Faculty Council
Minutes of the meeting of February 10, 1992
0. Chairperson S. Warner called the meeting to order at 4:04 p.m. with a quorum present.
1. Motion (M. L. Lunde/C. Zlotchew): to adopt the announced agenda. Motion passed.
2. Motion (M. Nelson/M. L. Lunde): to approve the minutes of the Dec. 9, 1991 meeting as published. An amendment was made to correct the spelling of Kim [not Jim] Harrington. Motion passed as amended.
3. Report of the President: D. MacPhee. State and SUNY Budgets: Pres. MacPhee reminded FC that the state-wide political situation will ultimately determine the level of cuts to be absorbed by Fredonia. He said the Board of Trustees chair and the Chancellor met with the Governor in a cordial appeal for the restoration of SUNY funds, and the Chancellor will carry the appeal to the legislature. He said he and the presidents of Buff State and UB had recently met with the western New York legislative delegation and Trustee Arnold Gardener; priorities urged at these meetings were restoration of the $60 million 5% lump sum reduction, along with some of the program initiatives such as TAP, and Liberty Partnership. The President reported that the Governor is recommending the easing of position control, in favor of dollar control, a significant change in dealing with budget reduction, providing increased planning flexibility to the campus. The President observed that the access argument is perhaps the most powerful one we have with the legislature and public; job loss is no longer a moving argument. He said that both access and quality have been suffering recently, but the access question is clouded when we discuss down-sizing; the point is missed that the market for our product has not decreased, although that of some segments of industry has; potential students closed out of programs, threats to minority initiatives, and the nearly 100% increase in tuition since 1989 are points that sometimes are obscured. TIAA/CREF legislation: President MacPhee said the legislation appears unopposed, and will probably be passed quickly. He said that in the long term there may be an effort on the part of both the legislative and executive to reduce contributions. Campus budget allocations: The President said he expects that campuses will receive allocations based on Governor's budget in about two weeks; delay centers on SUNY's rejection of a mysterious $16 million revenue item proposed by Governor; questions still remain concerning the HSC separation proposal; but the anticipated reduction within the SUNY campuses will be in the 4-6% range. Pres. MacPhee said the legislature is non-committal concerning SUNY, and probably more concerned with other things like redistricting and campaigning. He urged FC to keep the focus on SUNY's and Fredonia's needs in the face of competing interests. The Budget Reduction Plan: President MacPhee said that SUNY campuses seem to be using two approaches: proceed with consultation on a proposed plan (as at Fredonia); or delay consultation pending certainty on budget numbers, assuming foreshortened notification on personnel actions. The President said the recently published revised proposal concerning the organization of Academic Affairs should be included with the other unchanged portions of the Budget Reduction Plan published earlier. He said that during past two weeks he had received a wide array of options and a number of letters of advice, and that his call for the current revision was in response to this input. He asked FC members to reread his address of January 23 for rationale since some of the assumptions may have been missed. On consultation - Pres. MacPhee said he seeks the advice of FC on the overall strategies of the plan, which assumes a long-term as opposed to short-term approach with little prospect for budget restoration. He said Other Than Personal Service (OTPS) can no longer be looked to for solutions; in the long term, various categories of OTPS need to be maintained. He said the Plan is not an across-the-board approach, nor an attrition model; it assumes the necessity of selective new hiring; the Plan seeks to minimize impact on direct instruction, but indirect support services will be reduced. He said thatin the event the elimination of an academic program is proposed, FC will be consulted. He said that withdrawing or reallocating any specific lines will be discussed with Planning & Budget Committee, subject to restriction where confidentiality is required. He said that he would make every effort to respect the missions of FC, UUP and other unions, which provide for consultation as well as limitations on consultation. On duration of consultation - The President said he did not intend to call for premature shortening of the process, and that he would work with FC