Myron's PUC Report - USM Forum -- Message Board

Date: Jun 9, 2005

Myron's PUC Report

Date: Jun 9, 2005

"Data for 2004-2005 are not complete but so far, about fifty colleagues have left the university by assuming new positions elsewhere or retiring."

I doubt that the university has accurate information on this. I don't recall being asked why I was leaving or what I would be doing. Retiring from USM and accepting another position are not mutually exclusive.

Date: Jun 9, 2005

We asked about the number of faculty, and Russ reported we had about 650 not including one-year only appointments. I asked how many were tenure-track and he speculated about 600 or maybe 550.

Isn't this a figure that should be very easy to provide? I heared rumors last year that the number was now in the mid 400s, so 550-600 seems like a gross exaggeration. Anyone have better figures than Russ?

Date: Jun 9, 2005

foot soldier wrote:

Isn't this a figure that should be very easy to provide?

I would think that any university, or any other organization for that matter, would have such figures at its fingertips. If accurate data on the number of employees are not immediately available, is accurate data available on anything?

Date: Jun 9, 2005

I find this whole report extremely disturbing. It seems to me that Dr. Thames still does not "get it."

I wish someone would report their personal impressions as to his demeanor, body language, apparent state of health, etc.

Interesting that item #7 did not get discussed after all.

Date: Jun 9, 2005

With the exception of the Midas crap and the distance learning nonsense, the goals for the next two years are nothing different than what any university would do. Just plug in the name of any school. What we seem to have here is just a collection of general statements that would be applicable anywhere, anyplace, anytime, a codification of the obvious:

Improve access to education How?

Expand programs to coast and improve distance learning

Create environments conducive to learning

Increase scholarships and other funding

Improve retention rates

Ensure quality learning opportunities How?

Maintain accreditation--SACS, NCATE, and others
Improve Program Assessment
Recruit/Retain quality faculty
Be efficient to internally fund merit raises
Recruit high ability students

Promote research, Innovation,and scholarship How?

Support faculty in quest to obtain federal funding through grants
Continue funding the MIDAS program

Ehance the economic condition of Mississippi and beyond How?

Develop/expand academic programs that will help MS Work with ADP and businesses as partners in economic development

Enrich quality of life How?

Improve access to campus facilities and events

Date: Jun 9, 2005

Third Witch wrote:

I wish someone would report their personal impressions as to his demeanor, body language, apparent state of health, etc.

I second this request.

Date: Jun 9, 2005

Ho Hum wrote:

With the exception of the Midas crap and the distance learning nonsense, the goals for the next two years are nothing different than what any university would do. Just plug in the name of any school. What we seem to have here is just a collection of general statements that would be applicable anywhere, anyplace, anytime, a codification of the obvious.

Why is the USM administration setting as its goals for the next two years things that just about every other university in the country has been doing for decades?

Why aren't these listed as goals?

1. Establishing a due process mechanism for university employees. Judging from what happened to Stringer and Glamser and others (Whatever USM pretends to have now doesn't seem to be working).

2. Developing an ethical and legal system for protecting student and faculty communication (email, telephone) from abuse (Whatever USM pretends to have now doesn't seem to be working).

3. Initiating appropriate faculty and administrator search procedures (Whatever USM pretends to have now doesn't seem to be working).

4. Installing an appropriate system of shared governance such as exists at good universities across the country.

5. Other.

Date: Jun 9, 2005

foot soldier wrote:

We asked about the number of faculty, and Russ reported we had about 650 not including one-year only appointments. I asked how many were tenure-track and he speculated about 600 or maybe 550.

Isn't this a figure that should be very easy to provide? I heared rumors last year that the number was now in the mid 400s, so 550-600 seems like a gross exaggeration. Anyone have better figures than Russ?

I'm afraid that Russ wants his job so much that he will do anything to keep it. He was pushed out by Dvorak and after Glamser/Stringer put themselves on the line, he got the position back. Of course he is deserving. He really knows how things work. But Russ is scared.

Date: Jun 9, 2005

Reality check wrote:
He really knows how things work. But Russ is scared.

Too bad a man with his credentials and capabilities is working for an outfit such as this. He deserves better.

Date: Jun 9, 2005

Ad Astra and Room Scheduling .

Much discussion centered on the problems this summer with scheduling. Casy Turnage and Gregg Pierce led the discussion. They were duly apologetic for this summer's experiences and assured PC members things would be better for the fall.

I wonder why Myron left out some perteninent data.

Change of Schedule Transactions 1/3/2005 -1/21/2005 (1 week before and 2 weeks after the start of the spring semester)

1. COAL 265 changes

2. COST 332 changes

3. COH 75 changes

4.COEP 120 changes

5. COB 13 changes

6. 68 classes without an instructor

The "old" system was good? And Ad Astra is bad!!

