Minutes
Faculty Senate Meeting
February 2, 2005
David Rosenbloom called the meeting to order at 1:45p.m.
Present: Professors Ahrens, Arneson, Bennett, Burke, Douglass, Durant, Flug, Heintze, Jacoby,
Karch, King, La Salle, Leap, Mardirosian, Petit, Richardson, Riley, Rosenbloom, Schaeff,
Streitmatter, Vogelsong,Weaver. Provost Kerwin and Dean of Academic Affairs Broder.
1. Approval of minutes from December meeting
The minutes of the December 1, 2004 meeting were approved.
2. Chair’s Report
David Rosenbloom stated that finding a replacement for the Faculty Senate staff assistant is of
immediate concern. He circulated the description of the 20 hours/week position, attached to these
minutes, and asked that the group review it in the next few days and give feedback.
3. Report of the Provost, Cornelius Kerwin
Provost Kerwin reported on several items.
The AY05 enrollment cycle
Based on the report from the Office of Enrollment from January 31, the University is 23% ahead
on freshman applications, which translates to approximately 1000 more than last year at this
time, 10 days from the end of the normal application submission cycle. This has the potential to
result in a historic number of freshman applications. Based on preliminary analysis, the quality
profile is very strong, with this applicant group scoring 20 points higher on the SAT and 1/10point higher in grade point average. Multicultural and international applicants generally are up
substantially. Dr. Kerwin said they will have a clearer picture by the March Senate meeting.
Update on University College pilot
This program responds to goals first articulated by President Ladner and refined by the project
team. Prior to the December break, Professor Tony Ahrens chaired the faculty working group
that used the report from Associate Dean Nanette Levinson. They refined the idea of the
freshman seminar, linked to orientation activities managed by the Office of Campus Life. Seven
faculty have volunteered to teach in the pilot offering in the Fall: Gary Weaver, SIS; John
Douglass, SOC; Caleen Jennings, CAS; David Fagelson, SPA; Steven Taylor, SPA; Al Cheh,
CAS; and Joe Campbell, SOC. The group will work to fashion the goals and objectives of the
freshman seminars and extended activities in “residential communities” with a Program
Associate, who will be an advanced undergraduate student. As with all academic programs,
learning objectives and assessment will be part of this program. The goal is to recruit 125
students from next year’s freshman class, which is just under 10%. Seminar attendance will be
limited to 18 students.
Kogod Dean search
Dr. Kerwin thanked A.T. Carnie and the search committee for their work, and noted that he was
limited in what he could divulge about the applicants, as they are guaranteed confidentiality at
this stage. He did say that the intermediate group of applicants represents some of the finest
business schools in the US. The timeframe for selecting the candidate puts finalist interviews at
the end of this month or early March. The decision will be announced in early April, with the
new dean in place mid-July.
BlackBoard upgrade
Dr. Kerwin thanked John Richardson and the Center for Teaching Excellence’s staff for the
successful upgrade to the new release of BlackBoard, noting the upgrade’s extensive planning
and flawless execution.
Dr. Kerwin then set the context for the budget discussion, stating that the next 10-14 days are
critical. President Ladner must make recommendations to the Board of Trustees, which will
make the ultimate recommendation on the budget for the next two years. The Budget and
Benefits Committee has been working since summer to develop priorities in accordance with the
new bylaws of the Senate and the Committee regarding for academic priorities. He said he has
been in frequent discussion with the deans and vice-presidents for enrollment estimates and
revenue expectations involving housing and other auxiliary enterprises. He cited ways they are
maintaining communication with the campus: the town meeting with Don Myer prior to break,
meetings with graduate and undergraduate students, and another town meeting February 7 in
which the whole campus is invited to participate. David Rosenbloom and Janice Flug, along with
Christine Chin and Joe Campbell of the President’s University Council (which replaced the
University Budget Committee for these deliberations at the President’s request), will be
analyzing the balance of revenues and expenditures.
Provost Kerwin said they had developed conservative and accurate enrollment estimates. While
there have been solid graduate enrollments, there have been smaller freshman classes over the
last few years. He anticipated a return to normal enrollments for the Washington Semester. As
previous summer enrollments have been low, he said it is important that the numbers used were
modest expectations based on the actual, rather than budgeted, performance of the last two years.
The University continues to contend with smaller classes, and a matter under active
consideration is increasing the freshman class a bit to 1275, provided there is no sacrifice in
application standards or education quality.
The Board of Trustees requires working within a frame of 4.5-6.5% for tuition increase. Dr.
Kerwin noted that taking the above into account, there should be roughly $8-10 million of
disposable income to work with for the budget cycle. The commitment of the University to
matching financial aid awards with tuition increases will account for approximately $4 million,
and salaries, about $3 million. He said that two pressing concerns are the expected substantial
increases in both energy and health insurance expenditures, which could total $1.8 million for
each of the two years. There will be continuing discussion at tomorrow’s University Council
meeting and the February 7 town meeting.
