PC Agenda - USM Forum -- Message Board

Date: Sep 1, 2004

PC Agenda

Date: Sep 1, 2004

I can't wait to hear the official party line on items 3 and 4. Aren't these meetings open to the public, including media reps?

AE

Date: Sep 1, 2004

Word is that a couple deans and a few faculty have been meeting in the dome to help the admin spin the USNWR situation. Apparently, they've come up with a singular party line, and it will introduced and the PUC in the morning then paraded out to the general public through the media later.

Date: Sep 1, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: luda
"Word is that a couple deans and a few faculty have been meeting in the dome to help the admin spin the USNWR situation. Apparently, they've come up with a singular party line, and it will introduced and the PUC in the morning then paraded out to the general public through the media later. "

I had a dean who was pretty darn good at putting a spin on things. Hope you're not stooped that low in your hiring. If you have, all I can say is God bless you one and all.

Date: Sep 1, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Austin Eagle
"I can't wait to hear the official party line on items 3 and 4. Aren't these meetings open to the public, including media reps?
AE"

Yes, the meetings have been open in the past. I hear rumor that both the Hattiesburg American and The Student Printz have been alerted and will be in attendance.

Date: Sep 1, 2004

Where is the "UC" part of the agenda? This is obviously the President's version. When do the PUCSKETEERS get to raise issues of concern?

Date: Sep 1, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: All's (Un)fair
"Where is the "UC" part of the agenda? This is obviously the President's version. When do the PUCSKETEERS get to raise issues of concern?"

You're absolutely correct. The published agenda is more like a series of announcements than a discussion. If that is the case the announcements might just as well be presented in the form of a memoandum (email or surface mail).

Also, why is the "outsourcing" being explained two months after it was initiated?

Date: Sep 1, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: All's (Un)fair
"Where is the "UC" part of the agenda? This is obviously the President's version. When do the PUCSKETEERS get to raise issues of concern?"

Items 2c, 2d, 3 and4 were put on the agenda by the faculty. Some of these were even suggested by this board under the thread "questions for the next PC meeting".
The titles of the items were written by the person who wrote the agenda, the president's assistant. Notice that Lisa Mader will be present to answer tough questions that I know will be asked.

Date: Sep 1, 2004

I was actually looking for something about Becky but I see the issue is covered in #7 - sorry that I missed it. If there is the opportunity for real discussion, rather than just "reporting" then the agenda is better than it first appeared.

Date: Sep 1, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: All's (Un)fair
"I was actually looking for something about Becky but I see the issue is covered in #7 - sorry that I missed it. If there is the opportunity for real discussion, rather than just "reporting" then the agenda is better than it first appeared."

The agenda may be revised at the beginning of the meeting. Some may want the more significant items moved up to be sure they are discussed. From what I hear the "discussions" may be very interesting.

Date: Sep 1, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Reporter
" Items 2c, 2d, 3 and4 were put on the agenda by the faculty. Some of these were even suggested by this board under the thread "questions for the next PC meeting". The titles of the items were written by the person who wrote the agenda, the president's assistant. Notice that Lisa Mader will be present to answer tough questions that I know will be asked. "

Please those of you who will attend this meeting, ask those tough questions for those you represent - btw, those who you represent are not only the people currently at USM. Ask those questions for former students/alumni, former faculty/administrators/staff who have left, and ask those questions for a community who continues to want to see the best out of USM. Ask the questions out of integrity. Ask the questions in order to uphold student justice. Ask the questions because anyone who cares about USM doesn't want to see USM fail. That's a given.

SFT and LSM will address the current rankings etc. Great. Make them talk with you and not TO you. Those of us who can not physically be there with you will be cheering you on the sidelines.

Date: Sep 1, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: educator
" Please those of you who will attend this meeting, ask those tough questions . . . Those of us who can not physically be there with you will be cheering you on the sidelines."

To educator's comments I would like to add this: please don't let them bamboozle you with any slick, silver-tongued, doubletalk. Press them for direct, factual responses.

Date: Sep 1, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Eagerly Waiting
"To educator's comments I would like to add this: please don't let them bamboozle you with any slick, silver-tongued, doubletalk. Press them for direct, factual responses. "

I so agree with EW -- I believe in this faculty/staff/students/administrators - you're in this for many of us that you can't even imagine. We are pulling for you to discern the FACTS and out the SPIN.

Date: Sep 1, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Reporter
"President’s Council Agenda Thursday, September 2 Commons A 7:00 AM 1. Approval of Minutes – DJ Johnson 2. President’s Update – Dr. Shelby Thames a. Enrollment – Dr. Joe Paul b. Honors College – Dr. Ken Panton c. Classroom Furniture Upgrades – Dr. Cynthia Moore d. Faculty Handbook – Dr. Cynthia Moore 3. The U.S. News and World Report's Ranking and Southern Miss’ Response - Lisa Mader 4. Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Learning and the Southern Regional Educational Board's Institutional Categories – Dr. Shelby Thames 5. Outsourcing Decision Criteria and Plans – Gregg Lassen 6. Reallocation of Funds – Gregg Lassen 7. Plans for Affirmative Action – Russ Willis 8. Fall Meeting Schedule: all meetings are at 7:00 AM in Commons A Thursday, September 2 Wednesday, October 6 Thursday, November 4 Thursday, December 2 9. Other "

PLEASE tell me that #7 (Plans for Affirmative Action) is more important than friggin' classroom furniture updates from CEM.

Date: Sep 2, 2004

As was noticed by someone earlier, its pretty darn weird (and pathetic) that classroom furniture and the faculty handbook are given the same weight in the agenda--and are handled by the same person.

Hope someone there brings up the Iowa anti-retaliation policy.

Date: Sep 2, 2004

Perhaps the most important item concerns the stripping of year-end money from departmental budgets to fund the $400 raise. Year-end money (money unspend from each department's yearly budget) has traditionally been returned to the department and allowed to accumulate in a developmental account. This money could be saved up for big ticket items (copiers, renovations, etc) or to supplement meager travel budgets, provide support for research, etc. Without warning to the departments, Lassen swept up this money to pay for the $400 raise. Besides double-crossing frugal and fiscally responsible departments, the university has funded a continuing cost (remember, they are raises, not one-time bonuses) with one-time money (chairs will make sure that every penny of their budget is spent by June 30 in the future so none can be swept up again).

Where will SFT and GL get the $1.5 million next year (compounded if their are future raises)? Look for more devastation of the university in order to fund these PR driven raises.

Date: Sep 2, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Anonymouse
"
Where will SFT and GL get the $1.5 million next year (compounded if their are future raises)? Look for more devastation of the university in order to fund these PR driven raises.
"

Stupid. Treat people badly, then try and pay them off with 400 measly dollars. Sometimes, if you treat people right, they will continue to work hard for you for much less money than they deserve.