Southeastern Louisiana University
Meeting Minutes
Alumni Center
I.
Faculty Senate President David Wyld called the meeting to order at
II.
Senators absent were Ahn, Armenta, Bancroft, Bonnette, Bouton, Coxe,
Diaz, Dranguet, Gibson, Koss, Shwalb, and Valentino.
III.
Minutes from the
A. President Wyld noted that,
at the previous meeting, an SGA guest reported student fees for Student
Government at $45 per semester, whereas they were $45 per
year.
B. Senator Wyld informed
Senators that this mistake had been changed in the posted minutes.
IV.
President Wyld announced that Steve Leon, Director of Auxiliary
Services, who had been on the agenda for purposes of providing a new student housing
update and for discussing printer networking, was unable to attend the meeting.
He then introduced invited guests, Aime Anderson, Director of Student Housing,
and her assistant, Robin Parker, for purposes of updating Senators on the new
student housing project. Senator Wyld said that Mr. Leon would be invited back
to the March meeting to discuss the printing issue.
A. Ms. Anderson provided
Senators with a color brochure, and also presented a map of the construction
project.
B. She said that
1. Approximately 350 students
are now occupying these facilities. The students share a small common area that
has a kitchen-style space and a shared bathroom. The students have private
bedrooms, their own Internet and telephone lines, and basic cable (services
that will be available in all of the new buildings). They are also equipped with new furniture.
2. She noted an upcoming open
house where Senators could view the new facilities (actually held on February 4th).
C. Ms. Anderson added that Lee
Hall is scheduled for demolition during this semester, probably during March.
D. She said that construction
is underway for four buildings, including a building close to the library that
will also house Campus Police and Campus Housing Offices beginning in the Fall semester.
E. There will be a majority of
double occupancy in the four buildings opening in the Fall;
there will also be some private facilities.
F. Tangipahoa and Hammond Halls
are the double facilities that are similar to private facilities, except that
two students share the entire space together.
G. Students, across campus,
will not share a bathroom with more than one person in the new housing units.
H. When the new buildings
opened a few weeks ago, a few rooms had not been completed, and were held
pending completion. But, of those rooms available for occupancy, we are now at
100 percent occupancy.
I.
Taylor Hall is still open as well, and it is at about 50% occupancy.
J. We do still have property (
K. Ms. Parker added that the
open houses would be at both
L. Senator Wyld thanked the
guests for their update, and added that the new student housing looked so nice,
his young sons had remarked that the buildings looked like hotels…so a great
compliment to the progress on campus and to the work of their office.
V.
Old Business:
A. President Wyld noted that
the reorganization of colleges would have ramifications on existing Senate
seats, and asked Senator Ply to provide an update on this issue.
1. Senator Ply provided a
revised handout of seat issues that will need to be addressed with the
reorganization of the colleges. For example, there is currently a seat on the
University Planning Council held by Mike Beauvais, and he will no longer be in
the
2. Senator Titard said that the
Bylaws would also need revision in the Fall relative
to the two new colleges and the appropriate number of representatives. In the
meantime, Senator Titard said that the proposal by Senator Ply would take care
of the problem temporarily, until we know for sure how many people should be on
the committees from each of the colleges. Senator Titard requested approval to
use Senator Ply’s document as a guide for contacting Department Heads.
3. Senator Ply moved approval
of this request…with the addition of the Faculty Grievance Committee solution
being to raise Ken Li up to full membership, and later elect two alternates.
Senator Titard seconded. The motion
passed unanimously.
B. Senator Root said that the
Professional Rights and Responsibilities Committee had met and reviewed the
flow chart provided by Milas Love, and that they were continuing to examine the
issues and processes involved with reporting student plagiarism.
1. Senator Wyld noted that the
Executive Council was still in ongoing discussion regarding issues of student
plagiarism, including how those issues are processed, and how the communication
occurred between various parties. The two issues specifically discussed at
Executive Council were the need for flexibility, while moving forward from the
current process of having to create documentation from scratch; and the need
for faculty members to ultimately be informed of the disposition of cases that
they reported.
2. Senator Slawson presented,
as an FYI to Senators, a routing form that the English Academic Integrity
Committee (Natasha Whitton, main author; Richard Louth, Committee Chair) had
recently put together as a guide for English faculty involved with issues of
student plagiarism. (See Addendum B)
3. Senator Prescott said that
she had an appointment with Milas Love to work on a routing system whereby
faculty members might be notified of outcomes of plagiarism cases they filed.
