Senators decline to endorse children-in-the-workplace draft

In a unanimous vote, the Holland Faculty Senate declined to endorse the draft of a proposed university policy dealing with children who are on campus during regular working hours.

At its Feb. 14 meeting, the representative body agreed 40-0-0 with the recommendation of its Ancillary Affairs Committee that "the proposed policy on children is inappropriate and not needed."

In its report to the full body, the committee said it "believes that the demeanor of the workplace environment is set by the local department/unit head" and that "it is incumbent upon him or her to maintain an efficient and orderly workplace. We believe they also need flexibility in doing this part of their job and feel that such a policy encumbers them and sends the wrong message to employees about the workplace environment."

The issue for senators began during the last school year when the Human Resources Management office sought senate comment on its policy draft. According to a cover letter that accompanied the draft, the new written policy would help address "the number of unsupervised children who wander the campus, especially during the summer months and lengthy holiday periods."

In their report, Ancillary Affairs Committee members expressed concern that any such policy might have "the potential for being loosely and unfairly applied across the university" and that "no satisfactory appeal process is stipulated for an employee whom permission is denied." Also, taking issue with the Human Resources letter, members expressed the belief that "no body of evidence . . . can be shown that indicates this is a significant problem on campus."

In voting to accept the committee recommendation, senators acknowledged that the issue likely will not die with their vote. In a revision of the original recommendation, senators concluded their response by requesting that, "if another policy is developed, the Senate would appreciate the opportunity to review it."

Among other matters at the February meeting, senators:

-Officially endorsed changes in the add/drop policy for academic courses. Under the new provisions, a student will have up to 10 days into the semester to decide to drop a course without receiving a penalty. Also students may not add a course after the 10-day period. Students dropping courses after 10 days would be assigned a W (withdrawn) on their transcripts and be assessed a $15 fee per course.

-Were supported by President Donald Zacharias in their desire to invite to campus members of the Board of Trustees, Institutions of Higher Learning and the board's Jackson-based staff. Senators for some time have expressed a desire to share with higher education's governing organization their perspectives on teaching and research challenges specific to a comprehensive institution. In his report to the body, Zacharias spent almost an hour discussing issues related to university funding, particularly in the area of formula-based allocations.

-Refused for the second time to reconsider changes it voted on several months ago that, if approved by an upcoming vote of the general faculty, will alter representation on the 50-member senate. Among the changes will be the loss of separate voting representation for the School of Accountancy and the Division of Student Affairs.

A complete summary of business conducted at the meeting can be read on the Faculty Senate home page at <http://www.msstate.edu/Org/FS/faculty_senate.html>.