EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MINUTES

Present: Alloway, Bradford, Fech, Hachtmann, La Cost, Ledder, Lindquist, Moeller, Prochaska Cue, Zimmers

Absent: Bolin Flowers, Rapkin

Date: Wednesday, June 27, 2007

Location: 201 Canfield Administration Building

Note: These are not verbatim minutes. They are a summary of the discussions at the Executive Committee meeting as corrected by those participating.

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1.0 Call to Order

Bradford called the meeting to order at 2:33 p.m.

2.0 Vice Chancellor Owens

2.1 Budget & Possible Budget Cuts

Vice Chancellor Owens reported that there have been discussions with the Chancellor about the budget with the senior administrative team but there are still unknowns about it. He pointed out that Varner Hall has not yet informed the campuses of what their budget will be for the 2007-08 year. He stated that he is confident that enrollment is up but according to the NU System formula, UNL will receive half of its tuition increase for this year and should get all of its tuition increase from last year. He stated that Varner Hall is using this formula in determining how the tuition income will be distributed to the four campuses.

VC Owens stated that many units are still carrying minuses on their budget due to low enrollment figures from a couple of years ago. He noted that this is troublesome because it impacts the campus’ ability to fill positions and there are more open positions than we want. He stated that it is still unclear how the utilities bill will come out.

VC Owens stated that in the Institute the assigned minuses on the budgets will need to be addressed. He stated that the administration will need to decide how we accomplish budget cuts to deal with the assigned minuses without creating the decreased enrollment situation that occurred in 2003.

VC Owens reported that he is hearing that next year’s budget will be more troublesome because of some things that have been postponed. He noted that zero dollars went into the health care trust fund this past year and it is remarkable that employees did not see an increase in health care.

Bradford stated that he has the sense that the Board of Regents will not be happy with the idea of a tuition increase next year.

VC Owens stated that some states are making investments in higher education during these difficult financial times. He reported that there are three new federally-funded bio-energy centers opening around the country and one state is putting up $54 million for constructing a facility in conjunction with a new energy center and to support faculty salaries for bio-energy research.

2.2 Whittier Building Construction

See 6.4 below.

2.3 Issues on the Horizon

VC Owens reported that the veterinary program with Iowa State University has received full accreditation. He stated that he is convinced that the university has done the right thing by entering into this contract. He pointed out that UNL will have the lesser of the expense of the program with teaching the first two years of the program here. He reported that all of the faculty members for the veterinary program have been hired except for one. He noted that the position for parasitology has not been filled. He pointed out that the facility associated with this position is old and outdated and has hurt UNL’s ability to attract a new faculty member. He stated that UNL has to have someone in this position for the second year of the program.

Bradford asked if there is any concern about the students in the veterinary program not coming back to Nebraska to practice. VC Owens stated that there is concern. He noted that there was some thought to putting a requirement on the program but it decided not to do it because it is not a requirement for other graduate programs. He pointed out that the students entering the veterinary program this year are top notch and have suggested that they want to return to the state. Ledder stated that it would be nice to be able to offer them a financial incentive to come back to the state. VC Owens stated that there have been some discussions about having forgivable loans for students through private donors. He stated that there was a similar program in New Mexico for minority students and it was quite successful.

VC Owens stated that the Virology building is currently under construction on east campus.

3.0 Announcements

No announcements were made.

4.0 Approval of 6/13/07 Minutes

The minutes of the 6/13/07 Executive Committee meeting were approved after revisions were made.

5.0 Unfinished Business

5.1 Comments on ACE Proposals 3 and 4

The Committee reviewed the written comments that will be sent to Professor Janovy regarding ACE Proposals 3 and 4. Alloway noted that one of the biggest problems is the transfer issue. Ledder argued that this should not be a reason for not approving the proposals. He stated that currently there are problems with transferring credits and it would be difficult and too labor intensive to have a system that could deal with all of the problems associated with transferring credits. Moeller pointed out that 50% of students now go to community colleges because of financial reasons and the community colleges are increasing their standards. Bradford stated that a bigger problem is UNL students taking courses for their majors at community colleges that might not include all the elements necessary to progress when they get here.

Ledder questioned whether there should be stronger comments regarding recertification. He stated that he believes this is necessary for the colleges to vote approval of the proposals.

Bradford stated that he would make the changes recommended by the Committee and send them to Professor Janovy.

6.0 New Business

6.1 ARRC Hearing on Professor Belot

Bradford noted that there was an article in the Lincoln Journal Star on the ARRC hearing on Professor Belot. He pointed out that the news report stated that the committee had decided that Professor Belot should not be terminated. He stated that it is now up to the Board of Regents to make a final decision on the matter. He reported that the Board of Regents has to act on the matter within 30 days.

