Minutes of the Meeting of the Senate
of the Faculty
Thursday, September 13, 2001, 7:00 p.m., Room 213, Conner Hall
Meeting called to order with a quorum at 7PM
Present: M. Aiken, B. Barkdoll, L. Bombelli, J. Bradley, L. Bush, W. Y. Chen, D. Chessin, P. Cooker, A. Cooper, C. Cunningham, J. Czarnetzky, K. Dellinger, Rick Elam, R. Ethridge, A. Fisher-Wirth, R. Haws, G. Herrera, I. Labuda, F. Laurenzo, P. Malone, A. Mark, J. Martin, D. Nagal, R. Oliphant-Ingham, J. Reid, R. Riggs, J. Schetz, W. Steel, K. Swinden, M. Tew, T. Verlangieri, D. Wilkins, S. Wolcott
Absent: A. Ajootian, W. Cleland, Bobbie Krapels*, S.
Davis, C. Eagles, J. Ford*, K. McKee, D. Rock, M. Zarzeski
*Prior notification
I. Address by Provost Carolyn Staton
A. Salary
Tuition and enrollment went up this year, turning increases in
revenue into salary raises. Aiming for raises to take effect in
the end of October.
1. There will be a minimum of $1000 raise for ALL tenure track
faculties* (NOT merit based)
Decided on $1000 partially because insurance has gone up about
that amount since the last raise
*must have worked at the University of Mississippi for
one year
2. Additionally, salary increases will be given to faculty with
the greatest disparity compared to averages at peer institutions
3. Additionally, salary increases will be given to faculty to
address compression within units (merit based)
B. Student-teacher Ratio
1. The University has carved out money from the increases in revenues
($400,000) for teaching positions. Deans are now making applications
to the Provost's office. Will be decided by the middle of October.
The IHL is still holding back five percent of the current budget,
which is thus not available to the University.
2. The University can not "cap" enrollment; at a state
institution, if the student is qualified, s/he must be admitted.
Options to keep enrollment at 12,000 may include creating an application
deadline.
3. The University has begun its strategic planning process for
the new decade which will address what size University we want
to be.
C. Questions & Answers
Why is the Internet response rate so slow? Kathy Gates has
determined that the state-wide network is saturated. Part of our
problem is due to downloading music & films by students. IT
is considering gigabyte limit per day policy for the students.
What was the total amount of money available for raises? A
little less than a million dollars. Roughly half of that goes
to the $1000 per faculty raise then, much of the other half will
be spent on the departments with the worst disparities.
Will there be a reduction in the number of graduate degrees
the University offers? The Board has indicated that a graduate
program can have low enrollment in a department if that major
is part of your identity. However, the Board is creating a matrix
to measure PhD output and eliminating those with a low turnout
rate. The Board has released the data from this matrix and templates.
This evaluation/process is not technically part of the Strategic
Planning process but will run simultaneously, both under Maurice
Eftink. The University will advocate the programs we think are
good to the Board. Masters and PhD programs will be addressed
separately.
What are the changes in the Croft program? Croft is funded
by a percentage of the profits of an ongoing business and it didn't
do too well this year.
What is the status of the many 099 programs? Ole Miss is
under an unfunded mandate re: developmental classes, which costs
a quarter million per year. The Board won't budge due to the Ayers
case.
What is the official news on the Performing Arts Center architectural
plans? The new stage is too large for the theater arts department;
the architects are considering converting the planned rehearsal
room to make a smaller auditorium.
II. Announcements
A. Welcome new Senate members John Schetz, Rick Elam, Bobbie
Krapels
B. 2001-2002 Budget available in Chair Bush's office and
behind the reference desk at JD Williams library. Amendments to
the budget can be significant; these changes are penned in throughout
the year.
C. Discussion of difficulties with the campus bookstore (Barnes
& Noble)
Survey of Senators: resounding, yes, it is an issue and has been
a recurring issue for 3-4 years. This is the worst it's been.
Professors can tell students to order from the Internet but students
want to use their flex money.
Problems: orders the wrong thing; only orders 65%
of class enrollment; books don't come in on time; books not always
the best price; there is a lack of communication; the bookstore
never calls faculty back; athletes get a separate line that not
even faculty get during the first couple of weeks.
III. Old Business
A. Minutes of the May 10, 2001, Faculty Senate meeting approved
as corrected
minutes_20010500.html
B. Shortened Semesters: Report from Jeanette S. Martin,
Chair, Academic Support Services Committee
Shortened semesters are not a live issue at the moment.
C. Academic Administrative Search Procedures: Report
from Fred Laurenzo, Chair, Faculty Governance Committee
Summary of action thus far: the issue of new search protocol
has been in committee for almost 2 years, including the aim to
revise the handbook regulation on how search committees are formed
as well as term limits for administrators. The Governance Committee
came up with a document which was brought to the Executive Committee
but not to the Senate floor last spring. The Senate debate broke
down due to the large amount of confusing issues in a single document.
Also, all of these issues are volatile. Dr. Laurenzo has broken
up the document to separate the issues. Next the committee will
bring a proposal for term limits for Deans, Associate Deans, Directors
and Chairs to the Senate. Also, Senator Laurenzo will bring a
proposal to change the structure of how search committees are
chosen with more of the power shifted to the faculty.
These new documents will be posted on the website as part of the October agenda. Please review documents before the next meeting in preparation.
IV. New Business
A. Executive Committee Recommendation: that a draft "Mission
and Vision Statement," prepared by the administration as
a part of a university-wide planning process now getting underway,
be accepted only as a "working draft"
Senator Bradley made friendly amendment to add "only".
Recommendation passed by acclamation.
B. Announcement of selection of Professor Susan Wolcott, School of Business Administration, as the Senate's representative on the Environmental Assessment Task Force, created as a part of the new university-wide planning process.
C. Report and recommendations of the Committee on Committees regarding faculty appointments to standing university committees. See Attachment A The recommendations of the Committee on Committee were approved by acclamation.
D. Report from Executive Committee on Senate representatives
to standing university committees
Senator Barksdoll volunteered for the Faculty and Staff Appeals
Committee See Attachment B
E. Selection of Senate representative for vacancy on
Intercollegiate Athletic Committee (vice Robert Cook)
John Bradley was nominated by Phil Malone/Seconded by Robert Haws.
Elected by acclamation.
F. Reports from Chairs of Senate Standing Committees concerning activities and plans:
Meeting officially adjourned at 8:45 PM
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Recommendation of the Committee of Committees Faculty members to fill vacancies on University Standing Committees
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Representatives of the Faculty Senate Designees of the Executive Committee for 2001-2001 Although committee membership terms normally are for three years, September to September, the terms for Faculty Senate representatives is meant to be one year. The following people have been designated by the Executive Committee of the Faculty Senate to fill the current vacancies for representatives of the Senate:
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