Provost Kerwin concluded his report with a note from his discussions with students. He said it is
important to be able to account for what has been done with revenue from tuition increases in the
past, as there have been two years of 6% increases in tuition. Noting that AU remains firmly in
the middle with respect to comparative institutions on tuition, and had increases on average ½%
less than these institutions, there is still remarkable progress in the quality of education the
faculty has provided. This information is empirically verifiable from multiple sources: the
Middle States review; the National Survey of Student Engagement report, which registers
students’ perceptions of quality; the UCLA freshman survey, which reports that larger numbers
of students choose AU for perceived academic quality; better teaching evaluations of those
adjunct faculty who remain at AU. These achievements rely on strong faculty who need
resources and competitive compensation, and he noted that the recommendation will likely be at
the higher end of 4.5-6.5% scale. He recognized both the burden placed on students by tuition
increases, and the importance of students’ degrees increasing in value.
4. Report of the Committee on Instructional Budget and Benefits, Janice Flug
The summary and outline of budget features are on the attached pages. Janice Flug, Chair of the
Committee on Instructional Budget and Benefits, acknowledged the work of the committee, John
Douglas, and Provost Kerwin, noting that collecting background information for the 2-year
budget started over a year ago. She put forth two recommendations for consideration and then
elaborated on them:
•
•
That the Senate endorse the budget recommendations for fiscal years 2006 and 2007 as
put forth by the Senate Instructional Budget and Benefits Committee
That once more refined revenue models are available the Committee be allowed to make
minor adjustments to the recommendations prior to the Board of Trustees February
meeting
She reminded the Senate of the proposal which, after extended discussion in November,
approved a tuition increase in the range of 5.25-6.5%. The committee now recommends a 5.96.5% range, in order to maintain quality and fulfill promises to students and faculty. With regard
to other costs, she said that fees will likely remain the same, and Gail Hanson, Vice President of
Campus Life, will be handling the recommendation of housing costs at the University Council
meeting. Taking into account the commitment to raising aid to match tuition increases, about $78 million should be available. She noted that while graduate students understand the need for
tuition increases, they are concerned about academic and service units looking for efficiencies in
their budgets. Units in fact must do this, because there is no increase across the board in all
budget line items.
Ms. Flug then highlighted several items in the proposal, answering questions as they arose.
•
Merit pay increase : The suggested merit increase is in the range of 3.5-4%. She noted
that she was not sure exactly how much it would take to keep up to AAUP level, and in
the case of assistant professors, it may require an additional ½%. To put this amount in
broader context, she said that many schools are facing no increase, and the federal
government is at approximately 3.7%. Employees will also see an increase in their
benefits package equal to about 1%.
•
Funds for additional faculty : $750,000 is proposed for 10 tenure-track, full-time
faculty lines implemented over the two years. This will allow faculty to have more time
for creative scholarly and professional development, as well as decrease the number of
adjunct-taught classes at the 100 and 200 levels, in keeping with the 15 Point Plan.
Responding to a question from Professor Petit, Dr. Kerwin replied that he proposes the
adjunct budget not be cut, but be used to better compensate adjuncts. Ms. Flug added that
an additional $100,000 for the adjunct pool is being proposed to compensate adjuncts
more competitively.
•
Graduate financial aid : $250,000 additional support for graduate stipends is proposed
to keep awards competitive.
•
University Library : At least a $400,000 increase to the library’s material budget is
proposed to go toward increasing both electronic resources and books. Ms. Flug noted
that FTE and enrollment affect pricing structures, and with enrollment going up, the
pricing of library resources could go up.
•
Technology : The committee used $200,000 as a place-holder, as the Committee on
Information Services and Don Myers, Vice-President of Finance and Treasurer will likely
make a recommendation of $1 million. Technology includes support for resources in
classrooms and for distance learning. This figure is in addition to the technology
replacement and reserve fund, which is already in place. Ms. Flug responded to a
question about replacement costs of equipment in SIS and the new Katzen Arts Center,
saying that the impact of the Katzen Center had been discussed, but that Vice-President
Myers handles technology. Provost Kerwin said the Committee will be helpful in
expanding the desktop replacement program, which will replace appropriate hardware
and software every 3 years. He continued that Katzen is a totally different and
technologically diversified space. Although they have built in enough funding to outfit
the building the first time around, there will be conversations with Kay Mussell, Dean of
CAS and Vice President Myers to determine a replacement cycle. The Katzen Center will
also develop a fundraising stream, and lessons learned there will be important for SIS and
SOC.
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Undergrad research support : Ms. Flug said this $30,000 request came from the Senate
Curriculum and Academic Programs Committee.
