NSU-L            EESVILLE/FORT POLK

FACULTY/STAFF SAFETY MEETING

DATE:             September 15, 2004

                        1:00 p.m.

 

CALL TO ORDER BY:            Dr. Larry Monk, Executive Director

                                                NSU-Leesville/Fort Polk

 

PRESENT:  Patricia Martinez, Betty Westerchil, Bryan McCarthy, John, Byrd, Rhonda Wood, Dr. Glen Cooley, Dr. Leeann Sticker, Martha Koury, Hilda Brown, Linda Nichols, Melba Wied, Dr. Kathleen Smith, Dr. Paralee Norman, Tommy Tilley, Joe Pope, Joyce Barnes, Kendall Remsing, Judith McNeely, Pam Bailey, Dr. Marion Skiles, Brenda Foote, Terry Isbell, Catherine Eaglin, Molly Edmonds.

 

ABSENT:  Robert Triplett (Out Ill), Juanita Darby (In Class), Corinne Pearce (Library Southwest Meeting), Allison James, and Linda West.

 

Notes: 

 

  1. Meeting called to order by Dr. Monk, NSU-Leesville/Fort Polk Executive Director.

 

  1. Betty Westerchil is seeking publicity for NSU-Leesville/Fort Polk.  Anytime you do something in your department worth publicizing let Betty know and she will submit it to the local newspapers and the NSU-News.  She would also like faculty and staff to accompany her to the local radio stations for informational talk spots.  Betty has also placed a request in your mailbox to participate in the NSU-Leesville/Fort Polk’s Speakers Bureau.  Please complete and place in Betty mailbox by October 1, 2004. 

 

  1. Dr. Monk asked Brenda Foote to explain her accomplishments for the summer.  Brenda spent the summer taking Microsoft Certification Exams for Micro Office.

She completed:

            Word & Excel Core

            Word Expert

            Excel Expert

            PowerPoint Comprehensive

            Access (Gave her Master Level Certification in Microsoft Office)

            Outlook

            Master Instructor (The Highest Level)

 

List of certified instructors on internet shows instructor in Shreveport, New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and only one person in Natchitoches.  There were none in our immediate area.  Brenda was commended and applauded for her accomplishments.

 

  1. Tommy Tilley announced that there were additional free test for faculty and staff available until the end of September for anyone else interested in certification.  If you pass the first test then you can go on to the second but if you fail the first one you will have to pay for any other test.  Test will be taken at this campus.

 

  1. Kendall Remsing discussed the new Key Control Policy.  There were two forms regarding key policy issues distributed to all faculty, staff and contract employees on this campus.  You to identify any NSU keys distributed to you.  The second form you are to verify by signing that you have been given the Key Control Policy.  Please complete and sign these forms and return to Kendall immediately.  NSU-Leesville/Fort Polk must be in compliance with the new key policy by the October 9, 2004.  Kendall asked everyone in attendance to sign the Safety Roster before leaving the meeting.

 

  1. Tommy Tilley reported on the Relay For Life program.  This program is being set up to raise money for the American Cancer Society.  Tommy and Joyce Barnes will head this fund raising event.  At the Relay For Life Event one person is sponsored to walk all night long on Friday.  Students can get involved. The walk is usually done in shift. You are not required to stay all night.    Fundraisers considered are: bicycle raffle, computer raffle, domino tournament, car wash, video game tournament, penny event, and food and coke sales.  The bicycle on display.    On Fridays we have an event going on now (strictly volunteer) to encourage NSU spirit.  NSU t-shirts are to be worn every Friday.  If you wear your NSU shirt you pay $1.00 if you do not wear your shirt you pay $2.00. If you are interested in volunteering.  Joyce has a signup sheet. Please announce to students.

 

  1. Catherine Eaglin continued meeting because Dr. Monk was called out on emergency call.  Requests for Leave have been turned after leave has been taken.  Annual or Sick Leave must be approved prior to leave taken.  Sick Leave obviously can’t be predetermined, unless it’s a scheduled Dr.’s appointment.  Turn in your sick leave request immediately after you return to work.  Please make sure you have recorded on calendar in Executive Director’s Office the date you will be out and the reason for leave.  Arrangements made for covering your classes and office hours must be on file in Executive Director’s Office. 

 

  1. A large bulletin board has been turned in to the office.  If anyone is in need of this bulletin board come by the office to pick it up.

 

  1. An order for nametags and business card will be submitted this week.  If you need to order a nametag or business cards please see Catherine after the meeting.

Marion has request that extra magnet backs for the nametags be ordered.

