February 2022 Minutes

Minutes of the Faculty Senate

Virtual Meeting in Zoom

February 17, 2022

Present: Senators Logan, Almotairi, Valenzuela, Petty, Pfannenstiel, Oden, S. Schroeder, Coppersmith, T. Schroeder, Tucker, White, Fanning, Wilson, Overholser, Nelson, Hudgens

Proxies: Kurt Coppersmith for John Schneiderwind

Ex-officio and guests: Trey Berry, David Lanoue, Donna Allen, Roger Giles, Shawana Reed, Jennifer Rowsam, Sheryl Edwards, Gerald Plumlee, Robin Sronce, Helmut Langerbein, Abdel Bachri, Karen Landry, Copie Moore, Shane Warrick, Christie Hough, Mia Cheatham

Call to order: 3:41 pm

1. Approval of Minutes

Minutes from January 20, 2022 were approved (motion – Overholser, second – Oden).

2. Special Orders of the Day

Report by Faculty Senate President – COVID reporting

A question has been raised by faculty regarding the policy regarding how information on COVID-positive employees has been and is being dispersed on campus to inform individuals deemed in need of such information (deans, physical plant, etc.). The question asked if the employee has been made aware that their health information can be shared to various offices on campus. Written response was made by VPA Giles (attached at end of minutes) indicating that notice was given to employees that information about COVID-positive individuals would be forwarded to additional departments on campus. Provost Lanoue added that such language was in the original campus response documents but that through a variety of updates to that document, this statement was not as prominent as it once was.

Senator T. Schroeder made a motion: Based on the earlier email exchange and the comments on the policy provided here, I move that we recommend the administration adds a sentence to the SAU Response portion of the policy stating that any employee who tests positive receives a complete list of people on the SAU campus who have been given their name and told they are COVID-positive. Senator T. Schroeder accepted a friendly amendment from Senator Overholser that instead of “a list of people on the SAU campus” that it read “a list of offices on the SAU campus”. Motion seconded by Senator White. Motion carried without opposition.

Report from the Faculty Senate Budget Committee

Senator Tucker indicated that the Senate Budget Committee has met with previous members of the University Budget Committee to get a feeling for what the group will be asked to do this year. The committee intends to survey the faculty regarding what their thoughts are on what should be targeted as a budget priority for the coming year. Items on this list include but would not be limited to COLA, travel budgets, overload pay increases, adjunct pay increases, salary equity adjustments, faculty budget lines for positions, increases in pay for promotion, and supplies and services funding. The survey will ask faculty to rank each in terms of importance and also leave an open response option for anyone to list a budget concern that was not included on the list. Senator Overholser inquired about the anonymity of responses from smaller departments. Dr. Tucker indicated that identification at the college level and not department level is what was intended. Motion to approve the report (T. Schroeder, second Oden). Motion carries without opposition.

Other Committee reports

Senator White reports that the Academic Affairs Committee met the day before with lively conversation on some topics presented. He encourages all to look at the minutes of the Academic Affairs Committee when they are available.

3. Old Business

President Schroeder is considering a survey of faculty for feedback regarding the proposed handbook policy on 4-week and midterm grades which previously the Faculty Senate voted to send to the Faculty Assembly where the proposed policy change was narrowly defeated in January, 2022. As this is a Quality Initiative item, President Schroeder looks to find out why so many responding faculty would not vote in favor of the policy so that the policy language might be reworked and submitted once again for approval.

4. New Business

Proposed revisions to the Tenure and Promotion policies in the Faculty Handbook

Provost Lanoue indicates that this in another area where current practice is not represented in the Faculty Handbook Policies. Provost Lanoue presented the proposed changes (distributed to the Faculty Senate prior to the meeting) and indicated a special need to codify “normal” vs. “minimal” periods of time for tenure and for promotion and that early promotion or (especially) tenure has become something of the norm instead of only for exceptional candidates. Senator Tucker asked that if the policy is approved, will it apply to all current faculty and if not, when does it kick in? Provost Lanoue indicated that he would like to have input from the Handbook Committee and from the Senate in general in the future about that. Senator White added that multiple measuring sticks for faculty performance can be problematic and that unifying the policy will be good. Senator White made a motion to refer these proposed changes to the Faculty Senate Handbook Committee (T. Schroeder second). Motion carried without opposition.

Questions for the Administration

1. Can the administration clarify the policy regarding teaching for other universities? We fill out forms, but it appears that some faculty are allowed to teach elsewhere while some are not. How are the decisions made regarding this? If we are on 9 month contracts, does this mean we may teach elsewhere during our 3 months off contract?

