20 January 2005
Loyola Marymount University
Faculty Senate Minutes,
January 20, 2005
Hilton 302
2:45 p.m.-5 p.m.
Present: Cynthia Becht, Victoria Graf, Chun Lee, Elizabeth Murray, Edward Park, K.J. Peters, Ralph Quinones, Patrick Damon Rago, James Roe, Rhonda Rosen, Susan Scheibler, Thomas Zachariah
Excused: Marta Baltodano, Charles Erven, Omar Es-Said, Jok Madut Jok, Lily Khadjavi, Ed Mosteig, Suzanne O’Brien, Leland Swenson
President Roe called the meeting to order at 2:55 p.m.
I. Report and Announcements of the President to the Faculty Senate:
- President Roe welcomed the Faculty Senate to the first official meeting of 2005. This was followed by a moment of silence.
-It was moved and seconded to approve the minutes of the December meeting. The minutes were amended with the following correction: “It is anticipated that a donation for of $7-10 million dollars for the new library will be forthcoming.” The minutes were approved unanimously.
-President Roe announced that Patricia Oliver, Associate Professor and Chair, Communication Studies Department, has been dismissed from the University on the grounds of extramural teaching at California State University, Los Angeles. This occurred on the Friday before classes were to begin. She is planning on taking steps in opposing this action.
II. Resolution Thanking Ms Patricia Oliver
- President Roe introduced a Resolution thanking Patricia Oliver. It was moved and seconded to affirm the statement of the Faculty Senate. The proposed resolution was discussed. A friendly amendment was introduced.
The Faculty Senate of Loyola Marymount University, in Session on Thursday, the Twentieth Day of January, A.D. 2005, Officially Recognizes and Thanks Ms. Patricia Oliver, M.A. for Her Over Twenty Years of Valuable Work and Tireless Effort on Behalf of the University and Its Faculty Senate. The Faculty Senate Recognizes that the University has Benefited in Terms of Character, Spirit, and Academic Excellence Because of Her Presence.
It was moved and seconded to approve the amendment. Call for question: 12 in favor, 0 against, no abstentions. Motion passed unanimously.
- The AVP search is continuing. The Schedule of the Candidates’ Visits was distributed to the Senators. Concern has been expressed regarding the fact that all the final candidates are white males. President Roe assured the Faculty Senate that the Search Committee made an excellent attempt to have a diverse pool of candidates. Names of three candidates will be given to Fr. Lawton who will make the final selection.
-The Faculty Senate Roster for the Academic Year 2004-2005 was distributed. It was announced that officers can only serve two consecutive terms in the same office.
- The Budget Committee met on Monday, 17th of January in Marina Del Rey. It will meet again on February 4. The Finance Committee will meet to discuss the Budget on February 14. The final Budget will be presented to the Board of Trustees on March 7. Fr. Koppes asked for $130,000 for salaries for beginning faculty. If funded, starting salaries for Assistant Professors will be aminimum of $55,000. Based on the Watson and Wyatt World report,$324, 000 has been requested for salary equity adjustments. A total of $300,000 has been requested to fund software purchases for faculty. The Housing Proposal was also submitted in addition to the ESOF proposal. It is anticipated that the Housing Proposal may be approved.
-Fr. Koppes is working on the maternity leave policy. It is proposed that the leave will be for a semester.
-Over $400 is left from the Meet Your Senator event. Off-campus events can also be held for this purpose.
-Faculty/staff dining in the Collins Center will be tried on a pilot basis for six weeksMonday through Friday beginning February 14.
- President Roe presented the future agenda items that need to be addressed during the remainder of the year:
1. Review Rank and Tenure policy
2. Faculty Handbook: Some of the policies need to be updated, but revision of the Handbook will probably not be completed this year.
3. Merit Evaluation Committee: President Roe will be the Chair of the committee. President Roe invited interested Senators to join the Committee.
-President Roe announced that Fr. Albert Koppes, Acting Academic Vice President; Thomas O. Fleming, Jr.,Vice President for Business & Finance; and Dennis Slon, Vice President for University Relations will attend the next meeting.
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III. A Review of the Policy Concerning Faculty Emeriti
-President Roe distributed the current policy on Emeritus Faculty and the proposed policy from Fr. Koppes. The proposed policy was discussed in detail in terms of content and language.
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It was moved and seconded to endorse this policy with the following clarifications and changes written in italics:
LMU Policy and Procedures for Faculty Emeritus Status
Emeritus faculty status is an honor conferred by the University on selected long time faculty members at the full professor rank who are distinguished in all aspects of the professoriate. Emeriti professors have earned a special relationship with the University, as outlined in this document. Emeriti faculty members are involved in the life of the University in various ways as appropriate: as part-time instructors, as researchers and creative artists, and as valued assistants with alumni relationships and development activities.
Eligibility:
Full professors (change to Tenured professors) are eligible to be nominated as emeriti faculty if the following conditions are satisfied:
- Distinguished national reputation in the appropriate discipline
- Twenty (change to Ten) or more years of exemplary service to Loyola Marymount University
- Nomination by two or more tenured LMU faculty colleagues in the same college or school
- Endorsement of the appropriate dean and the Academic Vice President
Process for Applying:
Nominations will be accepted (beginning) in the first semester of the academic year in which retirement occurs. If a retirement decision is made in the second semester, this process may be engaged in the next academic year. With the permission of the individual, faculty nominations are submitted to the Dean and the Academic Vice President who will submit separate letters to the President for his consideration. At the discretion of the University President, emeriti faculty status will be conferred on a select group of individuals whose expertise, academic accomplishments, and renowned service fulfill the Mission of the University in an exemplary manner.
Benefits:
- Honorary title acknowledging their substantial contribution to LMU
- Opportunity to continue to enrich LMU faculty, students and alumni
- Salary compensation for part time teaching will be $6,000. (Change to average in the rank at which the professor retires).
- E-mail and personal web space, in accordance with current faculty IT resources
- Borrowing privileges in the University library
- Access to academic and other facilities
- Shared office space where feasible
- Participation in University academic and social events, as appropriate
Call for question: 12 in favor, 0 against, 0 abstentions. Motion passed unanimously.
IV. Open Agenda: Discussion of the direction that the Senate should take during the rest of the semester: Future agenda items
In addition to focusing on the 3 major topics of the Rank and Tenure process, the Merit Review and the Faculty Handbook, it was suggested that 10-15 minutes be taken at each of the upcoming Senate meetings about the role of the Senate in the governance of the University.
The meeting adjourned at 4:20 PM
Submitted by: Victoria Graf
Prepared by: Monika Juszli