In Attendance (In-person):

College of Arts and Sciences: Jennifer Fowler, Ian Lian, Pat Heintzelman, Jiangjiang (Jane) Liu, Tina M. Kibbe, Sujing Wang, Mark Mengerink, Cengiz Sen, Amanda Allison, Jennifer Thedford, Melissa Riley, Jim Armacost. Raymond Doe, Cheng-Hsien Lin, B. Garrick Harden

College of Education and Human Development: Shelly Allen

College of Business: Gevorg Sargsyan,Vivek Natarajan, Kelly Weeks, Tim McCoy

College of Fine Arts and Communication: Andre Favors, Paul Eric McCluskey, Stephan Malick,

College of Engineering: Clayton Jeffryes, Chun-Wei Yao, John Gossage, Gleb Tcheslavski

Library:

 

In Attendance (Online):

College of Arts & Sciences: Mark Broome, Matt Hoch, Wen Liu, Perumalreddy Chandrasekaran

College of Education and Human Development: Daryl Ann Borel, Kelly Brown, Kathryn Washington, Cristina Rios, Eunjin Kwon, Mohamad (Khal) Hamza

College of Business:

College of Fine Arts and Communication: Xenia Fedorchenko, Alan Brincks, Lilian Felipe, Chelsea Lyles, Brielle Frost

College of Engineering: Maryam Hamidi

Library:

 

Absent:

College of Arts and Sciences: Raouth Kostandy, Sharon Joffe, Elia Hatfield,

College of Education and Human Development: Daniel R. Chilek

College of Business: Ashraf El-Houbi, Xiao “Jerry” Zhang

College of Fine Arts and Communication: Millicent Musyoka

College of Engineering: Mien Jao

Library: Poornima Gunasekaran, Penny Clark

 

Call to order

3:31 p.m.

 

President Taylor’s Minute

• Cardinal View – Expressed appreciation to everyone that participated and making Cardinal View such a successful event.
• Texas Academy at Lamar (TAL) – Goal is to make this a very prestigious program for Lamar. There are currently close to 100 students enrolled.
• Athletics – Athletics is doing better than in the past and athletes are also doing well in the classroom. The athletic director is adamant about athletes being good students.
• Master Plan – Looking at landscaping and traffic flow, no roads through the middle of campus, more green space. Also, continue to work on a new entrance to the campus. Plan includes a new dorm close to the Honors College, hope to receive a gift/donation to fund this construction.
• Library Renovation – The project is progressing. After renovation, the library will be more aesthetically pleasing, more glass on the outside, and a better experience for students.
• Spindletop Museum Expansion – Currently have coffee with the President each morning, food carts for lunch, plan to expand to Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings for people to gather and talk about what’s happening in an informal setting.

 

Approval of Minutes

 

No action was taken on the minutes of February 07, 2024 general meeting.

 

Faculty Senate President’s Report (Dr. Cheng-Hsien Lin)

 

• Texas Council of Faculty Senates (TCFS) Meeting Report
  • The TCFS Spring meeting was held February 23-24 in San Antonio. The major focus of the meeting was SB17 (DEI Programs & Practices) and SB18 (Tenure, post-tenure review, termination, and peer review process).
• MAPPS
  • Tenure and Promotion of Tenure-track and Tenured Non-library Faculty Policy MAPP – This MAPP will soon be available for community comment.
  • Promotion to Professor – External Reviewers – This MAPP will soon be available for community comment.
• Enrollment Issues
  • Currently enrollments in several undergraduate programs are declining. However, Lamar is stable. However, high school enrollments are lower which implies college enrollments will decline.
• Tenure vs Non-tenured Faculty
  • There are active discussions among colleges, including Lamar, about non-tenure track faculties and their promotions. The Academic Issues Committee is working on a draft MAPP for non-tenured faculty promotion to present to Dr. Theodori.
• TSUS Policy
  • Faculty employment and what chairs can require; will report further details when receive more clarification.
• University Committee Elections
  • Nominations forms will be sent before Spring Break. Please encourage nominations and confirm individual is eligible and willing to serve.
  • University Committees – Policy states that individual can’t serve consecutive terms, there should be a gap year before serving on the same committee.
  • College Personnel Committees – After University Committee elections are concluded, election for College Personnel Committees will be held.
• Faculty Senate Attendance
  • Per the Faculty Senate By-laws, “Senators are expected to attend and actively participate in regular Senate meetings, Senate committee meetings, and special called meetings. Senators who are absent from more than three regular Senate meetings or Senate committee meetings in an academic year will be notified that their attendance is unacceptable and that their name will be dropped from the Senate roster, unless the Senate president determines that there are compelling reasons for the absences.” An email will be sent from the Faculty Senate Secretary to Senators who have not adhered to the policy.
• Department Chairs in Blackboard Shells
  • There was discussion regarding Department Chairs placing themselves in faculty blackboard shells and academic freedom.
    • Andre Favors motioned to suspend the rules to allow a resolution to be developed by the Faculty Affairs Committee regarding the allowance of departmental chairs access to Blackboard courses and voted on by the entire Faculty Senate online prior to our next general meeting.
    • Garrick Harden seconded.
    • All Senators voted Yes except Alan Brinks who voted no. Motion passed.

 

• Faculty Senate Open House – March 20, 2024, 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm.

 

Faculty Senate Committee Chair Reports

• Budget and Compensation – Jennifer Fowler

The entire committee met with the CFO and discussed the following topics:

• Budget Committee
• Budget Transparency
• Merit Plans: MAPP for merit plans
• Equity Adjustment – continued to push for instructor equity.

 

• Faculty Affairs – Sujing Wang
• Workload Issue: Workload is an extension o the teaching load issues. Looked at policies from other Texas State universities. Also, discussed AP online program and large class sizes and research initiatives.
• Chairs in Blackboard Shells: Requested input/comments to assist with drafting a resolution.

 

• Academic Issues – Melissa Riley

Committee met and discussed the following topics:

• Class Schedule: Met with the SGA president for input from students. Suggested he send a survey to students.
• Non-tenure faculty MAPP: Reviewing and making comments/recommendations on non-tenured faculty.

 

• Research & Creative Activity – John Gossage
  • No report this month

 

• Faculty Evaluation – Dr. Lin for Millie Musyoka (attending a conference)

Met and discussed the following topic:

• Faculty Climate Survey: A Google form will be used to collect data. The report will remove all identifiable information. Goal – to finalize and report results at April meeting.
• New F2.08: Watermark used to complete the form. Training sessions will be offered.

 

• Faculty Handbook – B. Garrick Harden

The committee continues to focus on numerous MAPPS. The committee is waiting to hear back from AAUP’s legal team on the faculty handbook MAPP to make sure it is aligned with Texas State Law and TSUS policy and procedures.

 

• Ad Hoc Committee for the Review of the Bylaws – Dr. Lin reported (J. P. Nelson resigned from the senate.)
• Proposed Bylaws: Didn’t receive any major comments on the proposed bylaws. Vote will be held in April.

 

Old Business

Faculty Senate Bylaws: Vote will be held in April.

 

New Business

• Open House: March 20, 2024, FUFS Office (John Gray, Rudy Williams, 128), 12PM – 2:PM
• University Committee Election (Secretary Report)
  • Online nomination ballots will be sent before Spring Break.
  • Please encourage nominations and confirm individual is eligible and willing to serve.
  • University Committees – Policy states that individual can’t serve consecutive terms, there should be a gap year before serving on the same committee.

 

Adjournment

 

The meeting adjourned at 5:10p.m.