Let's see what Fall brings!!

Date: Jun 9, 2005

Faupau wrote:

I wonder why Myron left out some perteninent data.

Considering the vast number of important issues USM has, I suspect he might have left it out because by comparison it is a trivial matter.

Date: Jun 9, 2005

Beneath the Blue Horizon wrote:

Reality check wrote:He really knows how things work. But Russ is scared. Too bad a man with his credentials and capabilities is working for an outfit such as this. He deserves better.

Sorry to say it, but he needs to check his ethics and consider why he works for that tyrant.

Date: Jun 9, 2005

Interesting that Thames talked about competing with Tulane's Executive MBA program while in the infamous Black Friday memo Grimes talked about competing with Phoenix and William Carey. A real concensus of strategy amongst the management team. Wait 'til the business folks respond to this!

Date: Jun 9, 2005

Emma wrote:

"Sorry to say it, but he needs to check his ethics and consider why he works for that tyrant."

Emma - Why should this one person be singled out? Many work here, including chairs, deans, and other administrators.

Date: Jun 9, 2005

Anon wrote:

"Data for 2004-2005 are not complete but so far, about fifty colleagues have left the university by assuming new positions elsewhere or retiring."
I doubt that the university has accurate information on this. I don't recall being asked why I was leaving or what I would be doing. Retiring from USM and accepting another position are not mutually exclusive.

It appears that Babbs' list is more comnplete than Russ Willis's accounting.

And there's no way they can know whether someone is retiring altogether, retiring and moving elsewhere, or just moving elsewhere unless they ask.

Robert Campbell

Date: Jun 9, 2005

Why is the USM administration setting as its goals for the next two years things that just about every other university in the country has been doing for decades?
Why aren't these listed as goals?
1. Establishing a due process mechanism for university employees. Judging from what happened to Stringer and Glamser and others (Whatever USM pretends to have now doesn't seem to be working).
2. Developing an ethical and legal system for protecting student and faculty communication (email, telephone) from abuse (Whatever USM pretends to have now doesn't seem to be working).
3. Initiating appropriate faculty and administrator search procedures (Whatever USM pretends to have now doesn't seem to be working).
4. Installing an appropriate system of shared governance such as exists at good universities across the country.
5. Other.

Even without knowing about Thames' demeanor, body language, etc., Myron's PUC report suggests that there will be no more significant initiatives coming from the Dome.

It's up to the Faculty Senate and other faculty bodies to make the items on this list the priorities.

We all know that Thames and what's left of his crew woud never take the initiative on them... but there is no need. Develop good policies, make them known to the faculty and to the public, and challenge Thames and the Board to accept or reject them.

Robert Campbell

Date: Jun 9, 2005

Faupau,

Thank your for the data on scheduling changes.

It appears that the combination of Ad Astra software with last-minute scheduling was a complete waste.

Robert Campbell

Date: Jun 9, 2005

Robert Campbell wrote:

Even without knowing about Thames' demeanor, body language, etc., Myron's PUC report suggests that there will be no more significant initiatives coming from the Dome.

It's up to the Faculty Senate and other faculty bodies to make the items on this list the priorities.

We all know that Thames and what's left of his crew woud never take the initiative on them... but there is no need. Develop good policies, make them known to the faculty and to the public, and challenge Thames and the Board to accept or reject them.

Robert Campbell

If the anti-faculty forces already assume that faculty is trying to wrest control from the Dome, faculty may as well go ahead and try to wrest as much LEGITIMATE control as it can until we can get some decent administration in here. Or as my granny would put it, y'all may as well be hung for a sheep as a lamb.

Date: Jun 9, 2005

foot soldier wrote:

We asked about the number of faculty, and Russ reported we had about 650 not including one-year only appointments. I asked how many were tenure-track and he speculated about 600 or maybe 550.

Isn't this a figure that should be very easy to provide? I heared rumors last year that the number was now in the mid 400s, so 550-600 seems like a gross exaggeration. Anyone have better figures than Russ?

I'm sure the estimate that Willis gave out is an exaggeration... and, I agree, there's no excuse for someone in his position not to know the exact answer.

But rather than criticize Willis for his ignorance, in an adminstration that fails to track data about the institutions, and his lack of courage, when administrative gutlessness has been endemic for the last three years, I think the more constructive approach would be to develop clear, meaningful reporting guidelines for the different faculty categories.

These guidelines would distinguish full-time from part-time, tenure-track from non-tenure-track faculty, sort out administrators with (real...) faculty titles from those who are actually doing faculty work, and keep separate track of graduate students who teach courses (an important category to report, and one that should never under any circumstances be lumped into a factulty total).

