President’s Advisory Team
Minutes
October 20, 2011
President’s Advisory Team Members in attendance:
Diane Allen, Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs
Lawanda Dockins-Gordy as interim Associate Dean of Student and for Ed Cowell, Dean of Students
Betty Crockett, Vice President, Administration and Finance
Richard Culver, Director, Media Relations
Jessica DiPietro, President, SGA
Janet Dudley-Eshbach, President
Paul Gasior, President, Staff Senate
Aaron Basko for Dane Foust, Interim Vice President of Student Affairs
Clifton Griffin, Dean of Graduate Studies and Research
Amy Hasson, Chief of Staff to the President
Scott Jensen, Assistant to the President for Government and Community Relations
Lesley Staffeldt for Paul Land, Director, Auxiliary Services
Ed Lashley, Chief, Salisbury University Police
Karen Olmstead, Dean, Henson School of Science and Technology
Dennis Pataniczek, Dean, Seidel School of Education and Professional Studies
Maarten Pereboom, Dean, Fulton School of Liberal Arts
Melanie Perreault, Associate Provost
Marvin Pyles, Director, Human Resources
Ted Gilkey, President, Faculty Senate
Maureen Belich for Kara Siegert, Director, University Analysis, Reporting, & Assessment
Agata Liszkowska for Brian Stiegler, Director, International Education
Rosemary Thomas, Vice President for University Advancement and Director of the SU Foundation
Troy Donoway for Jerry Waldron, Chief Information Officer
Christy Weer for Bob Wood, Dean, Perdue School of Business
Martha Zimmerman, Interim Dean, Libraries and Instructional Resources
Guest: Kristen Edwards, STEM Coordinator
1.
Welcome and Opening Remarks – Dr. Janet Dudley-Eshbach, President
o
Special recognition goes to new members of the President’s Advisory Team, Paul
Gasior, the new president of the Staff Senate; and Ted Gilkey, the new president of the
Faculty Senate. We also have members here today representing interim positions:
Lawanda Dockins-Gordy as Interim Associate Dean of Students, and Martha
Zimmerman, Interim Dean of Libraries and Instructional Resources.
o
This academic year began with festive events: The new Perdue School building ribbon
cutting, and Salisbury University partnering with Extreme Makeover Home Edition to
film an upcoming episode in Wicomico County. The young man whose family
received the new house was also awarded a scholarship to Salisbury University.
o
The budget for the upcoming fiscal year still remains undetermined at this time. There
is some talk about a possible cost of living adjustment next year. But as always, this is
contingent on how well the State fares fiscally over the coming months and the year
ahead. Despite the lean years in recent history, Salisbury University has fared well
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October 20, 2011
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compared to other state higher educational systems.
2.
o
The President noted that she is keenly aware of the effects the continuing lack of raises
and frozen positions have had on morale. She has scheduled a meeting of the Campus
Consortium to discuss alternative ways of rewarding faculty and staff.
o
The University System of Maryland has created a task force to consider what effects a
merger of UMCP and UMB would have on other USM institutions. Vice President
Crockett and Associate Provost Perreault are serving as Salisbury University’s
representatives on the task force.
University Governance
o
Faculty Senate – Dr. Ted Gilkey
i. The Faculty Senate will be reviewing changes to the sabbatical policy this
academic year.
ii. The Faculty Senate will be identifying initiatives to reconnect with the full
Faculty in an effort to better represent their views and opinions.
iii. In an effort to bring faculty together, an all faculty meeting will be held in
January and a topic of interest will be announced.
o
Staff Senate – Paul Gasior
i. The Staff Senate will be conducting a survey of all staff members to gauge what
issues or concerns should be addressed.
ii. The Staff Senate is working closely with Human Resources to remain informed
on the progress of the development of the Exempt Pay Program, which is
designed to help Salisbury University become more competitive for Exempt
employees, thus improving recruitment and retention.
iii. The deadline for the Board of Regents Staff awards is November 11. Everyone is
encouraged to recognize their co-workers who exhibit exemplary service in one
of four categories. More information is available on the Staff Senate website at
http://www.salisbury.edu/campusgov/staffsenate/.
o
Student Government Association (SGA) – Jessica DiPietro
i. The Student Government Association updated the Team to upcoming fall events:

“I Love Salisbury” event scheduled for October 22.

The SGA teamed up with SOAP and the RAs for Civility Week,
beginning October 24. Tables were set up around campus
encouraging students to sign the Civility pledge.
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ii.
3.

Homecoming Week beginning with the Pep Rally is scheduled for
November 1. The week’s events include a wing eating contest,
“Battle of the Bands,” Carnival night, “Squawk Squad,” and
culminating with the Homecoming Football game and the crowning
of the Homecoming King and Queen.

November 17 at 3:30 is Faculty/Staff Appreciation Day. The SGA
will hold a reception, provide door prizes for those faculty and staff in
attendance, and show a video of students talking about their
appreciation for faculty and staff members.
SGA initiatives for this academic year include a greater push for sustainability
and increasing school spirit.
Fall 2011 Enrollment – Aaron Basko
o
Aaron provided the latest statistics for the incoming freshman class this semester.
i. There were 10,418 applications this semester, with over 8,000 freshman
applying. This is a new record number, with strong upsurges in the past few
years.
ii. There was a 31% increase in the number of out-of-state freshman applicants as
well as a 17% increase in out-of-state transfer students. This is important in
creating an environment of geographical diversity.
iii. The overall diversity of incoming students increased slightly (.1%).
iv. Freshman SAT scores were up again. The average score for this group was
1711. The weighted GPA average was 3.66. Both are important factors, and so
are rigor of course work, recommendations, essays, and engaged learning
experiences, in determining if the student is a good fit for our institution.
v. The student headcount has increased by 209. The increase in yield for transfer
students accounted for 49, while 23 were additional graduate students. An
increased retention rate added 140 students. The total FTEs are 7974 with an
increase of 2.9% and overall enrollment is up by 2.5% with a total of 8606. The
minority population increased by 136 students (8.3%), which brings the
University’s percent of minority and Nonresident aliens to 21%.
4.
STEM Enrollment – Dr. Karen Olmstead
o
Dr. Olmstead introduced Kristen Edwards to the Team. She is the new STEM
coordinator for the Henson School, and her mission is to advance the State of Maryland
STEM initiative by defining issues of access and preparation, and implementing
strategies for success. Kristen comes to us from NASA Headquarters in Washington, DC
and is a former high school biology teacher.
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o
5.
Blackwell Library Outreach – Martha Zimmerman
o
6.
The Henson School has developed a Pathways to STEM Careers strategy to facilitate a
successful transition for high school students to navigate through higher education to their
chosen career. This strategy includes exposing students to science at the high school level
with programs and science related items; preparing them for their chosen profession once
at the higher education level by offering programs that integrate them into their chosen
profession; and offering access to educational programs through scholarships by
submitting proposals through different organizations. It also includes assistance in
helping them transfer their skills and knowledge from a familiar subject area to other
science related classes. Retention and support are offered by overlapping student affairs
programs, assessment departments, and academic departments to keep students focused
on their end goals.
Martha updated the group on the library outreach programs.
i.
Sustainability Day – on display are art objects made from recycled books.
ii.
October is Customer Service Month. Library employees that have been
acknowledged as being particularly helpful are eligible for a monthly drawing to
win a Cool Beans gift card.
The next meeting of the President’s Advisory Team is scheduled for Thursday, November
10, 2011.
Recorder: Tracy Hajir