 

  1. Martha Koury thanked everyone for getting Spring 2005 class to her so promptly.  Everything you have submitted to Martha for Spring 2005 has been entered on SIS.  If you need to make changes please submit changes to her immediately because students are allowed to view the spring schedule.  The students are planning their schedules.  We need to have our schedule accurate.

 

  1. Koury said that B-Term Schedule was going out today to be printed and it should be out within 1-1/2 weeks.  Spring 05 Schedule of Classes would not be out until normal time period prior to early registration.  There will a lot of changes submitted so we hold the printing of the Spring 05 schedule until closer to early registration to have a more accurate schedule published.  Koury will be asking for Spring 05 B-Term schedule in about 3 weeks and summer in about a month.

 

  1. Students can no longer drop classes with advisors.  They must drop classes on-line.  During the summer semester only students drop with advisors.

 

  1. Monk asked Pat Martinez to report on the Home Front Celebration.  The Home Front Celebration will be held in Leesville on Saturday, September 25, 2004.  It will be an all day event beginning at 9:00a.m., with a military fly over followed by a huge parade.  There will all day big name entertainment with vendors lined up along 3rd Street.  Come support the celebration welcoming our troops.

 

  1. Monk asked if anyone was having trouble with the On-Line Attendance.  Koury thanked everyone for helping with the on-line attendance.

 

  1. Monk shared a fact sheet on Fort Polk: 

 

Size= 198,759 acres

Annual Economic Impact= $970,000,000

Post Military Population= 10,534

Family Member Population= 17,217

Retired Military= 73,573  

Reserved Components= 25,000

 

  1. Recruiting Events for NSU

March 3, 2005- Gene Koury’s Reception for recruiting new students to NSU.

(Mark your calendars.)

 

  1. Monk heard a presentation from Linda Bordelon from the Orchard Foundation (an offshoot from the Rapides Foundation).  Dr. Monk shared a series of e-mails between he and Ms. Bordelon regarding his needs to construct a walking path from the main building of the NSU-Leesville/Fort Polk Campus to the pond area.  The path would be a combination walking-jogging path (marked in meters and yards), exercise path (with various stations along the way), and plant identification path (with plants labeled in a manner allowing us to use it for instruction in biology classes). At or near the pond, Monk would like an outdoor classroom-perhaps an area where the Health and PE teachers could have some workshops as well as the biology teachers.  Dr. Monk would stated to Ms. Bordelon that he would also like to more properly maintain and be able to use the pond-perhaps even stock it with species that could be studied in biology classes.

 

Bordelon’s reply to Monk was “Oh, yes! I already have some contact teams for you and you probably won’t even need to hire a consultant.”  Ms. Bordelon said that she could probably get this project lined up for Monk practically “COST-FREE”.

 

A meeting with Linda Bordelon, Dr. Monk, John Byrd, Leeann Sticker and George Smith (still have to confirm with George) is scheduled 9:30 a.m. October 6 at NSU-Leesville/Fort Polk to discuss and tour the area. 

 

  1. Monk reported on the Non-Recurring Funds.  Monk wants suggestions from the faculty and staff on how the money should be spent.  The goal to meet is retention and professional development. 

 

Suggestions:

            Pat Martinez- Type of Career Track Seminars

            Paralee Norman- Smart Screens to replace chalkboards

            Martha Koury- Orientation Staff (Scholarships)

            John Byrd- Workshop for faculty on advising students

            Isbell- Student advising handbook for new students

Tommy Tilley- Larger student lounge for students to relax and                              study while waiting for their next class.

           

Monk said that advising in the BGS program had the greatest amount of changes and suggested the need for training and advising in this area.  He said that the emphasis is staff development more that equipment or supplies.  The NSU-Leesville/Fort Polk Faculty’s department on main campus should to be keeping you updated on changes in your areas. 

 

  1. Pat Martinez shared stats from advising her nursing students:

 

368 students in nursing

175 culled folders of students that no longer attend NSU

                       

  1. Monk said that majors are loosing students.  But keep in mind that some of the students we are loosing probably do not need to be in that major.

 

  1. Bryan McCarthy agreed that as a new instructor we lacked advising training for new faculty.  McCarthy said that this makes students wonder if the advisor knows what he is doing.  He felt that this was very important in student retention. Terry Isbell suggested shadowing another advisor in your area. 
  2.  Paralee Norman reminded those on the Governor’s Weight Loss Program should continue to loose weight.  Next weigh in is October.

 

  1. Monk complimented everyone for a great job and expressed how much he appreciated everyone.  Meeting adjourned at 2:00 p.m.