VPA Giles indicates that outside employment of faculty members is acceptable under the following conditions (approval forms are available from Human Resources):

• Does not conflict with SAU job performance
• Not done on SAU grounds or using SAU technology/equipment
• Has the advanced permission of the SAU President

Provost Lanoue added clarification about the basis on which judgements are made. If the outside employment impacts the daily job performance of the faculty member, that is problematic. The proposed position cannot be at a competing institution and that AR schools as well as east Texas and northern Louisiana schools would be out. VPA Giles added that summer terms are included in this policy. Must be filled out each year unless the initial request for permission indicated that this will be an ongoing situation at the same institution. President Schroeder asked if there is a mechanism for consistency across colleges so that the policy is enforced uniformly? Provost Lanoue responded that if the Dean is okay with it and the HR forms are completed, the administration will likely approve. Consistency comes from the Office of the President. If faculty do not inform in advance and secure permission, it is a violation of policy.

2. Is the Risk Management Task Force expected to be a permanent committee of the University? Does the membership to the Risk Management Task Force change?  If so, what is the duration of membership and what guidelines are used for selection to the committee?

President Berry indicated that the RMTF is not a standing, permanent committee. It meets as needed. The RMTF for COVID-19 includes current and past presidents of the Faculty Senate and the Staff Senate as well as other faculty including Drs. McDermott (Biology), Landry (Nursing) and can be modified to address any risks to the campus as they might arise. President Schroeder indicates that the RMTF has provided information on recent class cancellation due to weather. Will that continue? President Berry indicated that this is a good question and it will be looked at.

Comments from SAU President Berry

• Current COVID cases are nearly down to zero on campus; only 32 in the county
• Computer rollout process is about half done, will continue through May
• Recruiting: Graduate applications are up, undergraduate applications are up, tours are up
• Enrollment metrics for AR institutions were shared. SAU is down about 4.5% since 2017, which is very good compared to other AR schools
• Would like to increase our fund balances beyond having the current 5-6 months of cash on hand as a hedge against the unknown
• AR Governor is awarding SAU a $700k increase to base state funding which will feed into the budgeting process for 2022-2023

Comments from Provost Lanoue

• Our funding formula compares us to ourselves and the past MCIS bubble of students is now not helping us at all. It is a poor system but we look good even though the calculations within the system do not support that.
• We will transition into fall 2022 at classroom capacities that are nearer to normal pre-COVID capacities. Not entirely back to where we were, but working that direction. Decreases in course caps resulting in extra sections of courses likely cost SAU about $100k per year.

5. Adjourn

Motion to Adjourn (Motion – White, second – Fanning). Motion carries without opposition.

Next meeting of the Faculty Senate is scheduled for Thursday, March 17^th at 3:40 pm.

From Roger Giles (2/4 email)

“We made all faculty and staff aware prior to Fall 2020 that supervisors–both immediate and up the chain–would be involved in individual-level responses to COVID-19 cases, as would staff from the Physical Plant, and that these responses would necessitate providing information about the identity of quarantined and isolated individuals (see below).  This policy, included in our “Return to Campus Guide,” was developed by a shared governance task force consisting of administrators, staff, and faculty.  The link to this guide was provided to all faculty and staff in a Task Force email on July 16, 2020.  We feel, therefore, that we have been fully transparent in our efforts to carry out this policy, which was developed, as I previously noted, in response to a deadly global pandemic.  Nevertheless, given the time that has passed since the policy was published, I am certainly open to revisiting our approach as the situation evolves.”

Exposure to a Confirmed Case of COVID-19:

(Health Protocol Only)

The Employee Response:

• Notify University Health Services and immediate supervisor.
• If possible, get tested.
• Quarantine at home for 14 days following the last exposure.
• Stay away from other people.
• Monitor health conditions, including twice a day temperature checks.
• Contact health care provider should personal health conditions change during quarantine, and notify UHS of symptomatic changes during the 14-day period.
• Stay away from people who are at higher-risk.

SAU Response:

• The immediate supervisor should contact the physical plant at (870) 235-4065.
• Ask to speak with whichever of the following is available: Robby, Kyle, or Laurie.
• If one of these individuals is not immediately available to take the call, a message should be left that the call is in reference to COVID-19 and both an office number and cell phone number should be provided by the caller.
• The physical plant will then lead, perform, and provide disinfectant procedures and protocols.
• University Health Services will lead and provide additional guidance to departments following ADH and CDC guidance regarding any additional health-related safety issues and will work with supervisors to implement the response.