Faculty Senate Meeting
January 20, 2009
Minutes
The meeting was called to order at 3:03 P.M. by chair, Matthew Keefer. Dr. Keefer called for a moment of silence in memory of Barbara Kachur. He then explained that we will be undertaking a trial electronic agenda.
Minutes of the previous meeting were approved as distributed.
Chair's Report
The chair reported on budget and financial concern planning process. The Senate Budget and Planning Committee expects to hold 6 meetings (more if needed). The first of these meetings will examine the overall budget and related financial concerns. The second meeting will review recommendations from the Program Audit Committee.
Today, the Chancellor will be discussing financial issues in his report. Today's special focus will be on development and advancement.
A report from Vice-Chancellor Martin Lefield will be made later in the meeting.
There were no questions about the Chair's report.
Chancellor's Report
UMSL has responded to the letter about cost cutting from President Forsee. The campus will meet these cost cuts as follows:
- In and out of state travel is being curtailed but not frozen. Chris Spilling asked if this would affect travel using grant money. The Provost indicated that the President included grants. The PI will determine whether or not travel is necessary to carry out the goals of the grant. Recruitment and revenue generation will be high priorities.
- Food supplied at meetings will be eliminated.
- Marketing and Recruiting Efforts will remain high priorities
- Printing and reproduction reduced
- Supply purchases reduced
- Desktop Computer Plan (there will be a possible delay in replacement of systems)
- Consulting reduced (to be approved at Director's level).
- Non-capital maintenance and repair will be postponed as will routine renovation.
- Non-capital purchases such as vehicles, furniture and carpeting
- Dues or and professional association payments will need to be made by individual members unless lack of such institutional payment would cause problems with accreditation.
- Employee training will be cut back, some would be suspended
- Position re-classifications and promotions (especially mid-year)
- Employee overtime reduced
- Recognition events and awards-reduced expenditures. These recognitions would instead be posted on the web.
Dr. Martinich asked if on-campus paid trainers would continue. The answer was yes. There was an additional question about dues for teaching professors. The answer was that dues could be paid only if required for the job.
Probably 15-25% cuts will not occur. The percentage may be less. The Chancellor expects a 5% 2009 withholding. (across the board mostly) The Chancellor indicated that he will continue to fight for on-going equity adjustments. Dr. Tang-Martinez asked about benefits and pensions. There is no information yet about raises or benefits and pensions.
With regard to the hiring freeze, there have been exceptions for 8 faculty, 10 staff, part-time, t.a., and grant funded positions. Positions currently on hold are Chief Information Officer, Dean of A&S, 100 or so faculty positions, and the Dean of Libraries position. When someone leaves, will they be replaced? The Chancellor's reply was "probably not".
Pat Dolan will update electronic suggestion box weekly. To date, 500 suggestions have been received.
Dr. Martinich indicated that faculty and staff pay for parking. This information needs to go to students. (Some students believe only students pay for parking.)
Dr. Speck indicated that President Forsee wants to bring down "running costs" by 5% (5% of state dollars = $3 million).
Do our current actions achieve the 5% goal (Chancellor's answer was no.) The hiring freeze added in can meet the 5% reduction.
Enrollment figures: Vice-Chancellor Greg McCalley
Head count down 1.73% 193 students for juniors and seniors , up 62% with 0-24 hours (freshmen)
Credit hours down 2% or 2200 credit hours, evening classes account for the biggest loss. The Business School is down 1500 CH. Other areas are up.
Fall: Fr Applications are up 17%
Admissions are up 35%
Transfers are up 3%
Graduate Students are up 11%
Dr. Speck asked if credit hours for jrs. And Srs. are down. He indicated that evening courses are not always available so students go elsewhere, thus the drop in credit hours. The Business College GPA and other requirements seem to affect enrollments.
The construction of Oak Hall appears to have helped Freshman enrollments as has the economy.
Report from Vice-Chancellor, Martin Lefield
The following information is shared with potential donors:
The quality of the faculty
Recent accreditation success
The current efforts are focused on 4 areas:
- KWMU
- Alumni relations giving (4%-6 1/3%)
- Communications marketing and events
- Accelerating development-new hires
VC Lefield introduced the new KWMU General Manager, Tim Eby.
Mr. Eby has 4 years NPR board chm experience and a wide range of other extensive experiences that make him well-suited for the KWMU position.
The following changes are underway: increase in sq footage, the engagement of community leaders and philanthropists and the coordinated review of governance practices (based on best practices and transparency).
Mike Dunn, Interim Director of KWMU was recognized for his great help.
Dr. Lefield briefly described the benefits of the new KWMU facility.
Upcoming foci will be marketing and a capital campaign. An upcoming meeting of the marketing community in St. Louis will be helpful. Major, local corporations will be involved.
In terms of development, A comprehensive campaign will be starting soon. This year has been a good year for gifts: as of Dec 31 $10 million, as of Jan 20 $11 million.
The Faculty Development Committee will be helpful in this campaign. The empowerment of faculty, students and alumni will be helpful to the overall development effort.
Curriculum and Instruction Committee Report (Michael Allison)
Proposed changes in the History and Sociology programs listed in the agenda were approved as distributed.
Apppointments, Tenure and Promotion Committee Report (Fred Willman)
There were 8 cases this year. The committee has deliberated and their recommendations have been sent to the Chancellor.
IFC Report
- Reconsideration of policies related to academic honesty will go to IFC next month. (Columbia campus policy is different from that of the other campuses.)
- Ways of being more competitive with private schools. Should Brite Flite money go to private schools?
Budget issues and the relationship with the President are important topics. The President is amazingly candid with the group. The President has stressed that numbers are not better than expected or reported by the press. Within this month we should know where we stand with respect to this fiscal year and the next. There is a desire to leave decisions at the lowest possible level and a desire to reduce running costs by 5% as a buffer for the next 2 fiscal years.
IFC has discussed the need for a full-time VP for Academic Affairs and has also stressed the importance of face to face IFC meetings rather than electronic meetings.
A concern was also raised about the Benefits Committee reporting to the Senate.
Matt Keefer expressed these concerns at IFC: no consolidation of the President's position with the Columbia Chancellor's position, the UM System role with the Coordinating Board.
Dr. McPhail expressed his concern about denying travel funds to Assistant Professors. (Individual Provosts can make decisions about travel funding.)
Dr. Sullivan-Brown supported the need to look at other models (state higher ed system).
Dr. Tang-Martinez asked what is happening with furloughs? (It is being discussed, no decision has been made, furloughs would be considered a last resort.)
Some across the board cuts may also be inevitable. Vertical cuts are also being considered.
The President will meet in a Town Hall Forum and with other units on our campus next month.
Dr. Tang-Martinez asked if salaries are cut will we get the money back if the situation changes? How will this affect pensions? (Base salary would stay the same so pensions probably wouldn't be affected.
Dr. Pope questioned the electronic agenda format and suggested a need for numbering pages to facilitate locating documents attached to the agenda. There was a brief discussion about his concern. The issue will continue to be discussed at the next meeting.
Other Business
None
The meeting was adjourned at 4:47 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Fred Willman, Secretary
