University
of Louisiana at Lafayette
Minutes of September 20, 2000
I. Call to Order Executive Officer Nancy Coghill
called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m.
II. The minutes of the April 26, 2000, Faculty Senate meeting were approved
as circulated.
III. Executive Officer Nancy
Coghill welcomed both returning members of the
Senate, newly elected members of the Senate, and Full Professors electing
active status. The list of Senate membership as well as a list of newly elected
members is attached. (Attachments #1 and #2) She also
welcomed visitors noting that the Constitution allows for visitors, requested
that visitors sign the roll as "guests," and reminded visitors that
they are not allowed to vote. She reported that, as per the Constitution,
members have pledged to attend at least half of the meetings and that the
quorum is based on 25 percent of membership. For this meeting the quorum is 30
based on the current membership of 119 which remains incomplete for one
college. Nancy
requested approval of the following meeting dates for academic year 2000-2001:
October 18, 2000; November 29, 2000; January 31, 2001; February 21, 2001; March
21, 2001; and April 18, 2001. Motion: Carolyn Bruder,
Mark Smith: I move that the listed meeting dates be approved. (Approved)
IV. Executive Officer Nancy
Coghill reported on her activities since the meeting
of April 26, 2000. (Attachment #3)
Secretary Ellen Cook made the following requests: that new Senate members
identify themselves when making and seconding motions; that motions be
submitted in writing; and that committee chairmen submit their reports in writing
(hard copy or electronic).
V. Reports of Senate Committees: Permanent Committees A. Committee on
Committees - Senator Terry Clement, Chair The
Committee submitted recommendations for committee vacancies. (Attachment #4)
Motion: The Committee recommends that Pete Dickerson and Fred Walters be
nominated to fill the vacancy on the Faculty Grievance Committee from the College of Sciences. (Approved) Motion: Gerald
Carlson, Joe Riehl: I move that Senator Mickey Byrd
be elected to the Faculty Advisory Council (FAC) Alternate position for a
period of one year as recommended by the Committee on Committees. (Approved)
The elections were conducted. (Attachment #5) A list of Permanent Senate
Committees is attached. (Attachment #6)
B. Ways and Means Committee - Senator William Rieck,
Chair -No report. C. Academic Planning & Development Committee - There is
currently no chair for this committee. A member will be asked to convene the
Committee for purposes of electing a chair. No report. D. Governmental Concerns
Committee - Senator Christian Okoye, Chair -No
report. E. Faculty Senate - Faculty Advisory Council Committee - Senator Harry Bruder, FAC Rep. (Attachment #7)
Joe Riehl, President of ALFS, reported on the efforts
to schedule a video teleconference with the Governor. He noted that the Faculty
Senate currently has no constitutional means of designating official representation
(a representative and an alternate) to ALFS and requested that such a mechanism
be considered. Executive Officer Nancy Coghill noted
that in the past the Executive Officer and Secretary were informally designated
as representatives. She referred the matter to the Ways and Means Committee
indicating that formalizing a selection process will become part of their
charge for the current year.
VI Report of Special Senate Committees A. Ad Hoc Committee
on Adjunct Faculty. Executive Officer Coghill
requested that Senator Thomas Davies convene the Committee to elect a new chair
due to the resignation from the university of former chair,
Senator Nicole Greene. B. Ad Hoc Web Site Committee: Jack Ferstel,
Chair. Senator Ferstel presented the framework for
the Web Site (Attachment #8)[Same as top-level page of
this Web Site]and requested electronic submission of reports. He noted that a
direct link to the Senate site would eventually be on the front page of the
University Web Page.
VII. Reports of University Committees A. Curriculum Committee. G. Blakewood, Chair--(Attachment #9) B. Faculty Grievance
Committee. Senator Nancy Coghill, Chair--No report.
C. Faculty Benefits and Welfare Committee. Senator Carol Venable, Chair-- No
report. D. Library Committee. D. Labbe, Chair--No
report. E. Committee on Academic Affairs and Standards. Senator Lewis Deaton,
Chair-- (Attachment #10) F. Parking and Planning Committee - L. Gastineau,
Chair--No report. G. Student Evaluation of Instruction Committee –A new
chair will be appointed shortly. No report.
VIII. Unfinished Business A. Vote on proposed amendments The following
amendment to the Faculty Senate constitution as presented at the April 26,
2000, meeting and as printed in the April 26, 2000, minutes circulated to the
faculty was presented by Judy Gentry as a representative of the Ways and Means
Committee. Motion: The Dean of the College
of General Studies shall
be a voting member of the Faculty Senate. (Approved)
IX. New Business A. Executive Officer Nancy Coghill
announced the vacancy for editor of Faculty Forum and charged the Ways and
Means Committee with writing a job description, interviewing applicants, and
making a recommendation for the position. She noted that the position carries a
one course load reduction and that former editor, Carolyn Bruder,
would work with the Committee. A link from the Faculty Senate web site to the
Faculty Forum was suggested. B. Executive Officer Nancy Coghill
reported that Dr. Authement requested that the
Faculty Senate address the problem of faculty members leaving the University at
or after the beginning of classes, and she referred the matter to the Academic
Planning and Development Committee. Joe Riehl
reminded the Senate that the AAUP policy on the matter had been approved by the
Senate about a year ago and that it would be appropriate for the Academic
Planning and Development to look at possible sanctions. He requested that the
Committee contact those who left the university without notice to determine the
reasons for departure. C. Executive Officer Nancy Coghill has
appointed a Faculty Club Steering Committee noting the possible use of the
French House as a Faculty Club. (Attachment #11) As a point of order, Senator
Berkeley asked whether a motion was needed from the Senate with regard to the
creation of such a Committee. Executive Officer Coghill
informed him that the Constitution authorizes such appointment and a motion is
not necessary. D. Phoebe Hayes reported on behalf of representatives from the
Dean's Council, Enrollment Management, Junior Division, and General Studies on
the loss of TOPS scholarships by University
of Louisiana at Lafayette students. She stressed the
importance of faculty being informed of the rules in order to properly advise
students. (Attachment #12) E. Crystal O'Leary of the Department of English
adjunct faculty reported on the failure of many adjuncts to be paid on the
published pay date and urged the Senate to take action in the form of the
resolution presented below: Senators Joe Riehl and Istvan Berkeley sponsored the resolution. RESOLVED: On
September 20, 2000, the Faculty Senate passed the following resolution(s): (1)
That the adjunct faculty receive immediate pay for their work (2) That the
university administration seek to explain and apologize for the failure to pay
the adjunct faculty on the pay date published by Business Services on August
18, 2000. (Approved) Crystal
also requested representation on the Ad Hoc Committee on Adjunct Faculty. F. Motion : Judy Gentry, Jim McDonald: I move that
the Faculty Senate request that the university administration immediately
initiate an investigation of the system for adjunct pay and prepare an adjunct
pay system that will prevent a repeat of this unacceptable failure of the
administration to pay the adjuncts on time. (Approved unanimously)
X. Adjournment was at 5:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Ellen D. Cook
Secretary
University of Louisiana
at Lafayette
Faculty Senate