EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MINUTES
Present: Bryant, King, Logan-Peters, Miller,
Peterson, Sawyer, Siekman,
Spann, Whitt, Wolf, Wunder
Absent: DiMagno,
Fuller
Guests: Faculty Members of Academic Planning
Committee: Ron Lee, Ken
Nickerson, Meryln Nielsen, Ellen Paparozzi, Barry Rosson
Date:
Location: 420 University
Terrace, Academic Senate Office
1.0 Call to Order (Miller)
Miller called the meeting to
order at
2.0 Announcements
No announcements were made.
3.0 Chancellor Perlman
3.1 Budget Update
Chancellor Perlman stated that he wanted to bring the committee up to date on the most recent events concerning the budget. He reported that the effort to consider salary increases to offset further budget cuts has been put on hold. He stated that the notice of salary increases will be distributed at the end of the week. He announced that every notice will include a statement that the salary raises are contingent upon the University receiving an adequate budget from the legislature.
Chancellor Perlman reported that the University is being told the best case scenario for additional budget cuts would be a $20 million reduction system-wide. He pointed out that it is possible for the university to receive an even larger reduction. He stated that increased costs in areas such as insurance will create an even larger cut to the university budget.
Chancellor Perlman stated that he has already begun the process of working on the budget cuts and has notified the Deans to start thinking about a plan to deal with the reductions. He noted that he will be meeting with them on Friday. He stated that making cuts here and there is not going to produce enough to cover the reductions. He stated that if the university receives a significant budget cut, he will have to look at making vertical cuts in programs, possibly resulting in the firing of tenured and untenured faculty.
Chancellor Perlman reported that he will be following the same process and procedures used during the last round of cuts. He noted that he has reviewed the Regents Bylaws regarding the policies on eliminating tenured faculty and cutting programs. He reported that the General Counsel of the University has informed him that staff must be given 90 days notice for being fired and tenured faculty must have a one year notification period.
Chancellor Perlman stated that he wants to have the campus administration develop a plan quickly so that the Academic Planning Committee has enough time to review the proposed reductions.
Chancellor Perlman reported that the chancellors will be meeting with President Smith to discuss the possibility of restructuring the university. He noted that this could involve the elimination of duplicate programs and services on the campuses and merging small departments. Nickerson asked what the optimal size is for a department. Chancellor Perlman stated that he was not sure what President Smith considered an optimal size. Paparozzi stated that the Horticulture department was told that they should have 14 or more members to remain as a separate department.
Wunder pointed out that the Regents Bylaws and the Procedures to be Invoked for Significant Budget Reallocation and Reductions were interpreted by the APC to mean that for a program to be eliminated it must be proven that the program is substandard in some important way. APC then adopted a list of considerations that go to a program’s assessment within this framework. He noted that for a program to be eliminated, its elimination must be approved by APC. He urged everyone to review all documents carefully regarding the ending of programs and the firing of tenured and tenure-track faculty. Chancellor Perlman stated that the procedures are being followed. He pointed out that the Procedures to be Invoked document states that the quality of the program should be considered but that it is not a requirement to prove that it is substandard. He pointed out that there should be justification though for eliminating programs. Wolf suggested that the five year academic reviews can be used to review programs. Chancellor Perlman stated that he has looked at the APR’s but noted that they cannot be ranked according to quality. He stated that he will not get into a data war to justify the elimination of a program. He noted that judgment calls will need to be made.
Sawyer asked if there has been any discussion about increasing revenues. Chancellor Perlman reported that he has increased some revenues in areas over which he has control. He noted that the Board of Regents is currently not inclined to increase tuition.
Wolf asked whether Chancellor Perlman felt bound by the national AAUP’s procedures for eliminating programs. Chancellor Perlman stated that he was aware of conflicts with the AAUP’s procedures but he did not feel bound to them.
Bryant asked if the Chancellor was at a point of declaring financial exigency. Chancellor Perlman stated that he did not think the University was at that point yet and that it would not be helpful to declare it. He stated that President Smith shared the same feelings regarding financial exigency.
Nielsen pointed out that decisions to reduce any held faculty positions create a difficult financial situation. With the Bylaws requirement that all faculty have a 12-month notice before loss of position, we would be “spending the budget reduction” throughout the full fiscal year. Thus, we create a debt when the goal from the state government is to reduce spending and thus avoid a debt. Nielsen wondered whether we could go into debt? He asked if interest would be charged if the campus went into deficit. Chancellor Perlman stated that this situation was the reason that he had wished to freeze the salary increases until we had a clearer picture. Chancellor Perlman stated that no interest would be charged, and we could not go into debt. He pointed out that state workers have been given a 4.4% raise but it will be given in increments. He stated that the real arguments have come from unionized versus non-unionized campuses.
Lee stated that the premise is that the state is currently in an economic cyclical downfall which should eventually come back up. However, he stated that the downsizing of the workforce appears to be more than a cyclical event. Chancellor Perlman stated that the economics situation is a cyclical event, but the university does not have the funds to ride it out. Lee suggested that the student unions should be closed to cut down costs. Chancellor Perlman pointed out that the unions are paid for through student fees.
Paparozzi pointed out that public relations personnel from Central Administration need to talk to the general public and explain the impacts the cuts will have on the university and their social contract with the people of the state. She noted that the university is top-heavy with administrators. Chancellor Perlman stated that he and other administrators have been talking with people throughout the state. He pointed out that the university is not being attacked and that there is good support within the legislature. He noted that the problem is the current environment of the revenue system of the state. He stated that data indicate that the university is not top-heavy with administrators compared to our peers.
