The LSU Faculty Senate voted unanimously Tuesday to adopt a resolution pushing for retirement reform in the state legislature. The Faculty Senate also passed a resolution in support of developing a tobacco-free policy for the University, among other developments.
The retirement resolution, titled “Retirement options for LSU Faculty Members,” calls on LSU System officials to push actively for reform of the retirement plan system.
Faculty Senate President Kevin Cope said two bills have come front and center in the debate over retirement benefits. One bill would allow faculty members in the optional retirement plan to transfer to the defined benefits plan. The other bill would establish a floor for the percentage the University has to pay to employees as a contribution to their retirement.
The Faculty Senate has been dealing with the retirement issue since 2009. Much of the stagnation on a legislative solution stemmed from the lack of presence University faculty had and continues to have in the legislature, Cope said.
Member-at-Large Judith Sylvester’s resolution for a tobacco free campus passed in the Faculty Senate with a close vote. The resolution recommends the University ban “any and all forms of tobacco” from campus.
Senators raised concerns prior to the vote about enforcement of the bill, saying there was no reason to pass a resolution about a policy that won’t be enforced. Sylvester reiterated the desire to create a healthy campus, regardless of what legislation compels the University to do.
Sylvester said other Southeastern Conference schools are adopting smoke-free and tobacco-free policies. Although, she was unable to provide statistics on the success of a non-punitive policy at a peer institution.
Elliott Thompson, director of academic affairs for the executive staff of Student Government, told the Faculty Senate a draft of a proposed honor code for students will be introduced to the SG senate tonight. Thompson said pending edits and approval by the SG senate, the Faculty Senate will give input at its April meeting.
The proposed honor code is about upholding academic integrity, Thompson said. There are plans to eventually integrate the proposed honor code into the student code of conduct, he said.