chair to insure that there is adequate time for deliberation and advice prior to final decisions. He hoped that the present consultation would serve as a basis for any additional cuts required. He noted that certain adversarial requirements are built into the consultation process, but that they should be minimized in favor of the collegial assumption of shared governance. President MacPhee then entertained questions. P. Sinden asked whether the remainder of the 4% savings in Academic Affairs is taken up with six faculty lines. Vice President Hess answered, yes. R. Antosh asked whether in the interest of a better understanding of the budget Vice President Burdette could present the entire budget picture, including IFR monies at the first FC hearing. President MacPhee replied in the affirmative, but noted that there is a general dilemma about too much versus not enough information; micro management requires considerable expertise and is not easily amenable to committee process. Vice President Burdette asked that questions be as specific as possible to enhance his ability to respond in a useful way. S. Warner added that a list of acronyms would help. T. Malinoski read a statement on behalf of the professional staff pointing to their perspective which generally spans the college as a whole. [Copies of the written statement were distributed, and are included in the archive copy of the minutes.] He asked (1) Is the college looking to income sources, or merely to cuts in personnel as solutions for the present crisis? (2) How many personnel lines are currently or will be vacant, and how much money do they represent? (3) May we have a complete accounting of the IFR accounts? He concluded offering the collective expertise of the professional staff in helping seek solutions in budget reduction. Pres. MacPhee offered that Vice Pres. Burdette would respond to these at the upcoming hearing. M. Grady asked whether the cuts are finished for the current fiscal year; whether there are current savings due to a mild winter; and whether there is still a plan to dig a gas well. Mr. Burdette responded that the gas well is now being considered by SUNY Board of Trustees, who are not in favor of the idea. He said it was too early to tell regarding utility savings; costs are approximately in line with expectations to date. Dr. MacPhee added that there were no surpluses expected in the budget up to July 1. G.Sebouhian asked what is the funding source for Institutional Plan Implementation Grants. Pres. MacPhee answered that these are being funded primarily from Foundation Program Endowment, probably without any state funds; previously, Foundation money was used almost exclusively for scholarships, now some other things are being funded. Sebouhian then asked whether the Vice President for Development was to be funded by the Foundation. The President answered that the position was defined as state-funded, but will be funded half by foundation, half by state; for this year it will be totally funded by Foundation money, minimizing impact on the state budget.
4. Report of the Chairperson S. Warner: Dr. Warner recognized P. Sinden who, on behalf of the Executive Committee, moved: be it RESOLVED that Faculty Council extends its appreciation to Mary Lee Lunde for her hard work, attention to details, and exceptional leadership of college governance as Chairperson of Faculty Council during 1991. Resolution was adopted unanimously. Election for College Senate Secretary: Dr. Warner announced that the Executive Committee placed in nomination Thomas McNeil and opened the floor for further nominations. Motion (P. Sinden/M. Nelson): that nominations be closed and a unanimous ballot be cast for the nominee. Motion passed, Thomas McNeil was elected College Senate Secretary. Election for Faculty Council Vice Chairperson: Dr. Warner announced that the Executive Committee placed in nomination Randall Dipert and opened the floor for further nominations. Motion (F. Krohn/M. Nelson): that nominations be closed and a unanimous ballot be cast for the nominee. Motion passed, Randall Dipert was elected Faculty Council Vice Chairperson. Dr. Warner distributed copies of the current Bylaws of the Faculty and announced that FC hearings on the Proposed Budget Reduction Plan will proceed according to the schedule published with the FC meeting announcement. He stated that Planning & Budget Committee had been charged, and the other committees would be charged with reporting on the impact of the proposal from their perspectives. Chairperson Warner announced the Executive Committee's nominations for the selection committee for the President's Award for Professional Excellence: Paul Andrews, Tesfai Kflu, Thomas Malinoski and Karen Porpiglia. The nominations were adopted unanimously.
