From F.S. April minutes:  http://www.usm.edu/fsenate/minutes/2006-04-07.htm

5.0           Old Business

5.1            Discussion about Searches- A senator reported that all the open Psychology positions are gone, and another senator reported that the Chair of the Psychology Department was reprimanded by Dr. Thames and Dr. Grimes for discussing the issue of losing faculty positions. This is at the same time that CISE has been given 14 new positions. The administration is not approving ANY requests by Psychology to fill vacant positions, and has stated various reasons for not doing so. The reasons given by administration to the APA in a letter are different (Katrina) than reasons given to the department and community and the press (department is not productive).  The American Psychological Association, accreditor for the Department, will be notified of the loss of positions. Bill Powell said that information was also given to Dr. Meredith.  It was moved and seconded that a statement should be made by the Senate concerning the situation in Psychology, specifically issues of mismanagement, favoritism, and threats to accreditation should be brought to the IHL.  The motion carried with 33 ayes, 0 nays and 2 abstentions. Bill Powell will see that the statement is created. 

5.2           Motion on No Confidence

5.2.1          It was decided that No Confidence would be further discussed in the May meeting.

5.2.2          A draft for No Confidence was distributed to the Senate. Several senators objected to any references of a personal nature (ad hominem material) in the motion.  On the issue of workloads, Dr. Thames and the Faculty Senate Executive Committee agreed that the workload statement in the Faculty Handbook had served well, and saw no need to change it. Dr. Thames said that implementation of the policy was not occurring consistently. One senator said that the Senate needed to consider one reason there was little money and resources were diminished in Hattiesburg was because of Katrina. The senator stated that no one had lost their job due to Katrina, and that has caused hardship in other areas.  Another senator asked to consider a more positive approach to the problems associated with Dr. Thames; that of reaffirming the upcoming presidential search, and support the beginning of that process.  Several senators applauded that approach.  However, other senators agreed that a strong message needs to be sent to the IHL commissioner, one that expresses the Faculty’s concern about protecting what is left of USM and to prevent more damage to academic units which will take years to rebuild, such as the History and Psychology Departments. Discussion ensued with more senators agreeing that the long term impact on the University for recent decisions by administration will take decades to fix.  Senators were distressed at the decisions being made by Dr. Thames that will impact the next president and delay the recovery of the University, for instance; outsourcing, faculty positions, changing TA and GA structure. A senator expressed that it is hard to allow Dr. Thames to finish his term in a good light, as IHL hoped, because he continues to do what caused him to be terminated in the first place. Also stated: The Senate needs to ask strongly for more IHL oversight of USM.  Another senator stated that the minutes this year have reported problem after problem, and the pattern of problematic, fundamental changes to USM have to stop. Amy Young, Myron Henry, Bill Scarborough and Bill Powell will work on a statement for the May meeting, asking IHL for more oversight, for protection, and to limit damage before the next president arrives.

From F.S. May Minutes: http://www.usm.edu/fsenate/minutes/2006-05-05.htm

7.1        Discussion of a possible Motion on No Confidence- A senator moved that the senate should only consider the Motion reiterating the upcoming Presidential search and need for Oversight (7.2). The motion was seconded, and passed.  Discussants emphasized that the previous vote of no confidence still stands. Discussion moved on to 7.2.

7.2        Discussion of a Motion on Search & Board Oversight.  After discussion, it was moved, seconded and passed, with one abstention, to send the following letter to the President of the IHL Board and Dr. Meredith:

“Although members of the Faculty Senate had hoped for an earlier start date for the search for a new president of USM, we support the Board of Trustees and Commissioner Tom Meredith as they initiate the search process in fall 2006.

We respectfully ask that the Board of Trustees and Commissioner Meredith utilize a presidential search process that ensures meaningful involvement of faculty, staff, alumni, and other members of the USM community.

The Faculty Senate will work constructively with the Board of Trustees and Commissioner Meredith as well as other appropriate parties to assure a new USM president is appointed in spring 2007 who will lead and serve the USM community in respectful, engaging, and effective ways.

Because the appointment of a new USM president is nearly a year away, we encourage the Board of Trustees and Commissioner Meredith to exercise more oversight over the current USM administration in order to avoid short term decisions that could have a negative long term impact on the University and on the Presidential Search Process.”