•
Classroom improvements : This money is to be used for structural, furniture, and
technology improvement for classrooms and had been endorsed in October as a budget
priority. She noted the need for at least $250,000 in this area, as technology
improvements could run $5,000-20,000 per classroom.
•
Wellness program : This proposal responds to the double-digit increases in health
benefits costs. She noted some institutions have seen decreased costs by assisting in the
management of their employees’ process. The Health/Fitness faculty or a consultant
could help the University be proactive, instead of reactive, to these escalating costs. As
the members of the Budget Committee also serve on the Benefit Advisory project team,
this issue has been brought to their agenda.
•
Quasi-endowment fund : This fund is required for bond ratings and the ability to borrow
money. Ms. Flug said the Committee supports the transfer of 1.5% of the tuition revenue
to the management reserve fund, which has proven an extremely important contingency,
especially in the summer during periods of low enrollment.
In the discussion that followed, several issues were addressed. Efficient use of classrooms with
AV equipment was a concern, as some faculty rely on technology in the classroom more than
others. With regard to the University College program, Professor Weaver noted that some
courses will be taught in dormitories, and they will need to be equipped with technology. Ms.
Flug said that this had not been factored in, as the Committee hadn’t seen a proposal from the
University College yet. Provost Kerwin responded to a question about benchmarking with other
institutions and the cost to recruit a student, saying Vice President Myers keeps track of debt
service, class sizes, student evaluations of experience, and cost per square foot of the University.
He also responded to a question about whether adjunct compensation is merit- or market-based,
saying that while they lean toward the market, merit drives everything with compensation. He
also noted that in the second fiscal year of this budget, the full impact of the $750,000 for fulltime faculty lines would be felt. Ms. Flug noted that the budget would be monitored throughout
the cycle, and it will possible to revisit the budget to make sure it is on track.
Professor Leap wanted to underscore the importance of the first sentence of the proposal,
“maintaining the upward path in AU’s quality of teaching and the level of services that students
expect and need for their studies and research,” and the Senate agreed. Professor Ahrens asked
how the increased graduate awards would translate for each student. Provost Kerwin replied that
there would be on average about $1000 more per stipend for graduate students, which would be a
dramatic statement. Professor Mardirosian was concerned about the vagueness of the statement
“additional monies for the Katzen Center,” citing her experience with the complications and
expense associated with opening the Greenberg Theatre. Ms. Flug responded that the Committee
wanted to make the Senate aware that the Katzen Center will require additional funds, but that it
is outside the purview of the committee to determine its exact budget, as they do not scrutinize or
determine deans’ budgets. The Committee responds to general academic concerns. Provost
Kerwin added that O&M needs are at the forefront of their concern, and that in addition to the
money built into the last few cycles, endowment fundraising will assist in maintaining the
building’s resources. Dean Mussell and Vice-President Myers will also work with him on how
best to support requests.
Action: The Faculty Senate voted 18 to 1 with 1 abstention to approve the motion to endorse a
tuition increase in the range of 5.9% to 6.5%, necessary to maintain the upward path in AU’s
quality of teaching and the level of service that the students expect and need for their studies and
research, as put forth by the Senate Instructional Budget and Benefits Committee.
Action: The Faculty Senate voted 19 to 0 with 1 abstention to approve the motion to endorse the
budget recommendations for fiscal years 2006 and 2007 as put forth by the Senate Instructional
Budget and Benefits Committee, and that once more refined revenue models are available, the
Committee be allowed to make minor adjustments to the recommendations prior to the Board of
Trustees February meeting.
5. Open discussion
Professor Phil Jacoby expressed that the quasi-endowment fund should not continue into
perpetuity. He proposed a Senate resolution requesting that the administration provide a plan for
phasing out the practice. Ms. Flug responded that some committee members were not in favor of
the current practice of shifting funds from the operating budget into the quasi-endowment, and
that the Committee will look at other universities’ practices in this matter. Provost Kerwin noted
the many discussions on this issue, saying Vice-President Myers’ perspective is important, and
that there are readily available data from other institutions that would support the practice.
Professor Jacoby withdrew the motion with the understanding that the Committee will report
back to the Senate regarding this matter.
6. Good of the Order
Provost Kerwin identified several members of the University community who had recently been
distinguished, including SOC professors and alumni associated with Gerry Wurzberg’s film
“Autism is a World,” nominated for an Oscar in the Best Short Documentary category. SOC
alumnus and adjunct professor Gary Griffin was the Cinematographer, and former SOC student
and adjunct professor Barbara Ballow was the Editor. Also, SPA Professor Bernie Rosen was
given the highest award the government can give for civilian public service. Dr. Kerwin also
shared that of the 13 AU students who applied for a Fulbright scholarship, 11 are finalists.
The Department of Performing Arts’ production of Antigone will be this weekend and next.
The meeting was adjourned at 3:30p.m.