Minutes of the University Faculty Meeting
10 March 2009
3:00 p.m.
Broun Hall Auditorium
Submitted by
Dennis DeVries, Secretary
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(for a complete transcription of the meeting, go to https://auburn.edu/administration/governance/senate/website/transcripts/TrScrpt2008-2009/transcriptFacultyM_03_10_09.html)
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Call to Order:
Bob Locy called the meeting to order at 3:00 p.m.
The minutes of the 14 October 2008 University Faculty meeting were approved without change.
Remarks and Announcements:
Bob Locy (Faculty Chair) invited Dr. Jay Gogue, President to give the State of the University Address
Dr. Gogue stated that assuming the federal budget goes through this week, Auburn University will have $23 million in appropriations, which is the largest that we have had without big building projects. He noted that we opened the legislative process 1½ years ago, and have developed a federal agenda book to be used to explore areas of potential interest.
Dr. Gogue said that he wanted to deal with two things in today's address- elements of the strategic plan, and budgets.
First, relative to and update on elements the strategic plan, he reviewed that the plan was approved by the Board of Trustees in June, and he knew that we could not address all of the elements due to budget constraints. However, we have addressed 35, and are making progress on all but a couple. He then moved on to provide some examples.
1) We now require the ACT writing exam for all entering freshmen, and most of our entering freshmen will have taken it for fall 2009.
2) We are looking at the Honor's College, and Dr. Gogue has seen a report and feels that it is on track. One of the issues here is that we are losing too many students from the Honor's College between entry and graduation.
3) He noted that establishment of a Writing Center is something that has to be done, with a focus on fall 2009 freshmen.
4) He noted that each college is now developing study abroad opportunities.
5) We are addressing how to increase graduation rates. Currently our graduation rate in 6 years is at 62%, and are aiming toward 75%. We can make better use of summer classes and class loads.
6) John Mason and the Research Park group are establishing a 501C3, which should be developed by the end of the semester.
7) We are aiming to increase the number of graduate students by finding areas that are wanting them, and the central administration will help to market.
8) We asked that at least one master's course be available electronically, and the adult education program in the College of Education has done so.
9) We have a target for 50 joint faculty appointments. Currently we have 35. These are not to have any sort of split salaries, but are courtesy appointments to enhance collaborations.
10) In response to the goal of bringing to campus one member of the National Academy of Sciences or the National Academy of Engineering, we now have two members of the National Academy of Engineering.
11) We are developing a technology-based English as a Second Language course that is now set up in about 9 sites in county extension offices.
12) We are correcting cases where student/teacher ratios are out of line, with money going to three departments.
13) Toward the goal of 80 named professorships, the Vice President of Development wanted to reduce this to 60, and we are currently at about 30.
14) We have moved to a triggered system of post-tenure review, as passed by the University Senate.
15) We are now providing small grants for faculty to have international experiences.
The process is now to update the strategic plan each year, removing those items (15-20) that have been completed, and replacing them with others from the strategic plan.
Second, relative to the budget, there has been a lot of hurt, pain, fear, and some reality in the information that we have all seen and read. There has been a $69 million cut in Auburn University, AUM, AAES, and ACES. Because the governor can declare proration, we got to our cuts more quickly than some other states. We are not likely to have to make additional reductions this fiscal year because we had some reserves that we could use to help. In FY 2010, tax collections are expected to be $800 million lower than last year. If prorated next year like last year, we are likely to see $100 million cuts. Alabama got $3 billion in the stimulus package, with $1 billion to be used for each of the next three years. There are restrictions on these dollars, and there will be political efforts involved as well. The governor has two weeks to prepare a new budget, but we do not know what that budget will be and probably will not know until it congress ends their business in May. A couple of years ago, the state pumped $150 million into Auburn's budget, with $100 million going to salaries and $50 million going to operating expenses. Now we have to find where to cut $69 million and stay in balance. There will be cuts, with the least cuts to academic programs and most to administration. We do not want to move to discussion of furloughs, we are not laying off large numbers of people, we are not cutting programs. One example of where we can all help is turning off our lights and computers, with an estimated savings University-wide of $3.7 million! We will probably move into talks about health care (not the quality of your health care), pharmaceuticals, but not RIFs, furloughs, layoffs, etc.
Dr. Gogue feels good about getting Auburn through a bad year and coming out the other side well. He has never been a proponent of freezing positions, nor of a travel freeze, and is trying to stay out of micromanaging units. The deans will have leeway for dealing with budget cuts within some bounds. One area to consider is tuition, but we cannot exceed the mid point of the SEC (as per Board of Trustee rules).
Questions for Dr. Gogue:
--Conner Bailey (Ag Econ) asked about enrollment projections. Dr. Gogue responded that there has been no dip in applications or deposits, and we have 24,800 total students with a Board of Trustee limit of 25,000. Typically during bad times applications tend to increase. Graduate applications have been flat.
--Andy Wohrley (Library) asked for an update on the prepaid tuition situation. Dr. Gogue responded that he and the University of Alabama Chancellor met with the State Treasurer. Auburn provided Don Large to provide advice with the goal of looking at the money that they have and helping to make recommendations to live up to their goals. They have lost approximately ½ of their funds, and can fully fund students for 6 more years. This is not a state program, but is a private organization. Approximately 36,000 people in Alabama are involved; 2500-2900 at Auburn.
--Andy Wohrley (Library) then asked about the Auburn University endowment. Dr. Gogue responded that Auburn has lost more than $100 million out of $500 million, which is reasonable within the southeast region.
--Richard Penaskovic (Philosophy) asked about whether any thought had been given to cutting back on new building projects. Dr. Gogue responded that buildings currently being built are on money from a 2004 bond issue. Deferred maintenance can be dealt with to decrease spending. He will look at all construction projects to make sure that we are being fiscally sound.
Information Items:
David Carter (President-elect of AAUP) made the presentation of the Academic Freedom Award to Richard J. Penaskovic. Penaskovic spoke of being honored and humbled by the award, and noted how valuable the AAUP has been him during his time at Auburn. He encouraged faculty to consider AAUP membership.
Bob Locy then presented his final remarks from the Chair. He thanked a variety of individuals, and noted that we now have a strategic plan in place. We are in need of committee volunteers, as that is the way that we get things done, particularly in relation to the strategic plan. In terms of accomplishments, we now have a new Provost in place, the Senate has a ½ time staff person, we have a University Ombudsperson, we have a sabbatical leave program, along with a number of other accomplishments. He noted that we are in for some hard times, but encouraged us to look at what we do have as we go forward. He then passed the gavel to Kathryn Flynn.
Kathryn Flynn, now as Chair of the Senate, announced the results of the officer election, with Claire Crutchley elected to be the new Chair-elect, and Russ Muntiferring the new Secretary-elect. She noted that Bill Sauser would serve as Parliamentarian of the Senate during her term as Chair.
Unfinished Business:
There was no unfinished business.
New Business:
There was no new business.
The meeting was adjourned at 4:08 PM.