Wednesday, April 9, 2003
170 LAC
I. ATTENDANCE: The meeting was called to order at 9:34 a.m. by Senate Chair, Rodney Mondor.
Present:
Julie Archibald, Norma Charette, Robin Day, Casandra Fitzherbert, Eric James,
Pat Marston, Kim-Marie Martin, Rodney Mondor, Michael Mullett, Kathleen Pease,
Pamela Roy, Kerry Sullivan, Colleen White, Lisa Yaeger
Excused: Donna Bird, Dana Gray, Susan Martin, Nolan Thompson
Absent: Dan Axford, Elaine O’Reilly
II. ACCEPTANCE OF MARCH 12, 2002 MINUTES: Minutes were accepted as written.
III. PRESIDENT’S OFFICE REPORT: Rosa Redonnett was out of town and could not attend the meeting. She reported via email that the President’s office has been working on the budget.
Rodney reported that there is a Board of Visitors meeting on Friday, April 11, 2003. He also reported that there was a full-house at the Eggs and Issues meeting held last week in Portland. The President of the University of Maine was there and spoke about collaboration between UM and USM.
IV. OLD BUSINESS: Rodney reviewed the goals and action points that the senate has developed over the past year. He moved that the goals and actions be adopted by the senate and used by the upcoming senate as a framework for the next session. The senate agreed to review the goals and actions and will take a vote at the next meeting whether or not to adopt them for the next senate session.
V. EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEE
Treasurer’s Report- We have a balance of $303.37 in our budget.
Monies have been processed for senate ballot printing. Monies are also needed
for the Recognition Luncheon invitations.
Communications Committee- The website has been updated.
IV. COMMITTEE REPORTS
Election Committee: Donna Bird reported via email that the ballots were mailed from the Portland mailroom on Friday, March 21. Responses have been quite good, and the self-mailing ballots worked really well. Voter turnout rates will be reported at the May meeting. The deadline for submitting ballots is Tuesday, April 22 (Monday the 21st is Patriot’s Day holiday). The Election Committee will meet on Wednesday, April 23 to count the votes. Candidates will be contacted at the end of that week and the Committee will then submit a list of new Senators to Senate Chair Rodney Mondor by April 30, latest.
By-Laws Committee: The Senate voted on the by-law changes that were read into last month’s meeting. Rodney Mondor read each change and the senate voted:
III. A. 3. “Each member will be elected for a two-year term, except when elected to complete a vacated, uncompleted term.” Should be moved to III. A. 2.;
Motion to accept
the change: Kathleen Pease
Second: Kerry Ann Sullivan
One affirmative vote by proxy
All in favor – unanimous
III. A. 4. “A member may serve a maximum of two consecutive terms, where any fraction of a term is to be considered as a whole term.” Should be moved to III. A. 3.;
Motion to accept
the change: Kerry Ann Sullivan
Second: Pat Marston
One affirmative vote by proxy
All in favor – unanimous
III. F. 1. “Meetings will be held monthly on dates to be determined at the first meeting of the new term. Meetings will be held monthly between the USM campuses in Gorham and Portland. One meeting each year will be held at Lewiston Auburn College.”
Motion to accept
the change: Kerry Ann Sullivan
Second: Mike Mullett
One affirmative vote by proxy
All in favor – unanimous
Discussion on
other portions of the by-laws took place after the voting. Eric James noted
that the Preamble in the by-laws had an unknown origin and author. The question
of “should it be removed?” was put on the table for further discussion
at the next meeting. Eric also asked the senate to think about was whether
the senate should be divided by representation based on the number of people
in a department rather than set units of seats per department. Kerry Sullivan
offered to see how the HR lists are broken down and if there is an easy way
of determining representation based on departmental population; she will report
back at the next meeting.
Discussion took place about the “Goals” that are listed in the
by-laws and whether our new goals should be listed there in addition to or
replace the current goals. Rodney read the current goals listed in the by-laws.
Kathleen Pease noted that they are labeled as “goals” however,
they are the “purpose” of the senate, rather than goals. After
discussion, the following change to the Professional Staff Senate By-Laws
were read into the minutes to be voted on at the next meeting:
II. “Goals” should be changed to II. “Purpose”
If a Senator is not able to make the next meeting, they should submit a proxy vote to a member of the Executive Committee prior to the meeting.