4. Senator Gonzalez-Perez said
that faculty members in her department had filed plagiarism reports and often
not heard back. They would like to be informed of the outcome of a filed
complaint of plagiarism.
5. Senator Root said that there
were a couple of levels to consider: The Academic Integrity Issue: If a
complaint did not get referred by a Dean, Milas Love would not act on it; and
the Behavioral Aspect, whereby a faculty member could report an issue directly
to Milas Love’s office. She recommended, as an Academic Integrity concern, it
seemed that, not only should Milas Love’s office be working on the issue, but
also Deans or Departmental Heads as well.
6. Senator Wyld asked Senators
to provide additional feedback to Terri Root at troot@selu.edu
as her committee continued to examine this issue.
C. Senator Wyld called on
Senator Nelson, Chair of the Faculty Welfare Committee, for an update on the
issue of streamlining the Internal Grant Processes. Senator Nelson said that he
had nothing new to report at this time. He is still waiting to hear from Tena
Golding after her meetings with appropriate committees.
D. Senator Wyld then turned the
floor over to Senator Root, Chair of the Professional Rights and
Responsibilities Committee, for a report on the issue of application
requirements in employment searches.
1. The committee, having
investigated for the possibility of greater flexibility in what was required
from a potential employee in the initial application packet, had drafted a
resolution. (See Addendum C)
2. Senator Root made a motion
to pass the resolution as presented.
Senator White seconded the motion. The Senator voted unanimously to
adopt this resolution (Senate Resolution #4).
E. Senator Wyld recognized
Senator Budden to provide a report, in Senator Coxe’s absence due to illness,
of the Constitutional and Bylaws changes.
1. Senator Budden said that
there was nothing new to report at this time, but that the Constitution and
Bylaws Committee was continuing to meet and would have a report at next month’s
Senate meeting.
2. Senator Wyld thanked Senator
Budden, and wished Senator Coxe a speedy recovery.
F. Senator Nelson, Chair of the
Faculty Welfare Committee, was asked to provide an update on the Search
Committee composition issue. He said that his department was trying to develop
some written guidelines, and that the Faculty Welfare Committee would most
likely come forward soon with a resolution suggesting that each department
should have written guidelines to avoid problems in the composition of search
committees.
VI.
New Business:
A. Senator Wyld recognized
Senator Ply to present the issue of correspondence that transfer students
receive from the university.
1. A letter was distributed to
the Senators that Sam Domiano had forwarded which contained information
currently sent out to transfer students. (See Addendum D) Senator Ply said that
she had sent Mr. Domiano a list of possible items that might be included in the
letter currently sent to transfer students in an effort to alert students that
they were required to be advised prior to registering, and that it was in their
interests to bring an unofficial copy of old transcripts and course
descriptions to advisors. Senator Ply said that doing such would streamline and
expedite the process.
2. Senator Ply said that there
are often problems when transfer students try to register for classes. Advisors and department heads and
departmental secretaries are often exposed to the wrath and frustration of
transfer students whose courses have not been evaluated and entered into the
computer. Senator Ply recommended that
the acceptance letter contain information that would reduce some of the stress
for all parties.
3. If the acceptance letter is
explicit about bringing the appropriate documentation so as to be advised
and/or authorized into courses, and then the student fails to comply, then the
student will have to bear the responsibility for any effects on his/her ability
to register. Senator Ply added that if
the students are prepared to be advised and to register, then perhaps there
will be fewer tirades directed at departmental staff and at transfer admissions
staff.
4. Senator Ply said it was her
understanding that the suggestions she had sent over were in the process of
being evaluated by Sam Domiano and Steve Soutullo and, thus, moved that the
Senate authorize the Executive Committee to continue the work of refining the
language of this proposal. Senator
Yeargain seconded this motion.
5. Senator Wyld, having
recently been in conversation with Sam Domiano, said that Mr. Domiano and Mr.
Soutullo had been working on the issue, and there might possibly be a change in
the correspondence as early as this summer.
The Senate voted unanimously to send the issue to the Executive Council.
B. Senator Wyld turned the
floor over to Senator Ramsey to discuss the DROP program.
