4/7/06 Administrative Council Meeting Minutes

 

In attendance: Dr. Anne Balazs, Stephanie Brady, Dr. Eric Daffron, Nicole Dilg, Dr. Patricia Donat, Dr. Jim Fitzgerald, Melanie Freeman, Dr. Sam Gingerich, Gail Gunter, Dave Haffly, Chris Holland, Dr. Hal Jenkins, Larry Jones, Dr. Claudia Limbert, Cay Lollar, Frank McClinton, Patsy McDaniel, Nora Miller, Tonya Moak, Anika Perkins, Mary Margaret Roberts, Perry Sansing, Calvin Sellers, Wahnee Sherman, Susan Sobley, Dr. Bucky Wesley, and Sam Wise.

 

Absent: Dr. Sheila Adams, Angie Atkins, Dr. Suzanne Bean, Andrea Holcombe, Dr. Bridget Pieschel, Dr. Tom Richardson, Amy Swingle, and Dr. Tom Velek.

 

Dr. Claudia Limbert called the meeting to order.

 

1.                  The minutes from 3/3/06 were approved.

 

2.                  Purpose of Administrative Council - This was the first meeting of the expanded Administrative Council. Dr. Limbert reminded the group that the purpose of this expanded group is to enhance communication on campus and enable us to do a better job as the university serves its many publics. The group will share information and discuss upcoming events and issues that cut across the campus community.

 

3.                  IHL Best Practices - Dr. Limbert announced that MUW won second place for its “creating cost effective public network” submission. Larry Jones explained that he and others in Computing Services were concerned about the students’ increasing internet use and how it would affect the security of the administrative system. The university created a public network for students by bundling five DSL lines through BellSouth. This allows the university to keep the public network separate from the administrative system.

 

4.                  Budget update - Nora Miller said IHL has received a 15 % increase in appropriations from the state legislature, which is the largest increase in years. We are waiting to see how the 5% increase for salaries will be directed. The 15% increase that has been reported is for the entire IHL system, and much of that is earmarked for the University of Mississippi Medical Center and other separately budgeted units. MUW's increase will fund the 5% salary increase and also includes $6,000 increases for all nursing faculty fte and increases in insurance and retirement. Even though our university is receiving an increase, the money is appropriated for specific things and this will not help us with increasing operating costs of the university, such as an expected increase in our utilities and the need to have insurance to meet FEMA requirements. We will know more about our budget situation after a meeting next week and the IHL Board meeting later in the month. We need to greatly increase our student hours to participate in extra money from IHL because of the IHL funding model. We may need to increase tuition to help cover additional costs.

 

5.                  Honors at Graduation - Dr. Limbert notified the group that honorary doctorates will be awarded to Leslie Threadgill and Corinne Pierce, both of the class of 1952. Medals of Excellence will be awarded to June Debatin, Martha Jo Mims, Lewis Mallory, Bill Threadgill, and Marsha Barbour because of her work after Hurricane Katrina.

 

6.                  Visit from Cochran Staffers - Perry Sansing reported that two staff members from Senator Thad Cochran’s office will visit the campus next week to go through some of our facilities, including Cochran Hall, and to hear about our needs.

 

7.                  Weather - Chief Calvin Sellers said Emergency Management is having a meeting at 9 a.m. to discuss the potential for bad weather today. A message will be sent out as soon as more information is available.

 

8.                  Parking - Chief Sellers announced that there is a lot of available parking around Taylor and Keirn now that the Nursing programs have moved to Martin Hall. His office is considering free parking for faculty and staff in this underused area. The idea of a parking garage has been researched. It would cost $12,000-$15,000 per spot for a parking garage vs. $1,500 per spot for a regular lot. He said there have been some complaints about buses parking in the front entrance drive during elementary school events in Whitfield, but he said they do not stay there for the entire event. They are only there to unload and load. He knows this is an inconvenience, but there is no better way to do this and to insure the safety of these children on our campus. Ms. Miller suggested prior notification be given to the campus about these events.

 

9.                  Gates - Chief Sellers said his major concern with the gates is the safety of the campus. Currently the walk through gates are open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., and the drive through gates are open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. He thinks this is reasonable and gives his department the ability to know who is coming on our campus after hours. If a special event is happening and his department is notified, they can keep the gates open later. Dr. Bucky Wesley pointed out that many classes don’t dismiss until 9 p.m. and then many student meetings start after that and don’t end until 10 p.m. or later. This means that these students can not get into the walk through gates except at the front entrance. Susan Sobley asked and Chief Sellers confirmed that we do still have a night escort service. It was decided that the walk through gates will remain open until 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 10 p.m. Friday through Sunday on a trial basis.

 

10.              IHL Board meetings on campus - The group was reminded that the IHL Board of Trustees will hold their monthly meetings on our campus April 19-20. During those two days, the parking lot beside Cochran Hall, which is where most of the meetings will take place, will be reserved for IHL people. Students will be allowed to park in green spots for those two days since the majority of parking spots beside Cochran are for students. Perry Sansing asked Chief Sellers and Chris Holland to get together about notifying the students that they will not be able to park in the lot beside Cochran for those two days and that their vehicles will need to be moved on April 18.

 

11.              Homecoming - Patsy McDaniel reported that Homecoming is set for April 19-23. About 60 events are planned, and they are expecting approximately 1,000 alumni.