Luncheon Committee - Kerry Sullivan reported that President Pattenaude approved $1500 for the Professional Staff Recognition Luncheon. The luncheon will be held May 20, 2003 from 11-2. The theme is “fiesta!” Kerry asked that anyone available to help with labeling invitations meet at the Portland mailroom in the Steego Building on Monday, April 14 at 3:30pm.
Pat Marston will be sending out a message to the USM-Listserv asking people to donate door prizes.
Division Recognition Awards - Kim-Marie Martin reported that the deadline for nominations is April 11, however she has asked Rosa Redonnett for an extension. She asked the senate to urge people to nominate their co-workers for this award. The final decision will be made at a meeting set for May 2.
Senate Ad-Hoc Committee for the Feasibility of Joint Senates: Robin Day reported that the Feasibility Report is complete. Hard copy will be available at next month’s meeting. She noted that being a feasibility study, it does not make recommendations, rather gives facts so others can study the results and make their own recommendations based on those facts.
VII.
SENATE REPORTS:
Classified Staff: Jim Bradley entered the meeting and reported on
the Classified Staff Senate. The Classified Staff breakfast was held last
week and went well.
They are currently gearing up for elections, which the Senate will talk more
about at their meeting next week. They want to do more marketing before they
send out ballots in hopes that more people will vote. There are approximately
9 open seats.
The staff at LAC has put forth a petition regarding the lack of exercise facilities on campus. Jim will make a recommendation at the next Classified Staff Senate meeting to create an Ad-Hoc committee to look into options for exercise facilities/benefits on all campuses without such facilities. The Ad-Hoc committee would be made up of members of Professional, Faculty and Classified senators. This same discussion regarding exercise facilities is also being held in Augusta.
Faculty: Colleen White reported that the Faculty Senate meeting was held this past Friday, April 4. The primary agenda item was the General Education discussion. The Student Senator gave his report, in which he expressed concern about budget issues and how they will effect academic integrity and the integrity of USM degrees.
Colleen gave
her report from the last Professional Staff Senate meeting and noted that
the Provost approached her after and told her that there would be no disintegration
of integrity and then clarified some budget issues she had spoken about that
President Pattenaude relayed at the senate’s last meeting.
There was proposal for a resolution. The resolution in summary was that the
faculty senate opposes the war in Iraq. There was discussion to get this on
the agenda and then whether this was an appropriate place for the resolution.
The Senate tabled the discussion; there was no vote and no call for vote.
For full meeting minutes please visit the Faculty Senate web site at http://www.usm.maine.edu/fss/
Student: Kathleen Pease reported that President Pattenaude visited the Senate to talk about budget concerns. He emphasized that academic integrity in important. Students voiced that they are having to drop minors due to cancelled and shifted class schedules.
Craig Hutchinson and Sam Andrews talked about the “Universal Fee” which combines 10 smaller fees into one. They also talked about adding a Financial Aid fee of approximately $2 - $3 per person per semester. Student Senators were not impressed with this idea. There will still be a Health Fee, Student Activity Fee and Transporation Fee on top of the Universal Fee. Fees are being increased; the Universal Fee will be larger than the current breakdown of smaller fees. Students will see one Universal Fee on their bill, however the fee is still being broken down and allotted to different areas of the University.
There was a discussion about taking a stand against war and a discussion on whether or not they should say the Pledge of Allegience to support the troops. No decision was made.
May 2 is the date for student senate elections as well as the student board of organizations elections.
VIII.
OPEN FORUM:
Eric James reported that Suzanne Roy went up to Augusta to perform the first
Personal Wellness Profile screening. There were 48 people screened. One screening
result was that 12% of the people screened did not eat breakfast. A seminar
on the importance of breakfast will be coordinated.
X. MEETING ADJOURNED at 11:10 a.m. by Senate Chair, Rodney Mondor.
Next meeting: May 14, 2003, 9:30 a.m. –11:30 a.m., 206 Payson Smith, Portland.
Reported by: Julie Archibald, Co-Secretary
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