1. Senator Ramsey provided
Senators with a Bar Chart dealing with the DROP program. Senator Ramsey noted
the following:
a. Inflation in the United
States had been 3.1 percent per annum for the last 60 years. Thus, one has to
be at a 3.1 percent growth rate just to break even;
b. The DROP portfolio had
averaged 7.75 percent per annum as the historical return on investment (ROI)
per year;
c. DROP went through a couple
of bad years; and
d. Senator Ramsey believed that
the Legislature had overreacted by introducing LaDROP in which everyone
entering after January 1, 2004, is at a money market rate, rather than the
historical growth rate; the money market rate is at a historical 3.5 percent as
displayed in the bar graph. Senator Ramsey told Senators that, over the last
year, the rate had not been that good, actually less than 1 percent after the
0.25 administrative fees were taken out.
e. Senator Ramsey said that
TRSL’s portfolio last year (2004) gained over 18 percent, which stands in stark
contrast to the <1% ROI in LaDROP.
2. LaDROP, not DROP, is
ironically the risky program from the member’s perspective, Senator Ramsey
said. It is risky in the sense of denied opportunity with the investment
confined to a snail’s pace that may or may not keep up with inflation. Over
time, nothing beats common stocks as investment vehicles, Senator Ramsey added.
Yet, because of two bad years, Senator Ramsey said that the legislature voted
to deny future drop participants all opportunity by offering only LaDROP.
3. Senator Ramsey stated his
preference that participants be offered a choice or a mix of funds since it is
their money. He then moved to send the issue to committee. Senator Norris
seconded the motion.
4. Senator Wyld opened up the
floor for discussion.
a. Senator Dassau asked if this
was a legislative issue, what the Senate could do to address it.
b. Senator Wyld said about the
only thing we could do was to write a letter on behalf of the Senate.
c. Senator Yeargain said it
might be helpful to read the statute. For three years that you are in the
program, you get no interest on your income and the interest rate should be
ignored initially because it does not belong to you for three years. Once you
come out of DROP, it starts accruing at the different rates, but the
legislation provides the option of rolling it over into a tax-sheltered vehicle
which you can self invest.
5. After further discussion, a
majority voted to send the issue to the Budget Committee for further study and
evaluation.
VII.
Announcements:
A. Senator Davis announced that
Pride Day is on March 17th.
1. Students are being sought
for faculty nomination for the Pride of Southeastern Award. These students will
be those who do something above and beyond the average student populations.
Winners will be recognized in the classroom.
2. Additionally, Pride Day will
be a time of raising student awareness of various departments by having
students to attend different activities going on in different departments.
Under consideration is a program where students attending an activity featured
by a department could obtain a raffle ticket for a prize.
3. Senator Davis presented
handouts providing more information on these activities. (Addendums E and F)
B. Senator Wyld announced that
Dr. Crain’s office had contacted him about nominating at least two people to
represent the Senate for each of the President’s Awards Review Committees (the
Artistic Award, Teaching Award, Professional Activity Award, and Service
Award). He sent around a sheet where Senators could indicate their interests, and
told Senators that they did not need to be tenured or to have a certain rank in
order to serve.
C. Senator Wyld announced that
Dr. Crain had distributed an email regarding an issue that the Faculty Senate
had put forward last year regarding online office hours. This issue, it
appears, will be addressed at the UL System level, and our institutional policy
on this matter will then comply with System policy.
1. Senator White wondered if
this was a system policy or a university policy issue.
2. Senator K. Mitchell asked if
the ten-hour rule was still a requirement for those teaching reduced loads.
3. Dr. Crain said that full
time faculty members are required to keep ten office hours each week.
D. President Wyld then turned
the floor to Senators Stahr and Hite to provided an SGA report. They noted that
some new student Senators had attended the last meeting.
E. Senator Wyld adjourned the
meeting at 3:52 p.m. The next meeting is scheduled for March 2, 2005.
Respectfully
submitted,
Jayetta
Slawson
Recording
Secretary
ADDENDUM A
UNIVERSITY STANDING COMMITTEES (ELECTED) 2005-2006
Proposal (accepted by Faculty
Senate 2/2/05)
UPC
Mike Beauvais (Bus/Tech) 2004-2006 *** (declare seat vacant elect a new BUS)
Alan Cannon (A&S) 2004-2006 (can remain and rep SCI/TECH)
Cindy Elliott (E&HD) 2003-2005 (elect a new E&HD person)
Cindy Logan (N&HS) 2003-2005 (elect
a new N&HS)
Debbie Longman (GS/LIB) 2004-2006 (can
remain)
Richard Louth (A&S) 2003-2005 (elect
a new person from HUMS)
William Parkinson (A&S) 2003-2005 (leave
seat vacant until we find out what the split in the two colleges is in the fall
and decide who gets this one seat—or give each half a new seat, bringing
elected total to 8) [I suspect HUM will
be still very large.]
