Presidents Advisory Team
Minutes
February 21, 2001
1.
Diversity Initiatives
President Dudley-Eshbach stated that the recent release of her diversity initiatives
letter has created a great deal of conversation on and off campus, and, for her, this
has reinforced the idea that change is needed. President Dudley-Eshbach also
pointed out that this is not a change in course for the university or a sudden shift
in our objectives. Campus diversity is written into our Mission Statement and
Strategic Plan. It is also in the USM plan, and, while we have been making
progress on other aspects of our mission and strategic plan, we have not been
successful in this effort. We now need to invest money in these diversity
initiatives. As we continue to strive for academic excellence, we will also
continue to strive for a more diverse campus.
Elizabeth Curtin pointed out that in 1994 these initiatives were brought up, but we
lacked the funds to go forward. Elizabeth also stated that the majority of faculty
support these initiatives.
SSU needs to attract highly qualified students of diverse backgrounds. One
problem is that SSU does not offer enough scholarships of any kind.
Jane Dané stated that the Admissions Office has seen a great change since word
has gotten out that SSU has put out the “welcome mat.” She is receiving calls
from counselors who would not otherwise send their applicants to SSU.
Sean Ofeldt stated that the SGA and campus NAACP representatives are meeting
to discuss ways to improve campus climate.
President Dudley-Eshbach also noted that the provost candidates visiting our
campus have been reading these initiatives with interest.
2.
Perdue-Kresge Endowment Challenge - Maureen McNeill
The Salisbury State University Foundation is preparing to apply to the Community
Foundation of the Eastern Shore Perdue-Kresge Challenge. SSU-affiliated
community outreach programs have an opportunity to raise an endowment fund
predicted to yield between $10,000 and $25,000 annually in
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February 27, 2001
operating funds. To qualify, the program must have a strong volunteer base and
an annual budget that can withstand the additional fund raising this program will
require. In addition, the Development staff is prepared to raise at least $300,000
for scholarships, which is expected to provide an estimated $30,000 in scholarship
funds annually.
The Foundation will propose to raise $1 million (the maximum permitted any one
agency) for scholarships and community outreach. If SSU is accepted as a partner
in this challenge and if SSU meets its goal, that $1 million will be matched to
create a $2 million endowment in SSU’s name at the Community Foundation.
From that endowment, the Community Foundation will make an annual
contribution to the SSU Foundation of at least $100,000, which will be distributed
according to a formula based on fund raising participation.
SSU will model its formula for selecting participants and distributing proceeds
approximately on that of the Community Foundation and the Kresge Foundation.
In order to participate, an SSU-affiliated community outreach program must:
1. commit at least one volunteer board member and one staff member to
participate in two Kresge-sponsored fund raising workshops;
2. involve board members, through their own gifts and time, in the fund raising
effort; and
3. provide brief interim reports every three months to the Vice President for
University Advancement.
A program that includes outreach but is primarily academic in nature is not
eligible to apply. For example, while University Galleries are an outreach
program, the Art Department is not.
As all SSU requests must be coordinated, any SSU group wishing to apply for the
Perdue-Kresge funds should work through Maureen McNeill in University
Advancement.
3.
Updates on Searches
President Dudley-Eshbach brought the group up to date on searches currently
underway.
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February 21, 2001
Provost Candidate – the final candidate will visit campus next week. The
committee is expected to meet to discuss the candidates sometime on March 2 and
will meet with President Dudley-Eshbach on Saturday, March 3rd to present the
finalists. President Dudley-Eshbach hopes to be able to make an announcement
about the new provost soon thereafter.
President Dudley-Eshbach also gave a special thanks to Elizabeth Curtin for
stepping in to chair the search committee in Dr. Lade’s absence.
Vice President of University Advancement – Review of applications will begin
March 15, 2001. Committee is being formed at this time. We still need a faculty
and a student representative for the committee.
Special Assistant to the President for Diversity Initiatives/Affirmative Action
Officer - ad has been place in various publications.
Director of Human Resources – ad has been place in various publications
Academic Deans (3) – Dean Beth Barnett has accepted a provost position at
another university. Dean Ron Dotterer has elected to return to teaching next
semester, and Dean Rich Bebee had already indicated his intention to step down
as Dean last fall. The Perdue dean search is at the finalist stage; the other two
positions have yet to be advertised.
There is still an opening for a Dean of Library and various faculty positions.
President Dudley-Eshbach also wants to hire a Director of International
Education – this position will bring together the programs already in place. It is
hoped that this position will be filled by next fall.
4.
Name Change – President Dudley-Eshbach was on the floor of the Senate when
Senate Bill 68 came up for vote. Dr. Zinner and Gains Hawkins also attended the
session. It passed in the Senate and we are waiting to hear from the House. It is
hoped that the name change will allow us more access to federal funds among
other benefits.
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5.
Collective Bargaining
Governor Glendening proposes and the USM Board of Regents endorsed his
proposal to allow collective bargaining for certain USM employees. This would
exclude faculty and certain management groups.
President Dudley-Eshbach shared a letter from President David Ramsay,
University of Maryland, Baltimore, in which he cautions that “the collective
bargaining process must explicitly and unequivocally recognize and respect the
autonomy of the Regents and the Chancellor for governing the System and the
responsibility of the Presidents for managing their respective institutions. These
authorities that are currently guaranteed in the Education Article must not be
compromised.”
Linda Abresch stated that, although the Staff Senate is not taking a position, some
employees are opposed to the bill, fearing that they will have to pay dues even if
they elect not to join a union. A group of employees are organizing a bus to
Annapolis to protest the proposal.
The Staff Senate is also sponsoring a meeting to discuss Collective Bargaining on
Monday, February 26, at noon in Holloway Hall Auditorium. This will be a
general information meeting conducted by Dr. Brian Polkinghorn and Dr. Pat
McDermott, both of whom have experience in this area. The Staff Senate will also
tape the session for those employees unable to attend.
6.
Update on OCR Agreement
The Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) has signed an agreement
with the Office of Civil Rights (OCR). The agreement enhances Historical Black
Institutions (HBIs). The HBIs will be funded at 110% of guidelines. The
agreement is still pending approval of the legislators.
President Dudley-Eshbach shared that she has spoken with Dr. Karen Johnson,
Secretary of Education about MHEC’s helping to fund some of our diversity
efforts.
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7.
Resident Undergraduate Tuition and Fees
President Dudley-Eshbach passed out a chart listing tuition and fees
charged by USM institutions. The chart shows SSU at about the middle of
the range. SSU tends to have a higher fee schedule than some USM
schools. We also offer fewer scholarships. The chart was presented in
response to criticism that SSU is a relatively expensive school within the
USM.
Recorder: Jean Herrmann
Members of the Presidents Advisory Team in attendance
Linda Abresch, President, Staff Senate
Beth Barnett, Dean, Seidel School of Education
Rich Bebee, Dean, Perdue School of Business
Leon Burks, Special Assistant to the President/EEO Officer
Elizabeth Curtin, President, Faculty Senate
Terry Daenzer, Librarian
Jane Dané, Dean, Enrollment Management
Ron Dotterer, Dean, Fulton School of Liberal Studies
Janet Dudley-Eshbach, President
Gains Hawkins, Interim Vice President University Advancement
Tom Jones, Dean, Henson School of Science
Kent Kimmell, Associate Provost
Sean Ofeldt, President SGA
Bryan Price, Director, Assessment and Institutional Research
Richard Pusey, Vice President, Business Administration and Finance
Nelson Townsend, Director Collaborative Programs UMES/SSU
Jerry Waldron, Chief Information Officer
Ellen Zinner , Assistant to the President