Wunder noted that there has been a decrease in undergraduate and faculty population but there has been an increase in the number of administrators and administrative staff over the years. He stated that these areas should be looked at seriously before academic programs are cut. He pointed out that the teaching power at the university is not being fully tapped. Sawyer noted that there are a number of faculty members who are only teaching one class but who are being rewarded for considerably more than the one class. Chancellor Perlman stated that he will be looking at all areas. Wunder noted that there are parts of the university where large investments have been made in advising but in other areas faculty do the advising. He noted that this creates an imbalance in expenditures. Chancellor Perlman stated that he promises to look at the administrative structure.
King asked if there has been any
discussion in the legislature regarding cuts being made to the technical school
at Curtis. Chancellor Perlman stated that he did not hear anything about Curtis
but he noted that several senators have talked about closing
Bryant asked if the money for priority funds was still available. Chancellor Perlman reported that it is still in the budget. Nickerson suggested that there should be serious consideration of merging city and east campus. He wondered how much money would be saved if some departments were to merge. Chancellor Perlman stated that everything will be on the table for possible cuts. He noted that he will be sending out periodic email messages regarding suggestions made by faculty and staff on the budget cuts.
Rosson stated that he has concerns regarding the September 1st and 30th deadlines on budget cuts. He stated that he would like to see faculty on the different campuses communicate regarding the restructuring of the university. Chancellor Perlman suggested that the Faculty Senates should address this issue.
Spann thanked the Chancellor for
coming to discuss this difficult issue with the Executive Committee. He questioned how
Chancellor Perlman stated that he would like to hear from people who have good, rational ideas for dealing with the budget cuts. He stated that he needs to know of suggestions and what goes on in areas throughout the campus.
Siekman asked if it was possible that the university could receive as much as a 40% reduction. Chancellor Perlman stated that it is conceivable.
Paparozzi suggested tenure buyouts as one way to help reduce the budget. Chancellor Perlman stated that this is being considered; however, it is a short-term solution which costs more in the long run. Sawyer suggested that faculty near retirement age who are interested in teaching part time be allowed to do so. Peterson suggested that some faculty on 12 month appointments might be encouraged to switch to nine month appointments if their salary were reduced by, say, 20% rather than the full 25% reduction implied by moving from 12 to 9 months. Lee suggested that there be a cap on summer session salaries for those faculty earning six figure salaries. Chancellor Perlman stated that he has asked to look at the summer session salaries. Logan-Peters suggested that merging duplicate programs should be a point of focus rather than elimination of programs. Whitt pointed out that before programs are eliminated, it should be considered how difficult it would be to regenerate them once this economic cycle is over.
Bryant stated that President Smith
should release the $3 million set aside for enhancement programs. He pointed out that faculty need to be involved
in discussions regarding salary cuts. He
stated that President Smith should ask colleges to convene a task force if they
are going to be merged. Wunder noted that
Wunder stated that the APC is going to need as much help and support as possible because eliminating programs is a long process. He pointed out that APC determined in 1993 when considering the University Administration’s proposal to eliminate programs, departments, and portions of a college that in such a situation tenure and tenure-track faculty should be treated the same and not separated apart. Lee noted that there are no immediate savings when academic programs are eliminated. Wunder stated that the APC needs to vote to eliminate programs. He stated that for a program to be eliminated, the APC must vote to eliminate the program. He also pointed out that if financial exigency is declared, APC can propose an alternative plan to the Chancellor. Miller stated that the committee will need to make sure that the procedures are precisely followed.
Paparozzi pointed out that cutting tenured and tenure leading faculty creates the same reputation for a university as financial exigency. King stated that restructuring the university needs to be looked at carefully. He reminded the committee of the difficulties that have occurred with colleges that have been divided between two campuses. Miller stated that the committee needs to work in the best interest of the faculty and that faculty jobs and student rights need to be protected. Paparozzi pointed out that some reductions need to come from administration. Wunder stated that it is important for the committee to work closely with the APC and to establish good communications with the other campuses.
Lee pointed out that many of the enhancement programs will require significant funding in order for them to be established. He suggested that the $3 million for enhancement programs should be used to help save existing programs. Nickerson suggested that the Senate should make a resolution declaring that funding of priority programs should be delayed. Wolf moved that Chancellor Perlman should be informed that the committee recommends that funding for the priority programs be delayed. Wunder noted that some of the priority funds have already been committed. Bryant seconded the motion but suggested that the resolution should state that unexpended dollars for the priority programs should be delayed. The committee approved the following resolution: “The Academic Senate Executive Committee and faculty members of the Academic Planning Committee approved a resolution suggesting that the $3 million allotted for special priority programs be placed on temporary hold until such time that the budgetary situation is resolved.” The committee approved the resolution. The committee also approved the Chancellor sharing this resolution with President Smith.
The committee agreed to have the faculty members of APC attend the next Executive Committee meeting.
4.0 Approval of
The
committee approved the
5.0 Further Budget Reductions
See 3.1 above.
6.0 Unfinished Business
No unfinished business was discussed.
7.0 New Business
7.1 July
10th Executive Committee Meeting
Miller reported that he would be out of town and Chancellor Perlman could not meet with the committee on the 10th. He asked if the committee would still want to meet with SVCAA Edwards and VC Owens on the 10th. The committee agreed to meet on the 10th and to meet with Chancellor Perlman on the 24th.
7.2 ARRC, ARRP, and APC
Elections
Item postponed due to lack of time.
The meeting was adjourned at