David Wyld (FacSen) 2004-2005
UNIVERSITY TENURE AND PROMOTION COMMITTEE
Harold Blackwell 2003-2006
(remain for NURS/HS)
Ramesh Bettagere 2004-2007
(remain for NURS/HS)
Paul Carruth 2004-2007
(remain for BUS)
Al Dranguet 2003-2005
(elect someone from SCI/TECH so
that it will have two and HUM will have three)
Chris Eleser 2002-2005
(elect new from GENS)
Tom Fick 2003-2006 (remain for HUM)
Beth Gray 2002-2005 (elect new from SCI/TECH)
Paul Haschak 2003-2006
(remain for LIB)
Margaret Marshall 2004-2007
(remain for HUM)
Ann Nauman 2002-2005 (elect
new from E&HD)
Dale Parent 2004-2007
(remain for HUM)
Beth Wadlington 2004-2007
(remain for E&HD)
John Yeargain 2003-2006
(remain for BUS)
FACULTY GRIEVANCE
COMMITTEE
Cheryll Javaherian 2003-2006 (remain
for HUM)
Karen Jung 2003-2006
(remain for library/GENS)
Elizabeth Partridge 2002-2005 (elect
new E&HD)
Matt Rossano 2004-2007
(remain for HUM)
Mary Sue Ply 2002-2005
(put Ken Li in this seat)
Jean Urick 2002-2005
(elect new NURS/HS)
John Yeargain 2003-2006
(remain for BUS)
Alternates
Janie Branham 2003-2006
(remain for LIB/GENS)
Sonya Carr 2002-2005
(elect new E&HD)
Kurt Corbello 2003-2006
(remain for HUM)
Wynn Gillan 2002-2005
(elect new for NURS&HS)
Ken Li 2004-2007 (raise to member for SCI/TECH—and elect new
alternate for SCI/TECH—2005-2007)
Sandra McKay 2003-2006
(remain for BUS)
Stephen Rushing 2002-2005 (elect new HUM alternate—2005-2007)
ADDENDUM B
English Department Notice of Plagiarism
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Student |
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Instructor |
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Course |
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Semester |
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Title of Assignment |
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Date of Meeting |
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The following evidence suggests that an act of plagiarism has been committed and I am recommending the following consequences:
In accordance with the SLU General Catalogue in the section on Academic Integrity, you are hereby notified of this alleged violation and its consequences. You have ten working days to appeal this decision in writing to the Head of the English Department. Following the response of the Department Head, you may appeal to the Dean of Arts and Science in writing within ten days of that response. If they do not dissent with my conclusion, then the consequences will be those that I have already outlined. If you choose not to meet with me to discuss this alleged violation of the Academic Integrity policy then my recommended action will be adopted.
• The student chose not to meet with the instructor.
• The student met with the instructor and chose to appeal.
• The student met with the instructor and agreed to the recommended action.
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Student’s Signature |
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Date |
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Instructor’s Signature |
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Date |
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Department Head’s Signature |
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Date |
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Dean’s Signature |
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Date |
ADDENDUM C
Faculty Senate
Resolution 2004-2005-04
Contents of the Initial Faculty
Application Packet
Whereas materials
required with initial applications vary from institution to institution in the
University of Louisiana System, and these are dependent upon the needs of the
individual department,
Whereas different
disciplines have specific information needs, and that materials required in the
initial application phase could differ without compromising the search process
from the university’s standpoint,
Whereas The
Office
of Human Resources indicates there could
be more flexibility given to departments on materials that applicants are
required to submit at the initial application stage,
Whereas flexible
requirements in the initial stage of application could help reduce the amount
of paper departments must keep on file,
Whereas individual
applicants actively on the job market send out a number of applications,
streamlining the contents of the initial application packet could work to
attract applicants to Southeastern, and
Whereas deadlines for having reference letters in hand before an applicant can be considered places
applicants at the mercy of those writing recommendation letters,
Be it therefore resolved that Southeastern’s hiring policies be modified to allow
departments to individually determine what the required contents of initial
faculty application packets should be.