There is some tedium involved in establishing these... I don't know whether USM has any job titles that sometimes go to real faculty and sometimes don't (in the South Carolina state system, Lecturer is a nasty little weasel-title that requires special scrutiny). At Clemson we don't normally count department chairs as faculty, because they are expected to spend more than half their time doing administration, and they can't vote in Faculty Senate elections, but at USM a different criterion may be appropriate.

Once the guidelines are established, then it will time to blast any departure from them as false or misleading.

Setting up these guidelines would be a good job for a special committee of the Faculty Senate, with some participation from the Institutional Research folks.

If Russ Willis refuses to accept the new rules, or claims to be following them when he's actually violating them, then it's appropriate to go after him. But first he should be presented with some guidelines. The same goes for any administrator who is not a card-carrying member of the henchcrew.

Robert Campbell

Date: Jun 9, 2005

... then it will be time to blast any departure from them...

Date: Jun 9, 2005

: Robert Campbell

Date: 1 hr, 8 min. ago
Views: 54

Quote | Reply RE: Myron's PUC Report

Faupau,

Thank your for the data on scheduling changes.

It appears that the combination of Ad Astra software with last-minute scheduling was a complete waste.

Robert CampbellPlease explain.

Date: Jun 9, 2005

Robert.

Please explain the waste.

Date: Jun 9, 2005

Behind the scenes wrote:

Emma wrote: "Sorry to say it, but he needs to check his ethics and consider why he works for that tyrant." Emma - Why should this one person be singled out? Many work here, including chairs, deans, and other administrators.

Because Russ is extremely competent, and is in a major position to be set up in the blame game. I don't want to see that happen either.

Date: Jun 9, 2005

Reality check wrote:

I'm afraid that Russ wants his job so much that he will do anything to keep it. He was pushed out by Dvorak and after Glamser/Stringer put themselves on the line, he got the position back. Of course he is deserving. He really knows how things work. But Russ is scared.

Unconfirmed but credible rumor: In anticipation of Thames May 9 review by the board, Willis wrote a strong support letter for his boss. Willis went through hell earlier and is perhaps a victim of Stockholm Syndrome -- "identification with the aggressor." Or perhaps he's just a sycophantic sellout lured back into the fold by a big fat raise.

A list of faculty names by department and rank ought to clear up any question about how many permanent faculty USM has. If Willis and HR either can't or won't produce such a list, the public numbers are most certainly bogus.

Date: Jun 9, 2005

Jean Moulin wrote:

Unconfirmed but credible rumor: In anticipation of Thames May 9 review by the board, Willis wrote a strong support letter for his boss. Willis went through hell earlier and is...

1. perhaps a victim of Stockholm Syndrome -- "identification with the aggressor."

Or

2. perhaps he's just a sycophantic sellout lured back into the fold by a big fat raise.

Uhhh, I'll take door number two please.

Date: Jun 9, 2005

Insider wrote:

Jean Moulin wrote: Unconfirmed but credible rumor: In anticipation of Thames May 9 review by the board, Willis wrote a strong support letter for his boss. Willis went through hell earlier and is... perhaps he's just a sycophantic sellout lured back into the fold by a big fat raise.

Yup, he's keeping his eyes on the prize, hoping to become one of those Thames-minted millionaires.

Date: Jun 9, 2005

FAUPAU wrote:

Robert. Please explain the waste.
Faupau,

I wasn't trying to be cryptic.

Ad Astra software is expensive... well over $100K, according to previous posts on this Board.

It isn't necessary: lots of universities do fine without it. But if it is used far enough in advance, then the worst room assignments that it produces can be corrected without confusing everyone.

Waiting till just before summer classes meet to make room assignments is asinine, whatever method of scheduling is being used.

Ad Astra software plus last-minute scheduling = a bunch of money pi$$ed away, to produce the least satisfactory result.

Robert Campbell

Date: Jun 9, 2005

Jean Moulin wrote:

Unconfirmed but credible rumor: In anticipation of Thames May 9 review by the board, Willis wrote a strong support letter for his boss.

JM,

If that rumor about the letter of support can be confirmed (big if!), it will mean that Russ Willis has joined the henchcrew.

Still, whoever holds certain positions in the upper administration, there need to be clear reporting standards.

Administrations with a far better management record than SFT's (remember, nearly any other administration has a better record than SFT's) also give out false or misleading information about the number of faculty members at the university. And no one benefits from such false or misleading information--except administrators.

Robert Campbell

Date: Jun 9, 2005

Remember, the faculty at Clemson wanted Horace Flemming to be President in the 90's and the BOT was smart enough to see through him. The faculty at USM was about 99% ready for a no confidence vote on HF before IHL canned him. Why are you listening to a Clemson failure?