LOUISIANA TECH UNIVERSITY SENATE
Volume 17 November 2007 Number 3
1. Call to Order - Aziz Saber
The November 12, 2007, meeting of the University Senate was called to order at 4:00 p.m. in the Ropp Center, Room 105, by
President Aziz Saber.
2. Roll Call: Marie Pipes
Senators absent from the meeting: Larry Jarrell, Perna Sethi, Sally Thigpen, Ida Chauvin, Amy Vessel, Andrei Paun, Jinko Kanno,
Chester Wilson, James Webb, Derek Lowe, Richard Hutchinson, and Kevin Merritt.
3. Adoption of Agenda:
A motion was made to accept the agenda. The motion was seconded and approved.
4. Adoption of Minutes - October 15, 2007:
Since not all of the Senators were aware that the October minutes were available for viewing on the University Senate web site.
The adoption of the October minutes was postponed until the December meeting.
5. Announcements:
- Administrative and Planning Council -
Remember that all faculty and staff must attend a mandatory Faculty and Staff Work Place Environmental training session every
three years. For those who did not attend the session a tape is available for viewing in the CITDL office. The deadline for
completing this requirement is December 6th.
- Faculty Advisory Council (FAC) - Ms. Debra Blackman
The FAC meeting is held in conjunction with the Board of Supervisors for the University of Louisiana Systems (ULS). The FAC
consists of faculty representatives from each of the schools in the ULS. The main topic for this meeting was retention of students.
Many of the semester schools offer a "catch-up" course. The University of Louisiana - Monroe offers a Day-Care Center for
non-traditional students as well as a Non-Traditional Student Association. Senator Blackman asked that senators notify her of any
items for discussion at the FAC meeting.
6. Treasurer's Report: Ron Cathey
The budget for October 2007 was adopted as presented.
7. Unfinished Business:
a. Omni Update - The University Senate does have its own password for Omni.
b. Turnitin - Aziz requested any feedback that senators may have received from their colleagues regarding the use of Turnitin.
The database must be built by faculty participating in its use. The students must also be taught to use the program. Aziz
again encouraged senate members to use this program. This is an opportunity for faculty to build the bridge between English
and technical fields. The number of users and frequency of use will be monitored by the administration.
c. Blackboard Issues - Last year a committee was established to review Blackboard. A decision was made by the administration
to upgrade to the Enterprise Version of Blackboard and also to have Blackboard rather than Louisiana Tech host the site.
The current version runs on one thread the Enterprise version runs on many threads which will provide better and quicker
service. Additionally, the new version offers more features. There was further discussion to the security of the system and
also to problems encountered with the use of Office 2007. Senate members were reminded that faculty must be using
Blackboard in some way for all of their courses.
8. New Business:
a. Building Maintenance in GTM - Aziz stated that work orders can be submitted on-line for building maintenance needs for each
building. Also, an e-mail to the appropriate B&G supervisor may help.
9. Voluntary Remarks:
Aziz announced that there will be a Cyberspace Research Workshop held in Shreveport on November 27 at the Shreveport
Convention Center. All are invited as discussions and presentations will cover all disciplines.
The meeting adjourned at 4:55 p.m.
Marie Pipes, Recording Secretary
