FROM FACULTY SENATE LISTSERV:
 
Good Morning Colleagues:

Sorry I wasn't able to respond to Ray Folse's  request yesterday for a summary of events form the PC meeting, but  time ran out on me as I was constructing a test for classes today.  And all of you know how disappointed my students would have been if I showed up today without the test!   Thus, a short "morning after" PC summary now follows.  Mary Beth Applin represented Anne Wallace yesterday, so Mary Beth, please add to my recollections wherever you think it is necessary.  As in previous summaries, what I write will not consist of verbatim quotes, and the 
impressions I offer are my own take on the highlights of the PC meeting.

AGENDA

1.  Approval of minutes from the February 9 meeting of the PC.

2.  Scholarship Accomplishments of Athletes (Richard Giannini)

Giannini described the academic achievements of many athletes and compared USM athletic teams with competitors.  He explained the new NCAA point scale and discussed where certain universities are relative to the point scale.  Mr. Giannini also discussed graduation rates, and again, USM athletes are doing well.   The "bottom line" seems to be that USM athletes are very competitive academically and do better than those athletes at many brand name universities.  I mentioned that I have had several women athletes in my mathematics classes, and all have worked hard and achieved.  Other members of the PC were positive about their interactions with athletes as well.

3.  Medical Technology Test Results (Dr. Jane Hudson)

Jane Hudson reported on some recent impressive test results in Med Tech for all students and then stated that one of our Med Tech students received one of the highest scores in the nation.

4.  Recruitment and Enrollment Update (Joe Paul)

Joe Paul was upbeat on recruitment.  He said that acceptances are up by over 8 percent for freshman, and up about 7 percent for transfers.   I asked Joe about ACT composite scores over the last several  years.  Joan Exline just happened to have them with her.  Based on what she shared with me, our ACT averages are vritually flat over the last four years, ranging from a low of 20.51 (fall 2003) to a high of 20.98 (fall 2004). 
Joe Paul said we are seeing changes on the high and low ends.  That is, the higher end is "higher," and the low end has slipped even lower.
I also asked for Full Time Equated Students (FTES) for the 2003 and 2004 fall semesters, and for the 2004 and 2005 spring semesters.  Recall that one FTES student equates to 15 credit hours, and funding is generally more tied to FTES than it is to head count enrollments.  To illustrate the difference, 5 students taking 3 credits is one FTES by IHL standards, as is one student 15 credits.  In the former case, there is a head count enrollment of 5, whereas in the latter case there is a head count enrollment of 1.  But in both cases, revenue collected would be about the same.

I then asked for the list of courses from the Gulf Coast whose enrollment caps were over ridden and for a list of faculty who had agreed after the fact to these over rides.  I had previously asked for this information at the January PC meeting, but still have not received it.  Joan Exline assured me she would get right on this.

5.  SACS Activities

Joan Exline gave an upbeat report on our progress for SACS, both in addressing the probation concerns and in preparing for reaffirmation.
6.  Hinds Community College Visit (Joan Exline)

In continuing efforts to smooth our curricular and transfer issues, a team from Hinds will visit USM.  Other visits from representatives of other community colleges have occurred and will occur.

7.  Questions.

Tammy Greer had apparently asked that the "Warren Paving" meeting of "invited business leaders" be on the agenda.  However Scott Piland, PC faculty facilitator,  apparently thought this topic fit best under the "Questions" part of the PC agenda.  In a nutshell, Tammy stated that 
she felt the Thames Administration should have responded to the criticisms about liberal arts.  Dr. Thames  asked if she had read the article in the Hattiesburg American by Dean Elliot Pood.  He also stated that he was not invited to the paving meeting, and that USM was going to continue as a comprehensive university.  He said if people have concerns or need clarification, they should just come over a see him.  "His door is always open for faculty and others."  I mentioned that I had secured an invitation to the meeting that was subsequently withdrawn.  I also echoed what Tammy was saying when I stated that one would expect no less from the Dean of Arts and Letters (than Dean Pood's letter), but that since the USM public relations office was tied to one of the organizers of the paving meeting, a clarifying statement from Public Relations and President Thames was appropriate.
Tammy continued with this by emphasizing how what had happened had again eroded trust and why a statement from Dr. Thames would have helped the situation.  Dr. Thames soon said that two people were waiting for him in his office and that he had to leave.  And hence the PC meeting ended.

This PC meeting thus ended much like the last one on February 9 when Anne Wallace and I were raising questions about the Grimes letter to Dean Harold Doty.  Some might suggest that a pattern is evident from these last two PC meetings:  the agenda is full of  reports from the administration (which can be informative), and controversial items are delayed to the end when time for real discussion is limited.   There is another pattern that may be evident.  We are having fewer and fewer PC meetings.  February 9, then March 23, and now not till May 10.  Two week spans between PC meetings have evolved to six week spans.  Draw your own conclusions on this one.

This concludes my report.  It wasn't quite as brief as I had intended. 
Ray Folse, if I had written it last night, it would have been brief. 
Colleagues, have a good day.  Myron Henry