16 December 2004
Loyola Marymount University
Faculty Senate Minutes,
December 16, 2004
McIntosh
2:45 p.m.-5 p.m.
Present: Marta Baltodano, Cynthia Becht, Victoria Graf, Chun Lee, Ed Mosteig, Elizabeth Murray, Patricia Oliver, Edward Park, K.J. Peters, Patrick Damon Rago, James Roe, Rhonda Rosen, Susan Scheibler, Leland Swenson, Thomas Zachariah
Excused: Charles Erven, Omar Es-Said, Jok Madut Jok, Lily Khadjavi, Suzanne O’Brien, Ralph Quinones
President Roe called the meeting to order at 2:56 p.m.
I. Report and Announcements of the President to the Faculty Senate:
-President Roe welcomed the Faculty Senate to the last official meeting of 2004. This was followed by a moment of silence for contemplation on the successes and failures of the past year.
- It was moved and seconded to approve the minutes of the November meeting. The minutes were approved unanimously.
-President Roe announced that the next meeting will take place in Hilton 302 on January 20.
-The AVP search is continuing. The resumes of the four selected applicants are available in each College and School. The four applicants will come to the University for interviews. Faculty members are encouraged to participate in the open forumsand provide feedback to the Committee. Fr. Lawton will make the final selectionfrom three finalists.
-The Discrimination Task Force evaluation is continuing to meet. The meetings are held every other week on Friday.
-The ITAC Budget meeting took place on 15th of December. The Enterprise budget line for non-academic items is $400,000. The Academic Technology Committee solicited proposals totaling $600,000 for the purchase of software.
-The Faculty Senate Budget proposals will include an extra $250 for catering and $300 for secretarial support. Approximately $440 is currently in the Faculty Senate Budget after the Meet the Senator event.
-President Roe presented the ESOF Report on Compensation Recommendations for 2005. The recommendations include 3.7% for “Adequate Performance”, 2.3% Merit Increase, 5% increase in Summer School salary and a continuing 9.3% University Retirement contribution. The Report will be presented to the Budget Committee on January 18.The Watson and Wyatt Worldwide consultant report is available in the office of each Dean as well as online. The Budget process will begin January 18th and the Board of Trustees will vote on the Budget on March 7.
It was moved and seconded to accept the ESOF report and to present it to the Budget Committee. It was accepted unanimously.
-President Roe introduced A Resolution Concerning the LMU Faculty Housing Assistance Program. It will be presented to the Budget Committee, Housing Committee, and Finance Committee.
It was moved and seconded to table the discussion of the Resolution till the end of the meeting. Call for the question: 11 in favor, 0 against, no abstentions.
II. Fr. Robert B. Lawton, University President
-President Roe welcomed Fr. Lawton to the Faculty meeting.
Fr. Lawton addressed three main issues:
1. The AVP, University Librarian and Deans search: Faculty members are encouraged to go to the open meetings, meet the candidates and give feedback to the Search Committees.
2. The Capital Campaign: There has been a slowdown in momentum in the Campaign due to a change of leadership in University Relations. The Campaign will go public in October 2005. The goal of the Campaign is $300 million. This goal is seen as being feasible and achievable.
3. Task Force on Grants and Fellowships: A Task Force has been appointed to explore the opportunities for grants and fellowships. Dean John Wholihan of the College of Business Administration chairs the Task Force. Other members include Edmundo Litton, Michael Danciger, Joe LaBrie, SJ, and Diane Benedict.
Q: In terms of the Library Capital Project, is the Library still high on the list?
A: The Library is the first priority. $23 million has been committed of the $50 million needed The new Librarian will have some say over the new Library so the timing of the search is perfect.
Q: There has been interest over the last few years in putting more resources in graduate education and possible future PhD programs. Will more resources be invested in graduate education? Is there a demand for a graduate dean?