ADDENDUM
D
«LetterPrintedDT» University ID: «ID»
«SalutNameResult»
«Address1»
«City», «State» «Postal»
Dear «SalutFirstName»:
Congratulations! After evaluating your application, it has been determined that you have met Southeastern’s admission requirements and have been accepted to Southeastern Louisiana University for the «AdmitTermDE1» term. We are looking forward to having you on our campus and are confident that you will find your experiences at Southeastern both enjoyable and rewarding.
After the evaluation of your college transcripts is completed, you will receive information on how to obtain a copy of your transfer credit summary. In addition, you will receive information on registration, which will be your first official activity as a student at Southeastern. Advising may be required before you can register for classes. Please check with the department of your major for advising requirements.
Until then, if we can assist you in any way, please contact us at (985) 549-2062 or 1-800-222-SELU (7358); or stop by the Office of Admissions. Again, congratulations on your acceptance to Southeastern!
Sincerely,
Josie Mercante
Office of Admissions
ADDENDUM E
PRIDE OF SOUTHEASTERN AWARD
NOMINATION
INFORMATION
The PRIDE OF SOUTHEASTERN AWARD is
given by Southeastern’s CLAWS/PRIDE committee. It is intended to
recognize students who, by their actions, have brought pride to the
Southeastern community. It is also
designed to target “unsung heroes” who have demonstrated extraordinary
service/performance at Southeastern and/or within the community.
Criteria for the PRIDE OF
SOUTHEASTERN AWARD are as follows: (a) must have good academic standing;
(b) may be an undergraduate or graduate student; (c) must have demonstrated
extraordinary service/performance beyond traditional academic or athletic
expectations. (Examples of a good
candidate include someone who has: performed exemplary humanitarian service,
published work in an outside publication, was a contributing member of a
national sports team, or has surmounted considerable obstacles to achieve
success.)
The PRIDE OF SOUTHEASTERN AWARD
is given in an unusual format. The
student receives a surprise visit in one of his/her classes. The University President, Roomie the Lion,
and a number of members of the CLAWS/PRIDE committee enter the classroom
with some fanfare (balloons, music, etc.)
The President calls the student to the front of the room to be
honored. Subsequently, the student
receives a package of prizes and recognition in Southeastern media.
Any
faculty or staff member may nominate a deserving student for the PRIDE OF
SOUTHEASTERN AWARD. Students may
approach faculty/staff members to request that a peer be nominated. The award will be given 7 times per
year: 3 times during the fall semester
(September, October, November), 3 times during the spring semester (February,
March, April), and 1 time during the summer session (July). To nominate a student, a faculty/staff member
should submit a one-page letter explaining the basis for the nomination, and
attach any supporting documentation.
Once a nomination is received, it will be considered in the nomination
pool for each award throughout that calendar year as long as the individual
remains a student at Southeastern.
Nominations should be forwarded to Mr. Jim McHodgkins, Assistant Dean of
Student Development and chair of CLAWS/PRIDE, Student Union Room 202, Box 10346
Hammond, LA 70402, 985-549-3792, jmchodgkins@selu.edu.
CLAWS
Pride of
Southeastern Award
Nomination Form
Name of person recommending the student_________________________________
Contact Information___________________________________________________
Name of Nominee_________________________ W#_______________________
1. How do you know the student?
2. How long have you known the student?
3. What has been your most memorable encounter (s) with this student?
4. How does this student exude “Pride” at the University?
5. How has the student contributed to the community at large (i.e. service, donations)?
6. Is this student involved with any campus or departmental organizations? If yes, please list.
7. Is there anyone else you know of that we may contact to get additional information on this student?
ADDENDUM F
PRIDE DAY CELEBRATION
The CLAWS/PRIDE
Committee is working on a special Pride Day Celebration set for March 17th. One of our objectives is to raise students’
awareness of the different academic departments on campus. We are looking for departments who would be
willing to put on some kind of special activity for students for
approximately two hours that day. This
could be the same as/similar to your Rock ‘N Roar activity. Students would
come to your department, participate in the activity, and receive a
ticket. All of the tickets will go into
a drawing for a valuable prize. The more
an individual participates, the higher his/her chances of winning.
This is one way to give
students an understanding of this university outside their own ordinary circles
of experience. If your department would
consider participating in the Pride Day Celebration, please email Heather
Lawrence at hlawrence@selu.edu. We hope to have you on board.