Moeller asked if the hearing committee’s recommendations could be discussed with the media at this time. Bradford stated that no comments should have been made because of the confidentiality rules in the ARRC procedures.

Bradford stated that the Board of Regents will have to accept the factual findings of the hearing committee. If new information has become available since the recommendations were made by the hearing committee, the Board can hold a new hearing to collect the additional information.

Ledder asked if President Milliken fired Professor Belot. Bradford stated that President Milliken is recommending that Professor Belot be fired based on the findings of an outside attorney hired by the university. Ledder asked if President Milliken could reconsider his recommendation based on the ARRC hearing committee’s findings. Bradford stated that he thinks President Milliken could reconsider.

Ledder asked if there is any potential role for the Executive Committee to play in this matter. Bradford stated that under the new ARRC rules, if the Board of Regents’ decision is contrary to the recommendations of the hearing committee, then the Executive Committee will see the report. Ledder asked what kind of action could then be taken. Bradford stated that several things could be done.

6.2 Possible Violation of ARRC Confidentiality Rules

The Committee discussed a possible violation of the ARRC confidentiality rules.

6.3 StarTran Bus Route Changes

Alloway reported that a colleague of his is concerned with the proposed changes to the bus routes, particularly with the elimination of downtown stops. He noted that his colleague has heard that the Q street bus stop is to be eliminated.

Ledder stated that he has looked at the changes and does not think the Q street stop will be closing. He noted that nothing in the plan indicates that any bus stops will be closed but neither is it stated anywhere that all downtown stops will be kept. Alloway stated that the downtown route will no longer be included in all of the bus routes.

Ledder stated that StarTran is doubling up most south routes with a north route. He stated that the only downtown stop that all buses will be required to make is the 11^th & O Street bus stop.

Alloway suggested that the University should be aware of all of the changes since a lot of university people use the bus system. Griffin noted that the Committee will be meeting with Dan Carpenter, Director of Parking and Transportation Services, on July 11^th and he would probably be aware of all of the changes in the StarTran bus routes.

6.4 Report on Board of Regents Meeting

Bradford stated that the Board approved the budget and a 6% tuition increase for next year. He noted that he was surprised that the vote on the tuition increase was 7-1 because there were a lot of negative comments made in the morning meetings about it. He stated that he thinks the Board will not be eager to approve another similar increase next year which could create a real problem in the budget. He pointed out that there could be a $13 million shortfall for the 2008-09 budget.

Alloway asked for clarification on the new Board of Regents policy 3.3.9 regarding endorsement of commercial goods and services by university and university staff. Bradford stated that, with some exceptions the policy states that employees cannot endorse commercial goods, services or business of any person or entity outside of the university without written consent or approval from the President or Chancellor. He stated that the policy does not apply to endorsements of scholarly books or publications or for non-profit organizations.

The Committee suggested that Bradford write a letter to President Milliken expressing concern for the policy.

Alloway asked what “Know How to Go Nebraska” is about. Bradford stated that it is part of a national program of websites. It is a public service commercial directed at first- generation college students that are unsure of what steps they need to take to get into college. He stated that the video gives these students instructions on five steps they need to take to get into the university.

Zimmers asked if the video includes anything about extension educators. He pointed out that they are in every county and they do a lot of recruiting for the University. Bradford stated that he did not know if anything is included.

Ledder asked if UNL does a lot of recruiting in the rural areas. Zimmers reported that extension is heavily involved in recruiting.

Moeller asked when faculty members will know about their salary increases. Bradford stated that faculty in his college already know. Fech stated that official numbers in his extension center were not known. Griffin stated that pay notifications are usually sent out during the summer after July 1.

Bradford reported that the Regents discussed the renovation of the Whittier building. He pointed out that some of the interior space is already in use by Campus Recreation. He stated that the renovation calls for replacement of the heating/air conditioning system as well as renovation for a child care facility on the north side of the building. He stated that most of the renovated space will be used for laboratories and the Nebraska Transportation Center will be housed in the building.

Bradford reported that the Regents approved the program statement for the Abel Sandoz dorms. He noted that the plan is to remove the dorms and, among other things, make the dorm rooms larger.

The meeting was adjourned at 4:14 p.m. The next meeting of the Executive Committee will be on Wednesday, July 11th at 2:30 pm. The meeting will be held in the Faculty Senate Office, 420 University Terrace. The minutes are respectfully submitted by Karen Griffin, Coordinator and Rick Alloway, Secretary.