Minutes of the Joint November 2005 Meeting
UNIVERSITY ASSEMBLY AND FACULTY SENATE
NOVEMBER 8, 2005
3 P.M. 222 J. C. PENNEY
The joint meeting of the University Assembly and Faculty Senate was called
to order at 2:55 p.m. by Chairperson Paul S. Speck, Sr.
Minutes of the joint meeting of September 13, 2005, were approved as submitted.
Report from the Chancellor -- Chancellor Thomas George
The Chancellor recalled that last year the State asked us to do calculations based on a 5 percent budget reduction. In the end, we received a flat budget from the State. This year, we are being asked to base our calculations on both a 10 percent and a 12 percent reduction, which would result in a loss to the campus of $5 million to $6 million. The State Department of Administration wants the System’s response to both of these budget scenarios almost instantaneously. UM Vice President of Finance and Administration Nikki Krawitz wants the response to come from the entire Department of Higher Education. Information on these requests, which would result in program cutbacks, employment reductions, salary cuts, and student fee increases, has been shared with the Faculty Senate/University Assembly Chairperson and with the Chairperson of the University Assembly Budget and Planning Committee.
Plans to hire a half-time Associate Provost to head up assessment and reaccreditation were put on hold after the Board of Curators indicated a desire to have fewer administrators. Presently, Provost Cope has placed Dean Judith Walker de Felix at the helm of this effort. She is dealing with assessment through the Faculty Senate Committee on the Assessment of Educational Outcomes. All University offices are to come up with learning outcomes this semester, the Chancellor said. He commented that the abandoned position also could take a strong role as liaison with the community colleges on undergraduate education. It seems prudent to resurrect the position at this time, and Chancellor George said he will bring it up with President Floyd at his first opportunity.
Concerning a change in payment options for students, the Chancellor deferred questions to Mr. Mitch Hess, Manager of Cashiering. Mr. Hess reported that this involves a System-wide policy that will go into effect at the start of January. At that time, the Cashier’s Office will continue to accept payments charged to MasterCard, but there will be a 2.75 percent service charge (totaling $60.00 to $75.00) levied. Visa credit cards will no longer be accepted, but Visa debit cards can be used. The savings realized will be applied to scholarships, positions in Student Financial Aid, and other student-related benefits. Mr. Hess reported that this new policy is in keeping with those in effect at other schools and is not expected to adversely impact enrollments, an expectation not shared by Dr. William Long, who called them “nuisance fees.” Mr. Hess will be discussing the new policy with members of the Student Government Association on November 11.
Chancellor George turned to Administrative Services Vice Chancellor Reinhard Schuster for information on parking lot N. Mr. Schuster reported that a consulting firm has been hired to design a 500-car structure with some other amenities. Bids will be issued in September, and the new garage will take awhile to construct. Administrative Services is considering a 3-story car park and a 5-story car park and is looking at a budget of about $10 million for this lot. Chancellor George reported that the University Assembly Committee on Physical Facilities, Space, and General Services has met with the consulting firm, and committee chairperson Dr. Thomas Eyssell invited members of the Committee to come to the Budget and Planning Committee meeting at which this will be discussed. Dr. E. Terrence Jones, chairperson of Budget and Planning, inquired if the money for the lot will come out of existing fees, if there will be an increase in fees for it, or if the plan includes using fees to cover a coffee shop and conference rooms. Vice Chancellor Schuster reported that the Board of Curators has approved building a garage for the new residence hall. He would prefer to delay work on lot N until we have saved up for it. In response to a question, Mr. Schuster reported that the University carries $1 million in an account for physical plant emergencies. Dr. Joseph Martinich observed that in the past, there were more faculty/staff spots available. Vice Chancellor Schuster said he adheres to a philosophy of open parking unless he is instructed differently by the Chancellor. Chair Speck commented that the Assembly discussed the placement of a garage in the past but did not discuss how to pay for it. He credited Chancellor George with coming to faculty, staff, and students to look at the financial considerations.
Concerning the baseball program and Express Scripts, Chancellor George said a new road would be built at a cost to the County and the developer of $10 million. Our baseball program wants a regulation-size field. It will be located on the South Campus near the residence halls.
In closing, the Chancellor reported that we have acquired seven houses, two of which came to us through eminent domain.
Report from the Student Government Association -- D’Andre Braddix
Mr. Braddix announced that a newsletter will be placed in restrooms across
campus to inform students that the Touhill Performing Arts Center is not
just for elderly patrons.
He reported on student fee increases and encouraged everyone to attend
a forthcoming athletic event to be held at the Savvis Center.
Report from the Administrator Evaluation Committee -- Mary Ann Coker for Dr. Helene Sherman, who was absent
Report from the Budget and Planning Committee -- Dr. E. Terrence Jones
Dr. Peter Stevens formally requested a count of the number of administrators.
Recruitment, Admissions, Retention, and Student Financial Aid -- Dr. Joseph Martinich for Dr. Robert Harris, who was absent
Regarding HEPI increases, Dr. Martinich reported that we would keep our increases in line with what the legislature appropriates. Our students, he said, are price-sensitive. We need to look for better state funding in order to keep tuition increases low. If we have a deal with legislators to adhere to the HEPI rate, the baseline should begin several years ago to offset cuts we have taken in the recent past.
Report from the Committee on Student Affairs -- Ms. Ann Chisholm, co-chair
Completing the business at hand, the University Assembly portion of the meeting concluded at 4 p.m. Following a short break, the Faculty Senate portion of the meeting was called to order at 4:05 p.m.
Minutes from the October 11, 2005, Faculty Senate meeting were approved as submitted.
Chair Speck declined to report at this meeting.
Questions/Answer Period for Chancellor -- Chancellor George
Dr. Teresa Thiel noted the perception that the deficits we have come out of faculty positions while the number of administrative positions continues to increase. Chancellor George promised to look at the data. The creation of an Associate Provost position (previously discussed) was the result of a faculty request, he said. Provost Cope pointed out that we are about to hire someone to work with Larry Westermeyer on Institutional Research. “There is only one pot of money,” she remarked. Dr. Kathleen Brown reminded senators that we have a higher education administration program on the campus and suggested that a graduate student could handle these projects. Dr. Joseph Martinich suggested that data on the number of full-time faculty vs. the number of administrators could be obtained from a recent study by the System, but Provost Cope preferred to have Mr. Westermeyer pull our own data when the parameters are defined. Dr. William Long pointed to a Faculty Council report that indicates the number of administrators has grown exponentially. Dr. Jeanne Morgan Zarucchi commented that much extra work has been absorbed by service obligations that should be compensated by salary or course reduction. It’s not a matter of headcount, she insisted, but rather a matter of work that must be done. Faculty, she stressed, have been carrying the load on this.
Report from the Intercampus Faculty Council -- Dr. Richard Wright
Report from the Committee on Curriculum and Instruction -- Dr. Timothy Farmer for Dr. Fred Willman, who departed earlier
The single course change that was covered in the agenda was reported to the Senate.
Elections to Faculty Grievance Panel -- Dr. Michael Harris
The slate offered by the Committee on Committees was elected to the Panel by the Senate.
Report from the Committee on the Assessment of Educational Outcomes -- Dr. Donald Gouwens
Completing the business at hand, the Senate adjourned at 4:32 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Carol Peck, Secretary
University Assembly and Faculty Senate
(minutes written by
Ms. Joan M. Arban,
Executive Assistant to the Senate/Assembly Chairperson)