Minutes of November 14, 2001
I. The meeting was called to order at 4:02 p.m. (48 Senators present).
II. The minutes of the October 17, 2001 meeting were approved.
III. Report of the Executive Officer -- Wilmer MacNair. The Executive Officer announced the Senate would return to 101 Wharton for the spring semester. He also reported that Vice President Blanco said the university had already approved extending the deadline for vacating dormitories to 24 hours after the last examination is given. The Executive Officer said he attended the ALFS annual meeting where most of the discussion concerned funding for higher education in the state. He indicated that the agenda did not come from the senates represented (Attachment #1).
IV. Reports of Senate Committees:
Permanent Committees:
A. Ways and Means Committee: William Reick, Chair. No Report.
B. Academic Planning and Development Committee: Demetrios Kazakos, Chair. No Report.
C. Governmental Concerns Committee: Christian Okoye, Chair. No Report.
D. Faculty Senate-Faculty Advisory Council Committee, Harry Bruder, Chair. Senator Bruder said the FAC was told that Stephen Perry predicts a 2-3 percent raise for faculty and professional staff, a decrease in out-of-state tuition, and a 3 percent general increase to cover health benefits and civil service pay increases. Senator Bruder also said that LSU is moving toward exiting the Group Benefits model. (Attachment #2).
V. Reports of Special Senate Committees
A. Ad Hoc Committee on Adjunct Faculty: Lewis Gale, Chair. No Report.
B. Ad Hoc Web Site Committee: Jack Ferstel, Chair. No Report.
C. Ad Hoc Committee on Campus Equity Week: James McDonald, Chair. Senator McDonald reported that based on news coverage Campus Equity Week had been successful. Petitions had been sent to Dr. Clausin, Dr. Savoi and the governor.
D. Ad Hoc Committee on Faculty Grievance Procedures: John Greene, Chair. Senator Greene reported that the committee had received many comments on its original proposal and that the committee would meet again and report at the next meeting.
E. Ad Hoc Committee on the Faculty Club: Paulette Hebert, Chair. No Report.
VI. Reports of University Committees
A. Curriculum Committee: Jackie Robeck, Chair. Dr. Robeck submitted a written report (Attachment #3).
B. Faculty Grievance Committee: Nancy Coghill, Chair. Dr. Coghill sent a written report indicating that no hearings had been held.
C. Faculty Benefits and Welfare Committee: Carol Venable, Chair. Senator Venable reported that notices had been sent about retirement workshops (Attachment #4).
D. Library Committee: Dolores Labbe, Chair. No Report.
E. Committee on Academic Affairs and Standards: Lewis Deaton, Chair. Senator Deaton said no meetings had been held.
F. Parking and Planning Committee: Lucian Gastineau, Chair. No Report.
G. Student Evaluation of Instruction: Henry Heatherly, Chair. No Report.
VII. Unfinished Business Senator Gentry moved and Senator Cicardo seconded: that the Faculty Senate’s Executive Officer is requested to publicize the new deadline for vacating dormitories to relevant affected individuals and organizations and to encourage the editor of the Vermilion to run a story on the policy [exact wording attached]. The motion passed unanimously (Attachment #5). The Senate was informed that the Ad Hoc Committee on Campus Equity Week is still a functioning committee.
VIII. New Business Senator Cicardo announced that a draft of next year’s Group Benefits Plan is in the Dupré Library Reserve Room and cautioned that dependent coverage may be assessed differently. She suggested that rates should be available by February or March, because open enrollment is in April and indicated that a retirement loophole protected retirees who were eligible in 1985.
IX. The meeting adjourned at 4:52 p.m.
Respectfully submitted, Janet A. Bridges Senate Secretary