EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MINUTES
Present: Bryant, King, Logan-Peters, Miller,
Peterson, Siekman, Spann, Whitt, Wolf, Wunder
Absent: DiMagno,
Fuller, Sawyer
Date:
Location: 201 Canfield
Administration Building
1.0 Call to Order (Miller)
Miller called the meeting to
order at
2.0 Announcements
3.0 Chancellor Perlman
3.1 Special
Legislative Session
Chancellor Perlman stated that concern over the special legislative session on the state budget made him decide to suspend notification of salary increases. He noted that the Deans had originally been told they could officially inform faculty and staff of their salary increases on June 12th. He pointed out that all salary increases needed to be entered into SAP by June 14th in order for them to become effective by July 1. He stated that once data is entered into SAP, there is no way of stopping or delaying the increases.
Chancellor Perlman stated that if the salary notifications had gone out, the University would be bound to pay the increases. He stated that a 90 day notification of a reduction would need to be given in order to make any changes to the salary increases. He stated that he regrets that he was unable to discuss this issue with the Executive Committee before he made his decision.
Chancellor Perlman stated that he has only stopped the notification of the salary increases. He pointed out that as a result, there is not enough time to process the increases in order for them to take effect on July 1. He stated that should the increases be given in September, it could be possible to make them retroactive to July 1.
Chancellor Perlman noted that there is real concern over the special session because the state is already showing a $136 million revenue shortfall, not including the June receipts. He pointed out that the legislature still needs to deal with $53 million that was left unfunded from their last session. He noted that the shortfall could go to $200 million and that it is likely the deficit would have to come from budget cuts.
Chancellor Perlman stated that suspending the salary increases at least preserves some options if the university should sustain further cuts. He stated that discussions would occur if using the salary increases becomes an option. He pointed out that if the university receives a significant budget reduction, he does not know where the money can come from without cutting academic programs. He pointed out that programmatic elimination and reductions can not be done quickly and would have to take place over several years. He noted that university policies call for employees to be given a 90 day notification if their job is to be eliminated. He stated that if academic programs are not to be cut, then the only place where money is available is from the salary increases.
Wunder asked what will happen to the salary dollars that are being set aside. Chancellor Perlman stated that the campus does not receive a lump sum of money to use but instead receives funding in quarterly payments. SVCAA Edwards noted that beginning July 1st the university would only be receiving 96% of its budget.
Wunder pointed out that every other state institution, including the state colleges, is receiving salary increases. He asked if Varner Hall would be receiving a salary increase. Chancellor Perlman did not know if Varner Hall would be receiving an increase. He noted that VC Jackson conducted a survey of the business officers of the different campuses. He stated that UNO was trying to remain flexible like UNL, UNK was granting their faculty and staff increases, and UNMC was unsure what they were going to do.
Wunder asked if all searches, including administrative searches, would be put on hold until the budget situation is known. Chancellor Perlman stated that he would consider this. He noted that there are three strategies that could be used to offset the budget cuts: use the salary increases, make programmatic cuts, nickel and dime everyone to death, which would result in all searches being halted. Wunder noted that the last time APC dealt with programmatic cuts and the firing of groups of tenured and tenure-track faculty, they decided, as university policy based upon university and regent bylaws, that tenured and tenure-track faculty can only be fired if financial exigency is declared or if a program is eliminated for cause (i.e. that it is a substandard program. Bryant asked what conditions must be present in order to eliminate tenured and tenure leading faculty positions. Chancellor Perlman stated that having consulted with the university’s general legal counsel, he believes as Chancellor he is entitled to eliminate faculty through program cuts.
Logan-Peters asked if salaries are frozen for state employees. Chancellor Perlman stated that he did not know the answer to this question. Wunder asked if salaries were frozen in the athletic department. Chancellor Perlman stated that some salaries have been frozen but some are on contracts. Wunder stated that the athletic department should help the university out more financially. Chancellor Perlman stated that they already provide $1 ˝ million. He stated that what is needed is for faculty to encourage their colleagues and friends to support the university by contacting their legislators. Wolf pointed out that the problem for the university is not just a yearly problem. He stated that it is essential for university leaders to come forward and explain the impacts of these cuts, not only to the university, but to the entire state.
Wunder
suggested that the Chancellor should reverse his decision on suspending the
salary increases. He noted that it will
be particularly hard on the staff. He
pointed out that if the unionized campuses receive increases and UNL does not,
it will have serious impacts here.
Chancellor Perlman stated that he will do just
about anything he can to avoid eliminating the salary increase.
3.2 Comments Regarding Quality Indicators and
Faculty Evaluations
Chancellor Perlman stated that there appears to be some confusion regarding his comments on the quality indicators. He stated that the list of indicators is not the full list of what measures the institution, departments, or individuals. He stated that he assumed that people would take into account if someone published in journals other than those included in the list of quality indicators. Wunder pointed out that some departments are interpreting these statements to mean that faculty must publish in the listed journals in order to receive good evaluations. He stated that the Chancellor needs to clarify his statements and communicate them to the chairs. Chancellor Perlman pointed out that some departments have no dispute on what the top journals are in their field.
