MUW Faculty Senate
April 29, 2005
Approved: September 23, 2005
Members present: Lea Helen Evans, Pres. (ED/HS); Jimena Aracena, VP (S/M); Brian Anderson, Sec. (HU); Richard Bailey (FPA); Shawn Dickey (FPA); Richard Holden (ED/HS); Ellen Jackson (H&K); Scott McKenzie (IS); Bonnie Oppenheimer (S/M); Glenn Rhyne (B&C); Van Roberts (B&C); Theresa Sparks (NU); Tom Velek (HU); Cathy Young (LIB)
Guest present: Sam Gingerich (Provost/VPAA); Chris Holland (Director, Community Living); Genja Jamison (Coordinator, Community Living)
Member absent: Linda FortJ (NU)
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1. The meeting was called to order at 12:15pm.
2. No new agenda items were added.
3. The meeting agenda was adopted by unanimous vote.
4. The April 1 minutes were approved unanimously with one change: to reflect that the Senate did vote unanimously on April 1 to approve the ad hoc committee’s changes to PS 1303, 1304, 1312, and 3528.
* Community Living: presentation by Mr. Holland
a. Who is Community Living? CL was formerly known as Residence Life, and it will be at the center of MUW’s move toward learning communities in the coming years. CL has an administrative staff in place and will hire graduate directors (probably grad students from MSU) to live in the residence halls.
b. What are CL plans for the future? CL needs to expand beyond social programming to integrate academic/educational opportunities for students–in line with true learning communities around the country. This is especially important for the Honors learning community, but it will be pursued with the other “communities of interest”. CL wants a more active campus: a Family Weekend? a Little Sibling Weekend? community service opportunities?
c. What CL resources will be offered to students besides the focused living environment? CL is looking to restore the campus readership service (subscriptions to the Clarion-Ledger, USA Today, etc.) and realize long-term cost savings by moving from land lines to voice-over IP–possibly a move to wireless capability as well. Purchases of laptop computers is being considered. CL also plans to bring a dry cleaning service to campus. And, of course, completion of the new recreation center will be a big plus.
d. Discussion: Velek–We have 535 students living on campus now. What are CL’s goals regarding numbers and how to accommodate them? Holland–We are hoping for 700 on campus. This number may seem small, but the facts are that only 50-60 traditional students per class do not live on campus, and we have few on-campus options for non-traditional students. Velek–There was talk of converting the Barrow School (currently the physical plant offices/workshop) into condominium-style housing. Holland–I have not heard much about that plan. The first priority is to reorient the halls: freshmen will be moved out of Calloway and housed on south campus (in Kincannon and Jones Halls); the Honors community will then reside in Calloway; male students are being offered rooms in Grossnickle Hall. More rooms will be available when Peyton Hall (damaged in the Nov. 2002 tornado) is brought back on line. Jackson–Peyton was an MSMS hall; where will the MSMS students be housed? Holland–South campus, in Frazer and Goen Halls.
5. Updates
a. Administrative Council: No meeting in April; next meeting May 6.
b. Academic Council: The Council has posted on line the policies it has debated.
c. Meeting with Pres. Limbert: No discussion of new matters. She’s anticipating bad news on the state budget. She would like faculty feedback on our/students’ accomplishments for PR purposes.
d. PIE Council: Nothing to report.
e. UCC: Nothing to report.
6. Business
a. Dr. Gingerich: MUW reorganization is moving forward. We have convened meetings with various faculty, including division heads to finalize recommendations. Those individuals chosen as interim deans will meet with department chairs in the summer./// The AMP draft reports are forthcoming; we are waiting on some data that will be delivered/available this summer. The final plan will be drafted by Sept.
b. Constitutional Amendment: Lea Helen Evans made nominal changes to the Faculty Senate Constitution, but the larger issue of membership remains. Discussion: Aracena–Science and Mathematics has eighteen faculty members, but it could end up with no representation if the membership formula is broadly written. If membership is proportional (e.g., one senator per ten college faculty), then there must be a provision to guarantee that representation is divided among departments and rotated appropriately. Vote: The Senate voted unanimously to approve the following changes to the constitution: strike “with an upper limit on five [senators] per College” and add “it is a requirement of each College to implement appropriate [membership] rotation throughout the departments” (Sec. 2). This was an advisory vote; the changes must be ratified at the general faculty meeting in August.
c. Elections: After several declined nominations, Tom Velek agreed to serve as Faculty Senate President for the summer (to give him time to think it over, and to wait through the reorganization). Bonnie Oppenheimer agreed to serve as Vice President for 2005-2006, and Brian Anderson agreed to stay on as Secretary for 2005-2006. These officers must be approved by the full faculty at the August meeting. Some discussion was given to perquisites of the presidency. The constitution allows a one-course release (Sec. 3.A.), but overload pay would need to be added to the document before it can be offered.
7. Announcements
a. Disruptions at Hogarth Dining Center: Ellen Jackson noted that, in her opinion, the ambiance of the cafeteria has plummeted. Two weeks ago a leadership group assembled in the dining area and began chanting and screaming, but when I raised the issue to Dr. Wesley (VPSS) he brushed me off. I have also been in the cafeteria when an organization engaged in vulgar chanting and “performance”. Discussion: Velek–Who is in charge of policing cafeteria behavior? Dickey–Maybe there should be facility reservation forms for public performances and displays in the dining center. Young–I was there for another display, and was turned off. Oppenheimer–In the fall, the chanting by social clubs is annoying, but it’s a tradition. Jackson–This is a public restaurant, and the nature of it is extreme. Members of the community who were there expressed concern over the disruption. Velek–Our rising enrollment may not mean a rise in student quality. Gingerich–Keep in mind that the average entering GPA and ACT scores have stayed the same. Evans–We should write a letter to the administration, but they will probably tell us to take it up with Sodexho.
b. Fund A: The Executive Council met on April 29 and disbursed $250 to Barbara Hunt (ED/HS) to travel to Portland, OR for Project Learning Tree and to receive the award for Mississippi Educator of the Year. That brings the total disbursement for 2004-2005 to $6,875 ($2,600 remaining in Fund A).
8. Adjournment at 1:25pm.