President’s Advisory Team
Minutes
February 19, 2010
President’s Advisory Team Members in attendance:
Diane Allen, Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs
Martha Zimmerman for Alice Bahr, Dean, Libraries and Instructional Resources
J. Craig Clarke, President, Faculty Senate
Ed Cowell, Dean of Students
Betty Crockett, Vice President, Administration and Finance
Richard Culver, Director, Media Relations
Jason Curtin, Director, Alumni Relations & Annual Giving
Jane Dané, Dean, Enrollment Management
Janet Dudley-Eshbach, President
Jackie Eberts, President, Staff Senate
Jill Petrosillo for Pat Gotham, President, SGA
Amy Hasson, Chief of Staff to the President
Debbie Easterling for Richard Hoffman, Interim Dean, Perdue School of Business
Ed Lashley, Chief, Salisbury University Police
Karen Olmstead, Dean, Henson School of Science and Technology
Nomsa Geleta for Dennis Pataniczek, Dean, Seidel School of Education and Professional Studies
Keith Brower for Maarten Pereboom, Dean, Fulton School of Liberal Arts
Marvin Pyles, Director, Human Resources
Kara Siegert, Director, University Analysis, Reporting and Assessment
Brian Stiegler, Director, International Education
Robert Tardiff, Associate Provost
Rosemary Thomas, Vice President, University Advancement
Jerry Waldron, Chief Information Officer
Also attending: David Rieck, Vice President, Faculty Senate
1.
Welcome and Opening Remarks – Dr. Janet Dudley-Eshbach, President
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President Dudley-Eshbach welcomed the members of this committee and introduced
those individuals who are substituting for regular members.
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Salisbury University has been recognized again as one of the Top 50 “Best Value”
public institutions of higher education in the nation for 2010 in the Princeton
Review/USA Today. Specifically, SU was referred to as a “rising star in the Northeast”
and “...has recently made a transformation from regional gem to an internationally
recognized institution attracting students from 31 states and 54 countries.”
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The latest information available about the upcoming fiscal year budget is that another
budget cut is possible, and most likely there will be another year of furloughs. This is
impacting morale across campus, as well as for all State employees. The President is
concerned about the impact of budget reductions on faculty and staff retention and
recruitment.
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President Dudley-Eshbach provided a copy of the budget testimony that was presented
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February 19, 2010
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to the Maryland General Assembly House and Senate sub-committees on operating
budget. While describing positive accomplishments of both the University System of
Maryland and Salisbury University, the testimony also points to persistent inequities in
funding. To view the testimony, visit the link on SU’s website at
http://www.salisbury.edu/president/testimony/2010/ .
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The President also testified before members of the General Assembly on HB470, the
so-called Tuition Stabilization Bill. This bill would tie tuition increases to the income
of Maryland residents. President Dudley-Eshbach helped write several amendments to
this bill that would allow for institution-specific adjustments based on productivity,
performance, levels of general funding support per student, and tuition at peer
competitor institutions.
Provost Update – Dr. Diane Allen, Provost
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As a requirement by MHEC COMAR regulations, the institution must make up two of
the days when classes were cancelled due to inclement weather. Reading Day, which
had been scheduled for May 13, will now be a regular class day, and exams will begin
on Saturday, May 15.
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There will be a rescheduled ceremony for the canceled Winter Commencement. This
will be held on Friday, May 21 at 6 p.m. Faculty members are encouraged to attend two
of the three ceremonies that will be held on that day.
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SU will be sending 23 students to the NCUR conference being held in Montana this
spring. SU has the largest number of attendees of any institution outside the state of
Montana.
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Lora Bottenelli, Director of the Ward Museum, has been appointed by Governor
O’Malley to serve on the the Maryland State Arts Council.
University Governance
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Faculty Senate – Dr. J. Craig Clarke
i. The Faculty Finance Committee has met and prepared a statement they would
like to present to President Dudley-Eshbach.
ii. The Faculty Senate is looking at some aspects of its structure that may benefit
from revision.
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Staff Senate – Jackie Eberts
i. The Staff Senate has just posted an electronic survey concerning furloughs.
ii. The Staff Senate is soliciting for volunteers for an opening on the Staff Senate for
a non-exempt, not subject to collective bargaining, staff member.
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Student Government Association (SGA) – Jill Petrosillo
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February 19, 2010
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i. The SGA currently has over 40 members with an 82 percent retention rate among
returning senators, the largest group in recent times.
ii. The SGA is currently discussing the following items:
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Fundraising for Haiti.
Preparing for new incoming Greek organizations.
Help with the transition of seniors who will not be allowed to live on
campus.
Clarifying and facilitating the Registered Student Organization
(RSO) recognition and re-recognition process. Working with Student
Activities to educate RSOs on how to attract new students.
Spreading the word about the different options for assistance to
students with academic problems.
Discussing with the student body the necessity of a 3-percent tuition
increase.
Discussing the snow days make-up schedule.
Preparing for the last round of Constitution and Bylaw revisions to be
passed.
Continuing the discussion on parking.
Working with University Police, Student Affairs, and IT to better
communicate crime issues, school delays and closings.
iii. Upcoming Events:
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Renter’s Fair for off-campus housing was held on Tuesday, February
9. Fourteen landlords participated. The second day of the Fair was
canceled due to weather conditions and has been rescheduled for
Wednesday, March 3.
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Stop Hatin’ campaign will be held the week of March 8 through
March 12. There will be bracelets for sale. President
Dudley-Eshbach has recommended that bulk bracelets be ordered for
staff and faculty to be part of the campaign and has offered to help
with the cost.
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SGA elections will be held between March 22 and March 26.
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The Inauguration Dinner for new officers will be held on April 7.
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The Big Event will be held April 17.
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Earth Day is April 22.
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Multicultural Showcase will be April 27.
Pell Institute Initiative on Retention – Jane Dané and Kara Siegert
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Salisbury University has partnered with the Pell Institute for assistance in collecting
and analyzing beneficial data for developing programs contributing to lower income
student success. There was no charge for the technical assistance as all time and
expenses for Pell Institute staff and consultants were covered by grant funding.
i. Bridge programs were developed, such as the ALEKS Math Placement and
Modules which allowed students to self-determine where their skills would
place them in a beginning math class. Students could then choose to ask for
help, or elect to take more advanced classes depending upon their placement
results score.
ii. SU was recognized by the Institute as a leader in the USM system on this
project and was placed in a proactive position in Closing the Achievement Gap
initiatives set forth by the Board of Regents.
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Henson School Updates – Karen Olmstead
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Dean Olmstead has been elected to serve as the Chair to the Committee on
Comprehensive Institutions of the Council of Colleges of Arts and Sciences.
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The search committee for the Dean of Graduate Studies is progressing well. Due to
the use of Skype technology, the process was able to proceed even when the
University was closed due to weather conditions.
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The Nursing Department has been awarded a grant from the Maryland Hospital
Association Who will Care? program, in the amount of $932,175. This grant will
enable the department to operate a SIM center and have student use hands
equipment.
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The intent has been filed to offer a doctorate of applied nursing degree.
New J-1 Exchange Visitor Designation – Brian Stiegler
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7.
Salisbury University has been designated as a J-1 Exchange Visitor sponsoring
institution by the US Department of State in the categories of Student, Short-Term
Scholar, and Professor. More information about these programs are available at the
SU Center for International Education.
The next meeting of the President’s Advisory Team is scheduled for Thursday, March 25,
2010.
Recorder: Tracy Hajir