Assembly Discusses Constitution Revisions

Editor-in-Chief

    The University of Arkansas-Monticello Assembly discussed constitution revisions and a town increasing in popularity Aug. 19.

   Assembly Chairperson Marsha Clayton handed out a 15-page revision of the Assembly constitution and bylaws. Clayton said the goal of the revisions remains to bring the colleges of technology into the governance process and to eliminate previous redundancies and outdated terminology.

   Robert Moore, professor of English, questioned the removal of language opening the Assembly to all members of the University community in Article 5, Section 1.

   “Under the Freedom of Information Act, we did not think we had to state explicitly,” Clayton said.

   Clayton said the revision neglected to restrict attendance at Assembly meetings.

   Moore also brought attention to Article 6, Section 1, which states, “Two-thirds of all Assembly members present and voting is required for approval of the proposed amendment.” The revisions caused it to change to three-fourths affirmative vote.

   “We have more night classes and more labs and the colleges of technology faculty are members of the Assembly, so it has been more and more difficult to get the required number for quorum,” Clayton said.

   Clayton said the raise in percentage of members present and voting allows passing a proposed amendment more feasible.

   “What this means is that it is possible to amend our constitution with a very small handful of people,” Moore said.

   Clayton said a proposed amendment, previously circulated through netlist 10 days in advance, allows faculty the opportunity to make plans to attend a scheduled Assembly meeting.

   The Assembly approved the revisions to the Constitution and bylaws with one dissenting vote.

   Hal Liechty, chairman of the Curriculum and Standards Committee, announced the following revisions at the UAM College of Technology-McGehee and Crossett.

UAM CT-Crossett

• The elimination of the Tech Machine Transcription course

UAM CT-McGehee

•  Two new certificates: Law Enforcement Technical Certificate and Correctional Law Enforcement Certificate of Proficiency

•  The addition of the following courses: Correctional Enforcement in Arkansas, Correctional Health and Safety, Survey of Correctional Inmates and Offenders and Applied Ethics for Correctional Officer

• The elimination of the following courses: Basic English, Mathematics, Developmental Reading, Health, Safety, and Nutrition, Childcare Practicum I and Curriculum Development of Preschool

• The modification of the description, prerequisites and requirements for the Practical Nursing-Technical Certificate

UAM CT-Crossett and McGehee

• The modification of the Health Information Technology Technical Certificate

• The elimination of the following courses: Tech Mathematics, Child Development Associate Training I, Child Development Associate Training II and Pre-School Practicum

   Clayton said she recently visited the area around Jonesboro and Paragould where she found a town named Goobertown. She said Confederate soldiers camped in Goobertown during the Civil War and foraged for peanuts. After the war, the soldiers returned to raise peanuts giving the town the name Goobertown.

   “This little Goobertown Grocery sells about 60 t-shirts a week because this has gotten national notice. Trace Atkins wore a Goobertown T-shirt at a concert at the Arkansas State University Convocation Center,” Clayton said.

   Clayton presented Chancellor Jack Lassiter with a Goobertown cap. Sharon Walters, associate professor of the Division of Nursing, received a Goobertown T-shirt as a door prize for staying for the meeting.

   “I will wear it proudly. I don’t know where, but I will wear it,” Lassiter said.

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