Wednesday , November 29, 2000
I. The meeting was called to order at 4:01 P.M.
II. The minutes of the October 18, 2000, Faculty Senate meeting were approved as circulated.
III. Report of the Executive Officer–Nancy Coghill. The Executive Officer recognized Pat Robertson for her service as Secretary of the Faculty Senate for 1999-2000. The Executive Officer reported actions on two items: (1) The official calendar for Fall 2001 (Attachment #1) as circulated by the administration includes a two-day fall holiday (Thursday/Friday rather than Monday/Tuesday as recommended by Senate) as endorsed by the Senate; (2) A letter of support for later dormitory closures was sent to the SGA but, to date, no response has been received. Changes in the calendar may impact how the policies may be changed to meet student needs. Senator Gentry, as a representative of the Centennial Committee, issued an invitation to all faculty to attend the last Centennial event, the planting the first five of the 40 "Second Century Oaks" on January 1, 2001, at 10:00 a.m. at Abdalla Hall located at the intersection of Cajun Dome Boulevard and Devalcourt.
IV. Reports of Senate Committees: Permanent Committees A. Committee on
Committees: Terry Clement, Chair. (Attachment #2).
Motion 2000-11-12: The Committee is seeking approval for the following
replacement on the Faculty Grievance Committee representing the
V Report of Special Senate Committees A. Ad Hoc Committee on Adjunct Faculty: Lewis Gale, Co-Chair. No report. The Committee is preparing to survey adjunct faculty. B. Ad Hoc Web Site Committee: Jack Ferstel, Chair. No report. C. Ad Hoc Faculty Club Steering Committee: Duane Blumberg, Chair.
VI Reports of University Committees A. Curriculum Committee: Jackie Robeck, Chair. (Attachment #5). B.
Faculty Grievance Committee: Nancy Coghill, Chair.
Executive Officer Coghill, in her role as chair of
the Faculty Grievance Committee, responded to the Senate's October request for
information on Committee action of the past five years and the final
determinations of those recommendations by the President of the University. She
reported that there are no official records kept and, therefore, no statistics
on the information requested exists. She informally polled chairs of the past
15 years to get a sense of what has happened. The sense is that since the late
70s or early 80s of those recommendations submitted to the administration, 50+ percent
have been accepted and a high percentage of the other 50 percent were
negotiated for a positive change. She noted that the trend has been fairly
consistent and that the rate of acceptance of recommendations does not appear
to have changed over the past 15 years. Motion 2000-11: Judith Gentry, John
Greene: I request that the Faculty Senate ask the Faculty Grievance Committee
to ascertain to the extent it can the number of recommendations made to the
President, the number with which the President has concurred, partially
concurred, or rejected in the last two years (or three years, if possible).
(Approved unanimously) C. Faculty Benefits and Welfare Committee: Carol
Venable, Chair. Senator Cook reported that the Committee with Professor Rhyne had met with Mr. Gastineau regarding faculty ID
cards. Mr. Gastineau is willing to make changes and is currently working on a
template which includes the necessary information which will be reviewed by
Professor Rhyne and Committee members. The Committee
should have a final report on this issue next month. D. Library Committee:
Dolores Labbe, Chair. (Attachment
#6). Professor Labbe specifically addressed
the Senate's request for information regarding book theft during construction.
Following discussion, Senator Triche reported that
library personnel are investigating ways to do a complete inventory of the
holdings, and Senator Turner reported that to date there have been no rare
books reported missing. E. Committee on Academic Affairs and Standards: Lewis
Deaton, Chair. No report. F. Parking and Planning Committee: Lucien Gastineau,
Chair. No report. The Executive Officer was asked to write a letter of thanks
to the Parking and Planning Committee for the improvements made to the
crosswalks on
VII Unfinished Business A. Reorganization of Graduate School under Vice President of Research: The Executive Officer reported that the Liaison Committee had met with Dr. Authement in the summer as requested by the Senate. The Committee recommended that Dr. Authement write a memo to the faculty explaining the changes and reasons for the changes. Senator Triche, who is Chairman of the QSN Committee for the Vice President of Research and a member of the Liaison Committee, agreed to write the memo which he and the President will sign. The Senate will continue the discussion at the January meeting after the memo has been circulated.
VIII New Business A. Task Force to Study the State Employees Group Benefits Program. Senator Cicardo urged the members of the Senate to contact the Governor and their legislators to request that the Governor appoint the higher education representative on the Board of the State Employees Group Benefits Program to the Task Force formed to reorganize the Program. Motion 2000-11-15: Judith Gentry, Jim McDonald: I move that the Faculty Senate ask the Senate Executive Officer to write the Governor, local legislators, and senators requesting that the elected higher education representative be included on the New Task Force to Study the State Employees Group Benefits Program. (Approved) Motion 2000-11-16: Judith Gentry, Leslie Bary: I move that the Faculty Senate ask the Senate Executive Officer to write ALFS requesting its aid in getting other Faculty Senates to make the same request (that is, to write the Governor, local legislators, and senators requesting that the elected higher education representative be include in the New Task Force to Study the State Employees Group Benefits Program). (Approved) Senator Cicardo will provide further information on insurance issues through the Faculty Senate list serve.
IX The meeting was adjourned at 5:18 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Ellen D. Cook. Secretary