A: First, our primary goal is to strengthen our existing graduate programs. We also have to think over a 20-30 year span. We need to strengthen our existing Ed.D. Program and make MA programs strong. Other doctoral programs are possible as well but not in the foreseeable future.
Second, a graduate dean position is not probable in the next 10 years. Our past experience shows from the 70’s and 80’s that the graduate dean’s position was a highly administrative one. It is better that we concentrate on giving more responsibility to the Deans of current Colleges and Schools.
Q: Part time faculty teach many of the undergraduate students and the difference is noticed. What are your thoughts on how to address this issue? Second, what is your opinion on faculty teaching load with increased emphasis on research?
A: We are looking at the issue of clinical faculty. Typically, clinical faculty (with 3-year contract) would teach 4 basic core courses without any research expectations. We have to be careful not to have a two-tiered faculty.
Q: The number of students in the School of Education has increased enormously but the number of faculty members stayed the same. How can we keep the level of quality education this way? How do we integrate graduate students into the University?
A: School of Education grew too fast. We will try to provide more support by adding more faculty members. It is not unusual for graduate students to not be as integrated in the entire university. We will explore increasing Financial Aid for graduate students.
III. Fr. Al Koppes, Acting Academic Vice President
-President Roe welcomed Fr. Koppes to the Faculty Senate meeting.
Fr. Koppes discussed the following issues:
1. He is working on putting policies in print. He is working on policies regarding Faculty maternity/paternity leave, Emeritus Faculty and Adjunct Faculty, Mentors, and Faculty Housing
2. Deans have been told they may recruit 1 senior faculty member. A major issue will be tenure.
3. Summer school: The Dean’s Office of each College and School will deal with the contracts. We are exploring using the second Summer session to bring in high-school students so they will have an opportunity to look at LMU during the summer.
4. The Deans will be given money to make salary adjustments based on the Watson and Wyatt report. We now have a data set and methodology so salaries can be reviewed more often.
IV. Ms Erin Griffin, Chief Information Officer for Information Technology Services
-President Roe welcomed and introduced Ms Griffin to the Faculty Senate.
Ms Griffin talked about the challenges of her position and that her main goal is to help the faculty and students with information technology.
Q: We still use the regular telephone system on campus. When do you think we will have IP telephony, an internet based phone system?
A: The cost factor of the internet based system is beneficial but the question is the cost of the equipment. The phone system will probably be replaced when the regular system is coming down in the next three years.
Q: What do you plan to do differently?
A: Currently I am involved in investigating other comparable university systems in order to evaluate our status and initiate changes.
Q: Can the decision-making and budget process be made transparent?
A: That will require further discussions with the Administration.
V. Resolution Concerning the LMU Faculty Housing Assistance Program
- The Resolution proposed by President Roe was presented to the Senate and was discussed.
It was moved and seconded to approve the Resolution. A friendly amendment was introduced which was accepted.
The following resolution was proposed.
A Resolution Concerning the LMU Faculty Housing Assistance Program
16 December 2004
For the purpose of new faculty hiring and retention, and in light of the enormous increase in the cost of buying a house locally since the current Housing Assistance Program has been implemented, the Faculty Senate recommends to the University that the following changes be made to the current Housing Assistance Program:
1) Raise the initial down payment/gift to $100,000 from $50,000;
2) Remove the earnings limit;
3) Remove the ceiling on the cost of house (currently it is $550,000);
4) The $100,000 should be given in a way different to the current 2nd Trust Deed and note. Faculty have found it difficult to refinance because of it;
5) Convert existing housing assistance loans granted in the last 10 years to unsecure loans subject to original repayment terms; and finally
6) Extend the area for purchase of a house to within 100 miles from the University.
It is expected that some of the funding for these changes will be available from the underutilized nature of the current program.
It was moved and seconded to accept the Resolution. Call for question: 8 in favor, 0 against, 2 abstentions. Motion passed.
The meeting adjourned at 5:15 p.m.
Submitted by: Victoria Graf
Prepared by: Monika Juszli