Wolf stated that administration is asking faculty to create a list of journals while at the same time the faculty are being demoralized with the budget cuts. He pointed out that many faculty members are against creating these lists. Chancellor Perlman reminded the committee that the quality indicators were a mandate that came from the Board of Regents. He stated that it is important to raise the ambitions of the faculty. Wolf stated that the quality indicator apparatus at UNL was devised by UNL administrators, its particular format was not mandated by the Board of Regents. Wunder pointed out that the cutting edge journals are not necessarily on the list. He stated that faculty members should feel free to send their work where they want to rather than feeling that they need to send it to journals that are listed as quality indicators. Chancellor Perlman stated that the lists are not inclusive of all research. Wolf pointed out that this is what the Chancellor needs to communicate to Deans and Chairs.
Bryant suggested that the list of journals as a quality indicator should be reconsidered since it acts as a lightning rod for conflict within departments. Chancellor Perlman stated that they need to find a way to measure research other than looking at the number of federal research grants awarded. Bryant suggested that they measure on the broad basis of campus rather than aggregating it by departments. Chancellor Perlman stated that he is concerned that the arts and humanities would not be included in the calculations if this were done. Whitt suggested that peer reviewed journals could be used in place of the top journals. Wunder stated that he is sympathetic to what the administration is trying to do, but the problem is translating this to the departments. He pointed out that another problem is that this needs to be a dynamic process that should be reviewed frequently. Wolf noted that faculty members are already pressed for time and having to continually review these lists will take time away from teaching and research.
3.3 Blue Ribbon Panel Health
Care Report
See 6.0 below.
3.4 CBA Graduate Faculty
Status
Chancellor Perlman stated that he would be concerned if the decision to revoke graduate faculty status were being imposed by the Deans. He stated that his initial response is to let the idea go forward since it is being proposed by the faculty. Wunder pointed out that faculty not conducting research should be receiving annual evaluations indicating that if their research efforts are not improved, then a post tenure review will be conducted.
3.5 Issues on the Horizon
Wolf stated that the campus should be informed of the findings on the student recruitment and retention by the Noel-Levitz consultants. Chancellor Perlman stated that the consultants are currently writing a summary on their work here and that he should be receiving it sometime this summer. He stated that early indicators show that the number of freshman students this year could be 500-600 more than last year.
4.0 SVCAA
Edwards/VC Owens
4.1 Update on Searches: Director of International Affairs, Executive Associate Dean of Research, Others
SVCAA Edwards reported that Harriet Turner has been made Director of International Affairs. He stated that two finalists have been interviewed for Executive Associate Dean of Research and an offer has been made to one of them, although he is unsure as to whether or not the candidate has accepted.
SVCAA Edwards stated that the search committee for the Dean of Teachers College has been named. He reported that the search committee for the Dean of Undergraduate Studies has been named but the search will not begin until the fall semester.
VC Owens stated that no administrative searches are being conducted in IANR, although there are some faculty searches. He stated that he hopes they will be able to continue with the faculty searches.
Miller asked how the people in Scottsbluff received the information regarding the closing of the diagnostic center. VC Owens stated that there was a great deal of anger and that the people in that part of the state feel left out. He stated that the decision to close the facility was made in part because there was a vacant tenure faculty position. He noted that there are other diagnostic centers available to people within the state. He stated that he is very concerned if program cuts start being made.
Logan-Peters asked about the status of the east campus mall. VC Owens stated that the streets and sprinkler system have been replaced and that landscaping is now being done. He pointed out that the funding for the renovation of the mall has all come from an insurance settlement from the 1997 fall storm.
5.0 Approval
of
Bryant moved and Logan-Peters seconded approval of the minutes as amended. Motion approved.
6.0 Unfinished
Business
6.1 Blue Ribbon Panel Health Care Report
Miller reported that he met with
David Lechner, President for Business and Finance, to
discuss the report. Lechner
informed him that the two categories of highest use of the health plan were the
pre-65 retirees (55 – 65 year olds) and retirees’ pharmacy costs. He suggested that Lechner
should speak to the full Senate in the fall.
King pointed out that businesses are trying to push more of the health
care costs on to employees. Miller
stated that the blue ribbon panel is working on trying to differentiate the
cost of health care by salary. He stated
that the greatest increase has come in the cost of prescription drugs. Wolf noted that the health care problem needs
to be addressed at a broader level and people need to communicate with their
Congressional representatives in the House and Senate of this issue. Miller reported that the administrative costs
to Blue Cross/Blue Shield are 6 percent.
Spann suggested that the University should inform employees that they might
be able to get prescriptions filled for less money at the
7.0 New
Business
7.1
Miller stated that he would like to work on developing ideas to improve the faculty community. Members of the committee suggested that a faculty club that offered good food and drink and where faculty members could meet would help. Bryant suggested having a dinner-dance fundraising event sponsored by the faculty.
Bryant noted that most faculty awards are not given out by the faculty but by administration. He stated that faculty awards should be faculty driven. He suggested that improvements could be made in how faculty members are recognized. Logan-Peters stated that there needs to be more faculty involvement with the Senate. King suggested that the Executive Committee should sponsor something at the State of the University address. He suggested having a faculty/student talent show. Spann suggested that an event be held at one of the sky boxes and catered by the training table for faculty members. Wunder noted that Bill Byrne spoke to the Academic Planning Committee and stated that the sky boxes could be used for other sponsored university events. Bryant made a motion to have Wunder speak to Byrne on using one of the sky boxes. Motion seconded by Peterson. Motion approved.
7.2 Next Executive Committee
Meeting
Wunder suggested inviting the faculty members of the Academic Planning Committee to meet with the committee to discuss further budget cuts. The committee agreed and rescheduled the meeting to Tuesday, June 25th.
The meeting was adjourned at