College of Arts and Sciences
Council of Chairs
September 24, 2008
2:30 p.m., AS 122
Meeting Minutes
Present: J. Berkowitz, J. Brière, G. Broadwell, A. DeBlasi, N. Denton, P. Ferlo, S. Galime, K.
Gersowitz (recorder), D. Goodwin, G. Griffith, R. Hamm, T. Harrison, D. Hernandez, M. Hill, M.
Jerison, C. MacDonald, J. Mandle, M. Messitt, G. Moore, J. Mower, G. Stevens, M. Sutherland, C.
Thorncraft, P. Toscano (for Welch), E. Turner, K. Williams, T. Wormwood, E. Wulfert, A. Zak, R.
Zitomer, A. Zonder.
Introductory Remarks: Dean Wulfert called the meeting to order at 2:35 p.m.
Minutes of the meeting of May 14, 2008: A motion to approve the minutes was moved by J. Mower,
seconded by A. Zak. The meeting minutes for the May 14, 2008 Council of Chairs were unanimously
approved.
Announcements:
 Globalization Studies Kickoff event is scheduled for 9/25 at 9:00 a.m. in the Assembly Hall. Lori
Wallach, Director of Public Citizen's Global Trade Watch is the keynote speaker. The Dean invited all
chairs to attend this event
 Newsletter items should be sent to Dona Parker no later than 10/10.
 Graduate Fair 2008 will be held on 10/13 from 3-7:00 p.m. in the CC Ballroom.
 Sabbatical Leave Requests are due 10/15 to Steve Galime, AS-217. The Dean reminded chairs that all
sabbatical leaves must be load absorbed. In planning for sabbaticals it is crucial that departments still
meet the instructional needs of students and that the number of available seats does not decline as a
result of a sabbatical.
 FRAP A Applications are due 10/15 to Brenda Lewis, AS-217. Please send the original plus 10
copies. http://www.albany.edu/research/Forms/FRAP.pdf
 Conference Support Award requests are due 10/24 with letter of support from the Dept. Chair (to
Brenda Lewis, AS 217). Please forward the original plus 5 copies.
http://www.albany.edu/research/Forms/Conference.pdf
 Journal Support Award requests are due 10/24 with letter of support from the Dept. Chair (to Brenda
Lewis, AS 217, original plus 5 copies.)
http://www.albany.edu/research/Forms/Journal.pdf
 Homecoming/Family/Reunion Weekend is October 24-26.
 Open House for Prospective Students is 10/25. If you have not already done so, please send the name
of your department representative to Cindy Endres at cendres@albany.edu by 10/10.
 The College Dinner is planned for 10/30 at 5:30 p.m. at the Italian-American Community Center. This
year we will be showcasing the Music Department.
Old Business:
The Dean noted that she recently attended a meeting at SUNY Central where it was announced that the
search for a SUNY Chancellor continues. It is likely that additional candidates, beyond the three
finalists reported in the press, will be interviewed.
Business arising:
Budget Overview
The Dean began by discussing the overall impact the state’s financial crisis is having on the SUNY
budget. She noted that the original 08-09 budget reduction of $38.8 million was passed onto the
campuses and each has dealt with this cut in their own way. The CAS portion of this budget cut was
$1.12 million, which was met through turning in vacant lines and a 3% cut in operating monies.
As the state’s financial situation continued to worsen, SUNY was asked to prepare for a further midyear reduction. We do not know what this will mean for CAS, but we are preparing for another cut,
which seems almost certain at this time. We anticipate that it will be mid October or early November
before we know what the cut will be. The mid-year adjustment will have to be satisfied with one-time
money and will likely be permanent in next year’s budget. Assistant Dean Galime noted that the midyear cut will require a “give back” of current allocations.
The Dean noted that CAS does not have the funds to support even the most worthy causes because of
the anticipated mid-year cut. As the budget situation is likely to be a frequent topic of discussion in the
coming months, the Dean wanted to ensure that the Chairs have a good understanding of the CAS
budget. Therefore, Assistant Dean S. Galime provided a detailed overview of the CAS budget. He
began by asking the chairs to take a short quiz designed to highlight many misconceptions and to
clarify commonly used terminology. He then distributed an answer key and a corresponding set of
graphs and reviewed the questions. Key points included:
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The College’s total budget for 08-09 is approximately $48 million.
93% of CAS funds are state allocated.
80% of CAS state expenditures are for faculty and staff salaries.
Part-line instructional costs are projected to be approximately $3.7 million in 08-09.
Approximately $3 million will be funded using CAS resources including funds from vacant
lines and salary recovery from full year sabbaticals and other leaves.
The University in the High Schools (UHS) Income Fund Reimbursable (IFR) account, in
addition to supporting the program and its staff, is used to support part time instructional costs
and to balance the CAS budget.
One-time funds, which have in the past been used for computer and facilities upgrades, are
generated from vacant lines.
Graduate assistantship stipends and tuition total approximately $7.4 million.
Projected University at Albany Foundation funds across the College total $1.5 million.
For the period ending 2007-08, The College, across all departments and units, received just
over $150,000 in Research Foundation Indirect Cost Recovery (ICR) allocation.
Adjourned: The meeting was adjourned at 4:10 p.m.
Handouts:
Agenda
Minutes of May 14, 2008 Council of Chairs Meeting
CAS Budget Quiz and Answer Key
Budget Overview Handout