October 22, 2003
I. The meeting was called to order at 4:00 p.m. (48 Senators present).
II. The minutes of the September 17, 2003 meeting were approved.
III. Report of the Executive Officer - Mickey Byrd
Introduced newly elected Senator Gwen Fontenot from the
Early in the summer the changes in Grievance procedures sent by the Senate to the Administration were approved by the Administration. A part of these changes was a mediation committee. Anne Keaty, Barbara Conner and Wilmer McNair were appointed to this committee and did deal with one case during the summer, which has since moved on to a formal grievance. Byrd asked the consent of the Senate to ask these people to stay on and to train a cadre of mediators for future cases.
University Council has considered the financial outlook for the University. It is not good. They are expecting fiscal problems due to lack of bailout money and the election of a new Governor. A $600 million shortfall is to be expected. Health and Education are the only two agencies vulnerable for this kind of cut. Education has been protected for the last few years, but Health can't continue to take the cuts. All departments are being asked to prepare contingency plans for a 4% budget cut for 2004-2005.
Dr. Authement has authorized a new position in the Business Office in the area of payroll, which should allow those faculty members who wish it to be paid 12 months of the year. This will probably be most useful for new faculty members.
The Administration has amended the Technology Committee proposal and looked at a proposal for remediation of faculty who have received extremely low evaluations. More on that at another time.
The Ad Hoc Committee on Graduate Student Housing was inactive over the summer. We should hear a report at the November meeting.
The proposed Sexual Harassment Committee was accepted by the Administration without emendation.
The Senate last time considered matters concerning the DROP program. The situation was referred to the Faculty Welfare Committee. It has been moved to the Faculty Advisory Council.
Senator Gentry asked if the twelve month pay period will be an option, with people free to choose 10 or 12 month periods. It will be an option if it comes to pass. Senator Gentry said this will be one time when the Faculty Senate's work comes to fruition in an action taken in accordance with what we recommended.
IV. Reports of Senate Committees: Permanent Committees:
A. Committee on Committees: Terry Clement, Chair.
An election to fill vacancies on Senate Committees was held. The results will
be tallied and sent to the Secretary. (See Attachment 1.)
In addition FAC needs an alternate. In a voice vote Harry Bruder
from Liberal Arts was elected FAC Representative and Bruce Turner from the
Library was elected as alternate.
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. The FAC will meet tomorrow and Friday. Refer to the printed revision of
his oral report of last month. It is much tighter. Item 18 will be discussed at
the upcoming meeting. It is being considered by the system and has not been
mentioned to FAC.
VI. Reports of Special Senate Committees
A. Ad Hoc Committee on Adjunct Faculty: Sen. 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. The committee has met and is going ahead with
the Articles of Incorporation. The official name will be Faculty Association of
the
D. Ad Hoc Committee on Graduate Student Housing Concerns: No report.
E. Ad Hoc Committee to Revise Dismissal for Cause Procedures. Have had a meeting and sketched out plans.
VII. Reports of University Committees
A. Curriculum Committee: Paula Broussard, Chair. See Attachment 2
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. Sen. Byrd reported problem of the security of books in the library has been dealt with.
E. Committee on Academic Affairs and Standards: Lewis Deaton, Chair The committee has recommended that the Academic amnesty policy be changed from 5 years to 3 years
F. Parking and Planning Committee: William Dudley, Chair. No report but there will be one at the next meeting
G. Student Evaluation of Instruction: James Flaitz, Chair. No report.
VIII. Unfinished Business
IX. New Business
Senator McDonald moved that the Executive Officer should request an explanation
of the problem of tar drops falling on cars in
Sen. Gentry noted that her Social Security Number is still on her ID Card. She would like the Faculty Senate Welfare and Benefits Committee to inquire into the status of the University effort to remove all social security numbers or parts of them from all but personnel and insurance records. Passed by voice vote.
Sen. Bruder asked what he should discuss with FAC
concerning DROP. He is to see if there are problems on other campuses.
.
X. The meeting adjourned at 4:35 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Barbara Flynn
Senate Secretary