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Faculty Senate Meeting Minutes November 15, 2023

University of Louisiana at Lafayette Faculty Senate
Draft Minutes, Wednesday, November 15, 2023, Zoom Meeting
Presiding: President Philip Auter, Secretary Kelly Robinson

I. Call to Order

3:59 pm

II. Quorum Call

26 senators needed; 24 senators; quorum not met

III. Executive Report

by Philip Auter

  • Review and vote on the handbook revision in January 17. Dianne Olivier’s office will update the handbook within a week’s time.
  • Big handbook revision is still underway. New one is one the way.
  • Rap session for spring 2024 guests being coordinated.
  • Upcoming spring 2024, need to get senate committees up and running.
  • Working on improving the structure of the faculty grievance process. Continue through the spring.
  • Faculty Senate will be involved in the faculty market adjustment study.
  • Canvas transition in spring 2024 is unknown.
  • Waiting to last minute may work in our favor.
  • Senate Elections in the Spring 2024 for new Fall 2024 senators.
  • Need to work with Dean’s office to ensure elections are held.
  • AAUP event in Baton Rouge in early March, at the beginning of the legislative session.
  • Work on self-care.

Still not at quorum at 4:07pm

IV. Senate Committee Reports
  • Student evaluation instruction committee report. P. Auter read the summary aloud.
  • Any other committee reports?
    • None
V. Approval of Meeting Agenda

November Agenda (Senate cannot approve because we are still not at quorum)

Agenda Reviewed

  • Approve October minutes and November Faculty Senate agenda.
     
  • Old Business
    • ​Review and vote on a handbook amendment. Clean-up amendment to take bullet-point documents on faculty website and place them in a section 9 of the handbook. Update current section 9 to be section 10.
  • New Business​
    • ​None
  • P. Auter provided synopsis of meeting about state of higher education in Louisiana.
    • Paid parental leave signed by executive order about a week ago. Does NOT apply to higher education. Higher education boards are working on paid parental leave. Differs from FMLA says you cannot be fired for a period of time, but is unpaid. Paid parental leave says not fired and get paid at normal rate. Applies for parents (i.e., pregnant person and spouse); not grandparents. Effective Jan. 1, 2024. Does not affect high education because the board of higher education are not beholden to the governor’s office or the legislature.
    • University of Louisiana System Faculty Senate

Quorum Check at 4:25pm - 27 senators present

  • Quorum is met.

Approve the agenda. Istvan Berkeley motions to approve; 17 in favor; 0 nay; 0 abstain

Approve October Minutes

  • Eve motions to approve; Leah Orr seconds
  • 26 approve; 0 nay; 0 abstain
VI. Old Business
  • Review handbook amendment to take 13 bullet-point documents on faculty website hosted by Academic Affairs and place them in a section 9 of the handbook “Additional Academic Policies and Procedures.” Proposal includes to update the handbook’s current section 9, “Procedures for Making Changes”, to be section 10.

    https://academicaffairs.louisiana.edu/about-us/forms-policies-procedures...

P. Auter: Any discussion?
K. Robinson motions; Jean Cartier seconds.

  • 22 out 26 in favor; 0 nay; 0 abstain
  • Motions carries
VII. New Business

None

VIII. Announcements

If you want to participate in the UL System Conference in New Orleans, La., then the deadline to register is Nov. 27, 2023. https://www.ulsystem.edu/for-our-future-conference-2024/

IX. Adjournment

4:36 pm


Submitted by Philip Auter
January 17, 2024