AUBURN UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATIVE AND PROFESSIONAL ASSEMBLY

November 13, 2001 - 10:00 a.m.
Dixon Conference Center
(approved Mar. 18, 2002)

John Asmuth, Chair, called the meeting to order and invited Assembly members to introduce themselves. The following members were present: John Asmuth, Stacey Bozeman, Cara Mia Braswell, Amy Douglas, Kathy Harmon, Phyllis Harris, Ellyn Hix, Harriette Huggins, Kathryn Jarvis, Greg Lund, Miriam Brown Pepinsky, Karen Rankin, Anna Reynolds, Mary Lou Smith, Thomas Stofer, Mary Ann Taylor-Sims, Kim Trupp, and Teresa Vest.

Review and Approval of Prior Minutes. The minutes from the August 8, 2001 Assembly meeting were reviewed. Kim Trupp made two amendments to the minutes. Harriet Huggins motioned that the minutes be accepted as amended. Greg Lund seconded the motion. The minutes were approved.

Speaker, Rep. Mike Hubbard. Mr. Asmuth introduced Mike Hubbard who is serving in the state legislature as representative of District 79. Rep. Hubbard stated that the division between K-12 and higher education has been perpetuated by the Governor and his administration. He complimented AU interim President Walker for his efforts in defeating the bill that would have placed a greater financial burden on higher education rather than being shared equally with K-12. Rep. Hubbard indicated that even though K-12 is unionized and higher ed is not, the effort to prevent percentage inequities in pro-ration levels united the leaders of higher ed institutions. He commented that "plugging the holes" is inadequate and that constitutional reform is necessary to revise the tax base that funds education. Rep. Hubbard stated that despite waste in the Education Trust Fund and difficulties posed by pro-ration, state support for education is "tops in the country". The lack of local support causes Alabama to be ranked 49th in education funding. Rep. Hubbard advocates millage taxes to fund education at the local level.

Rep. Hubbard closed by stating that everyone should be aware of the candidates’ positions on higher education in the upcoming gubernatorial election. Because of the election, he is pessimistic that revenue issues will be settled in the upcoming special session still to be called by the Governor. He cited North Carolina as a successful example of how investment in higher education can be a catalyst for economic development. He emphasized that Auburn University is his foremost priority and that he will continue to cast his votes in the best interest of higher education. The floor was then opened for questions.

Question: Can you be specific about where any new revenues from taxes would go?

Rep. Hubbard: I’m reluctant to be involved in any tax raising measures at this point unless those revenues are earmarked before a vote is taken. One problem is the PEHIP program (insurance plan in which K-12 employees participate and for which they pay $2 per individual plan and the taxpayers pay $417) absorbs a large amount of the Education Trust Fund (ETF). For example, last year an increase of $125 million was budgeted for the ETF. Before we could do anything, $77 million was taken right off the top for increased costs in administering PEHIP.

Question: Even if the state allocates more money for education, will higher ed get more or will it still be the stepchild?

Rep. Hubbard: No, under the current administration, higher ed will be at level funding. And higher ed won’t get more funding until there is a fundamental change in the mindset of how education is funded and until we view higher ed as an economic catalyst. We need to look at the research institutions as separate higher ed entities. There’s too much duplication in programs, administration, and facilities in both K-12 and higher ed. We need to look at everything top to bottom to make sure we’re spending the taxpayers’ money wisely.

Comment: 1) Even though there’s not the local support necessary for education, there is indirect support from parents, for example. They buy school supplies - everything from crayons to toilet paper. 2) I’ve been reading about the possibility of an education tax on large industries that are given tax breaks and other incentives to bring them to our state. Stockholders who don’t live anywhere near Alabama gain a benefit from those breaks and none of that money comes back to our state.

Rep. Hubbard: You’re right in that parents do provide an important part of that local support. As far as big business goes, I think these multi-state industries are not necessarily the bad guy. They’re employing people and putting money into the state. What we need to be sure of is that every business is paying its fair share and that’s not happening in every case. There needs to be a plan and it’s tough to come up with one in an election year.

Rep. Hubbard invited input from the community at any time. Mr. Asmuth thanked Rep. Hubbard for coming.

Speakers, Dr. Nancy McDaniel and Dr. Johnny Green. Dr. McDaniel spoke to the Assembly as co-chair of the AU Multicultural Commission and also introduced her fellow co-chair, Dr. Green. After much thought and deliberation, the Commission brought the Birmingham Pledge to the AU campus. President Walker signed it on September 14 and the Pledge is now being circulated within various AU constituencies and will also be placed on the Web. The significance of the Pledge has been heightened given recent events on campus. Perhaps it is a first step toward moving beyond a world where there is lack of respect and appreciation for the dignity of our fellow human beings.

The Pledge is intended to be a personal statement that is signed with neither coercion nor encouragement. It signifies unconditional acceptance of the value of others as human beings without regard to race, color, creed, ethnicity, or homeland. Dr. Green expressed his hope that all present would support the values and ideals inherent in the Pledge. He then read the Pledge.

Pledge and signature cards were distributed to those present.

Filling Vacant Positions. As a result of the reclassification of Ralph Foster, Karen Rankin was announced as his replacement and will fulfill his unexpired term. Because Dr. Foster also held an at-large position on the Executive Board, Stacey Bozeman was nominated to fulfill his term. She was unanimously elected by the Assembly.

Benefits Update. Mr. Asmuth reported that the Board of Trustees had approved next year’s budget which includes two new benefit items that both the Assembly and the Staff Council have been promoting. These benefits are: 1) 50% tuition remission for qualified dependents and spouses of employees. Details related to applying for the waiver are still being determined and; 2) reduction in health insurance premiums for those employees whose income is less than $30,000 per year. Rather than paying the current 40% (AU pays 60%), employees earning $20,000-$29,999 will pay 30% (AU pays 70%) and those earning less than $20,000 will pay 20% (AU pays 80%).

SACS Lawsuit. Mr. Asmuth reiterated the sequence of events leading up to the Faculty’s resolution calling for the withdrawal of the lawsuit against SACS. Last March, the Faculty voted to create a Joint Assessment Committee (JAC) composed of various University stakeholders. The JAC asked SACS to assess governance problems that it believed would threaten AU’s 2003 accreditation. SACS gave the University thirty days to respond to the JAC complaint. Shortly before the response was due, SACS notified Dr. Walker that it had decided to investigate the complaint. Dr. Walker then initiated the lawsuit due to certain issues and to "ensure a level playing field". The lawsuit postponed the investigation indefinitely: therefore, the Faculty called for the resolution to withdraw the lawsuit.

Mr. Asmuth provided the information above should the Assembly be called upon to take a position on the resolution. He further commented that this and other issues such as the presidential search will likely cause much change in the the next one to three years. Mr. Asmuth reminded those present that the Assembly is an advisory group and therefore should present views held by the majority of the A&P employee group.

Adjournment. There being no further business, Mr. Asmuth adjourned the meeting at 11:06 a.m.

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Kim Trupp, Secretary