College of Health Sciences

MINUTES FOR CAC MEETING

December 6, 2006

In attendance: Dr. Jan Corder, Dr. Paxton Oliver, Dr. Jessica Dolecheck, Dr. Florencetta Gibson, Emmy Doughty, Juliet Burgess, Belinda Morgan, Jay Hicks, Beverly Jarrell, Peggy Meredith, Debbie Wisenor, Dr. Linda Bryan, and Marge Michel.

Absent: Dr. Judy Fellows (exc.)

The College Administrative council (CAC) met in the Nursing Conference room from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. Dr. Corder called the meeting to order and introduced the guest for the meeting, President Cofer.

Pres. Cofer discussed view of changes made for

• communication, flow from bottom to top;
• shared governance, reorganization; and
• strategic plan progress.

P. Oliver asked for information concerning the Dean’s search. Pres. Cofer shared

• National search underway with use of a specific search firm
• 3 colleges are included in the search for permanent deans.
• Expectations are for the dean for COHS to be selected and hired this summer 2007.

D. Wisenor asked for information concerning the resent rash of thefts. Dr Cofer shared

• Smart rooms are to have key fobs and swipe card access,
• He noticed the sign on the Nursing Building outer doors about securing the building when leaving after hours,
• Possibility of being cited in audit due to theft of several moveable equipment items,
• Administrations awareness of the severity of the problem and how the $1 million will be used to further enhance security measures,
• Issues are expected to arise with some faculty concerning the security measures being installed.

J. Hicks asked for information concerning the core curriculum and if there are plans for any changes. Dr. Cofer shared

• How faculty can put forth a request for assessment and evaluation of current classes to determine if the courses now being taught are the ones needed by COHS students in specific disciplines.
• The possibility that an alternate course option may fit some disciplines better,
• That this can be brought forth at a dean’s meeting.

F. Gibson asked for information concerning the faculty activity database (FAD):  security, difficulty in populating the database, and time it takes to complete entering data. Dr. Cofer shared

• His amazement at the view of faculty concerning the security issue in keeping the information private when there already are multiple sites where this information can be obtained, i.e., the university catalogue and disciplines web page. Paper is less secure.
• The FAD will have to be complete for accreditation purposes.
• He did not know of difficulty in the entry of data and that is a software glitch that can be fixed. He questioned if there was previous reporting and it was confirmed that P. Oliver and J. Corder had both reported this previously in other meetings. 

P. Oliver commented on the lack of instructions and the changing date for completion. Dr. Cofer

• Asked for what consequences could be given to faculty who have incomplete FADs
• He will address with Dr. Richters.

D. Wisenor asked for information concerning the reorganization efforts. Dr. Cofer discussed

• Deans have the budget to put secretaries in place if they so desire, the money is for faculty as well as secretaries;
• Previous letters sent addressing faculty salaries;
• Failure of reorganization is due to a procedure not being written and established prior to implementation of the secretarial changes;
• There is a possibility that some department heads will need secretaries and some department heads will need to be 12 months;
• The original implementation phase was a failure but all are working on change, moving several areas of responsibilities from upper administration down to the dean level.

J. Corder stated part of the difficulty in the COHS is that there is little room, working out of a conference room and sharing office space with pharmacy. Secretarial situation will not change until others move in January 2007.

Dr. Cofer shared

• How procedures are to be a work in progress with sharing of information for what is expected of personnel;
• How shared governance is behind the curve since the senate has just defined what shared governance is to be with principles to be examined, including the possibility of a new constitution and faculty senate changes.
• The changes need to be what faculty want with the progress slow enough to be good for what occurs;
• The view has to be from the bottom up instead of the top down; evolutionary process, moving forward with no stalls.

E. Doughty asked for information concerning the recent media reports about the state’s wind fall of money. Dr. Cofer discussed

• Politics and funding mechanism is tied together;
• ULM is at the 110% funding formula.
• A future suggestion will be to take pharmacy out of the formula and have them funded as LSU has the medical school and law school funded. This would put ULM at 85% funding according to the formula.
• This would also result in a smaller share for all others in the university.

E. Doughty presented how a recent national ranking of states for population’s health ranked LA as 50^th. E. Doughty stated the health sciences could have the opportunity to make a difference. Dr. Cofer discussed

• Current political issues make for tough times;

J. Burgess presented how other schools are increasing enrollment and faculty numbers. Currently ULM is not. Dr. Cofer discussed

• Other schools have more students per faculty ratio;
• His view is for ULM SON to examine options to do the same.

F. Gibson presented how technology and lab space would assist in increasing numbers of students in the professional program. Dr. Cofer discussed

• Money is the issue

F. Gibson presented how other institutions have funding variances because they have professional fees placed in a dedicated account to use for technology and faculty salaries.

Dr. Cofer discussed

• If this is the case, present a plan and utilization of money in writing.

J. Corder presented that the Budget Committee has put forth a plan for increasing fees and the professional fee asked for was not approved. Dr. Cofer stated that the fee approval would have to be approved by the Board of Supervisors and the LA Legislature. J. Corder presented that she had put forth a different amount to Dr. Richters. Dr. Cofer stated

• That other institutions would be asking for the same increase and this was problematic from a politicians view. 
• Other avenues for money resources needed to be added.

J. Corder agreed but stated that faculty members were working at capacity at present. Dr. Cofer asked for a plan in writing of options.

F. Gibson presented how other institutions were funded by consortiums of hospitals. The funding was for five years and at a level to pay for faculty members salaries. Dr. Cofer discussed the issues associated with the regional hospital situations. F. Gibson presented how there were agencies supporting classes for the spring: peri-op courses and oncology. Dr. Cofer would like to know if there are problems with contracts. He has association with individuals who could assist in promoting the contracts.

J. Corder asked if OTA could be grown. Dr. Cofer stated “Yes.” J. Corder stated that there are more students available but more faculty are needed. Dr. Cofer discussed

• Money formula and possibility that there will not be more money due to loss of students from the fall to the spring last year.
• There is a decrease in the population of high school students and ACT scores do not vary much.
• Information gathered from the Nowell Levitt’s report is to restructure enrollment functions under one person along with recruiting and financial aid. Change is to come.

Dr. Cofer left the meeting at 4:36 p.m.

Dr. Corder presided over the remainder of the meeting.

Minutes from the September 25, 2006, meeting were approved. Motion by E. Doughty, second by B. Morgan, and unanimously approved.

Minutes from the October 25, 2006, meeting were approved. Motion by D. Wisenor, second by E. Doughty, and unanimously approved.

Grades for Graduates

• A document outlining the requirement for grades of graduating seniors was distributed and reviewed.
• A correction was made that the grades are to be checked and submitted on Tuesday, December 12, 2006, not Wednesday.
• It is mandatory that all completed graduation grade sheets be to Terri Hendrix by 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday.
• Along with the grade sheets, a list of all students graduating in abstentia is to be included, along with the address for where the student’s diploma is to be mailed.
• Work day January 12, 2007, the procedure for all future semesters will be presented.

FAD was discussed at the morning meeting of deans.

Spreadsheets listing students who are not enrolled has been sent electronically. Discussion about what to do with list followed. No specific plan developed due to inconsistency in reliability of GPAs reported.

Faculty who are checking out from the University should follow ULM protocol. J. Corder will follow-up on why previously employed persons who have left the University by correct protocol are still listed for many areas.

Adjourned: 5:00 p.m.