unsalted cracker/ De gustibus non disputandum est, as we used to say in Oklahoma. We will also continue going to graduation. You may have noted that between the Cajundome and Souvenir Gate there is a little parking lot of about 50 spaces. Beginning this semester, those spaces will be reserved for faculty. Some progress is being made in regard to Social Security numbers when dealing with Parking and Transit. This is not malice, but inertia. I have been privileged to serve on the search committee for the Officer of Diversity. Thing are looking good and we should have a chance for a top-notch person. Nevertheless, I would like this body to establish a senate committee on diversity both oversee and encourage the new officer in his/her endeavors. During the break I had the opportunity to view all the old Arnold Schwarzenegger movies. I kept noticing a tall emaciated extra who had no speaking part. I knew him from somewhere. Finally I figured it out. With the use of modern technology I was able to put a turban and a beard on him/ Subsequent investigation has revealed that there is not now, nor has there ever been, an Osama bin Laden. Mel Gibson and others created that whole thing out of that tall silent extra. Case closed.

Questions were asked concerning the location of the parking lot and whether the faculty will be informed of this. Questions concerning the Officer of Diversity, which was formerly the Director of Minority Affairs. The new position will be broader.

IV. Reports of Senate Committees: Permanent Committees:

A. Committee on Committees: Steve Knouse, Chair. No Report

Jack Ferstel will have the membership of the Senate Committees on the Web soon.

B. Ways and Means Committee: William Rieck, Chair. No Report

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 Committee: Harry Bruder, Chair. Attachment 1

V Reports of Special Senate Committees

A. Ad Hoc Committee on Adjunct Faculty: James McDonald, Chair. No report

B. Ad Hoc Web Site Committee: Jack Ferstel, Chair. No report.

C. Ad Hoc Committee on the Faculty Club: Joe Riehl, Chair. No report

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

E. Ad Hoc Committee on Dismissal for Cause. John Greene, Chair. No report

F. Ad Hoc Committee on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Keith Dorwick, Chair

No report

G. Ad Hoc Committee on Sexual Harassment. Sen. Gentry, Chair. No report.

VI. Reports of University Committees

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

B. Faculty Grievance Committee: Ron Heady, Chair. No report.

C. Faculty Benefits and Welfare Committee: Melinda Oberleitner, Chair. No report

D. Library Committee: Allan Jones, Chair. No Report

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

F. Parking and Planning Committee: William Dudley, Chair. No report

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

H. Parking and Planning Committee. William Dudley, Chair. No report.

I. Academic Technology Committee. Keith Dorwick, Chair.

VII Unfinished Business

Nominations for Senate Officers slate: Theresa Price –Nursing, Harry Bruder – Liberal Arts, Steve Breaux – Arts, Julia Frederick – Liberal Arts, John Matese – Sciences, Nancy Coghill – Applied Life Sciences. Approved.

VIII. New Business

Sen. Gentry - Retention Committee may be recommending a change in absence policy. C, Bruder said this came from Sally Clausen. One of the possible actions had to do with attendance. It was to start requiring attendance again, but according to our Board rules this is impossible. We are not considering this. Sen. Gentry – could the information from the Retention Committee could this be posted on the Senate site. The Senate would like to be involved in the process rather than after the fact. Sen. Bruder thinks the committee may not be ready to come forward. She will try to post reports.

John Greene expressed concern about difficulties with textbook orders. Spirited discussion of problems involved, especially with University Bookstore. C. Bruder will try to have Tim McFarland from the Bookstore at the next meeting.

Sen. Gentry moved that the Faculty Senate create an ad hoc Committee on Diversity to work with the new UL Lafayette Office of Diversity and keep the Senate informed. Seconded by Berkeley . Discussion of whether it should be permanent or ad hoc. Passed.

X. The meeting adjourned at 4:40 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Barbara Flynn

Senate Secretary