I. The meeting was called to order at 4:00 p.m. (39 Senators present)
II. The minutes of the September 22, 2004 meeting were amended as follows:
a. There is a typo on the last page. The year should be 2004-2005.
b. In section IX, the insurance is FARA
The minutes were approved as amended (Berkeley, Second)
III. Report of the Executive Officer – Mickey Byrd. Attachment 1
IV. Reports of Senate Committees: Permanent Committees:
A. Committee on Committees: Steve Knouse, Chair. Written report. Attachment 2
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.
FAC will meet next week and Sen. Bruder will present a resolution that cautions against misdirected and overzealous imposition of procedures to improve graduation retention rates at the expense of the quality of the student
VI. Reports of Special Senate Committees
A. Ad Hoc Committee on Adjunct Faculty: 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: No report.
E. Ad Hoc Committee to Revise Dismissal for Cause Procedures. John Greene, Chair.
The Committee is on the cusp of formulating a final draft.
F. Ad Hoc Committee on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity. Keith Dorwick Chair.
The committee is continuing to work, especially on producing and conducting a survey. This should be completed by the end of second semester
.G. Ad Hoc Committee on Sexual Harassment. Judy Gentry, Chair
The committee has been identifying people who can develop samples, have statistical skills or expertise in survey design. They would like permission to include non-senators on this. Permission given.
H. Ad Hoc Committee on the Status of Women No Report
VII. 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 from Committee, but Sen. Turner submitted a report of humidity and temperature conditions in the library. Things have improved but we are not in compliance yet. To his knowledge, no consultant has been brought in. See Attachment 3. .
E. Committee on Academic Affairs and Standards: Lewis Deaton, Chair Carolyn Bruder announced CAAS is working on a proposal on credit exams. Sen. Gentry added that the proposal is for 100-200 level courses with no term papers and no class projects. The students could just pay their money and take the exam. There is a prohibition against persons who took the class taking credit exams. Would like to change this. The goal is to maintain standards but not to make students sit through a class when they already know the material. Under the old way, a person had to provide a resume showing how they got their knowledge. Under the new system, they would just take the test.
F. Parking and Planning Committee: William Dudley, Chair. No report,
G. Student Evaluation of Instruction: James Flaitz, Chair. No report.
H. Academic Technology Committee. Keith Dorwick, Chair. The committee is continuing a survey of what technology is available.
VIII. Unfinished Business
IX. New Business
Sen. C. Bruder alerted the Senate to the University's participation in the UCLA Higher Education Research Institute Faculty Survey, which will appear in or mailboxes next week. She urges the faculty to participate. Results will not be seen by anyone on campus.
The Study Abroad program is offering programs in
Senator Gentry moved that the Senate encourage the Executive Officer to email all the faculty the endorse of the Senate of the Chronicle of Higher Education survey of faculty attitudes and encourage all faculty to fill out the survey and send it back, emphasizing its anonymity. Sen. Dorwick seconded. Passed.
Sen. Bridges raised the issue of the State-approved travel agency assessing an extra $35 if you wish to find your own airline and airfare. Their attitude is also bad. Sen. Ferguson moved that the issue of faculty travel expense inequities associated with the state travel contract be referred to the Governmental Concerns Committee with the charge that the committee draft a resolution which the Senate Chair can use brings before ALFS for the purpose of involving university faculty senates statewide in addressing the issue in the proper quarter. Seconded. Passed..
The Nurse Practitioners Association is hosting the 1 st Annual Lafayette Fitness Challenge on November 6. Attachment 4.
Sen. Berkeley moved that the UL Faculty Senate fully supports Professor Louis Houston and offers its best wishes at this difficult time. The Senate also looks forward to the time when Sen. Houston is able to return to his former position as our esteemed and valuable colleague. Seconded. After extensive discussion, a friendly amendment was offered to strike the second sentence. Sen. Berkeley agreed. The motion was passed, and a copy will be sent to Dr. Houston.
X. The meeting adjourned at 5:10 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Barbara Flynn
Senate Secretary