5. Vice Chairperson R. Dipert had no report.
6. Report of the Faculty Senator H. J. Straight: Dr. Straight distributed copies of his report of the Feb. 1, 1992 FS meeting at Binghamton centering on the issue of differential tuition. [Full text appears in archive minutes.] Dr. Straight presented overhead projections showing that State support for SUNY as a proportion of its operating budget has decreased precipitously, to now under 60%. He said the Governor's budget proposal assumes that SUNY will raise $60 million through tuition increases; the assumption for differential tuition is that increases should be no more than $10 for part-time students, $250 for ag & techs, and $500 for 4-yr colleges, necessitating about $800 increase for university centers. He said the Chancellor says undergraduate education is $2000 more expensive ($9,154) at university centers. Straight said he believes university centers are being financed on the backs of undergraduate education. He said ag & techs have a slightly higher cost for undergraduate education than the 4-yr. colleges. He continued saying that at UB, students pay a higher proportion of their costs, than at Fredonia. Dr. Straight warned that differential tuition will enhance the false perception that undergraduate education is better at the university centers, worse at the ag & techs. K. Mantai asked whether anyone has analyzed the effect on enrollment of tuition increases. Straight answered that there is an assumption that there will be plenty of applications. H. Jacobson asked whether there would be a change in allocations based on tuition increases. Pres. MacPhee responded that eventually there would be an effect, and said he was skeptical regarding the costs attributed to undergraduate education at the university centers. Motion (M. Nelson/M. L. Lunde): that the Faculty Council of SUNY Fredonia oppose the institution of differential tuition at the State University of New York. W. Rockett spoke in favor of motion remarking that UB is considering ending some undergraduate programs in the arts and humanities in favor of emphasis on graduate education; trends of this sort would tend to nullify any advantage of differential tuition. Dr.MacPhee commented that an across-the-board tuition increase might fall somewhat heavier on our students than would a differential increase. He continued saying that the Chancellor is now thinking in terms of a $450/$750 two-tiered system. M. R. Amiran asked what is the count of undergraduates at the three types of institutions collectively. Straight said he would provide the answer to the question after consulting his files. T. Loughlin asked what were the political factors in Faculty Senate's passing such a resolution. Straight replied that a university center has greater representation on FS than a 4-yr. college, and that the specialized colleges lined up with university centers in this case; it was a close vote. D. Burdette commented that under any of the plans, Fredonia's revenue would increase by about $500 per full-time student, but he expressed concern about the impact on part-time students; part-time students were lost this year following tuition increase. Motion passed, with some nays and abstentions.
7. Chair of Governance Committee F. Krohn had no report.
8. Report of Computing Services, Sandra Brown: Ms. Brown, Coordinator of Academic User Services distributed a multi-page packet of orientation materials introducing the personnel, services and facilities of Computing Services. She reported that the mainframe system Unisys A12T is available to everyone as are about 125 PC's and 50 MAC's; available software includes WordStar, Lotus, DBase, and statistical packages on the mainframe. She reported that Thompson Hall has a new lab on third floor. The MAIL system is also available and very popular, with a new package to connect with all types of communication systems and listserve groups providing access to an immense amount of information; interactive communications are also available worldwide, with only a few seconds in delay time; the Reed Library PALS system can be accessed via modem. M. Grady asked when we would have access to NSF supercomputers. Brown replied that it should be available this summer.
9. By consensus, the Report of the Library Advisory Committee was postponed to the March 9 FC meeting.
10. There was no new business.
11. By general consent, the meeting was adjourned at 5:32.
Attendance:
Professional Staff/Management:
P. Andrews (92)
K. Bonds (92)
S. Clarke (93)
V. Conover (93)
K. Harrington (94)
D. Johnson (92)
T. Kflu (93)
T. Malinoski (93)
S. Maloney (92)
T. McNeil (94)
M. Pabst (94)
B. Servatius (93)
Arts, Education and Humanities:
R. Belliotti (93)
J. Burke (94)
M. Charbonnet (93)
N. Deal (94)
R. Dipert (94)
H. Jacobson (93)
R. Klassen (92)
T. Loughlin (93)
M. L. Lunde (92)
L. Maheady (94)
M. Nelson (93)
T. Schwalbe (92)
G. Sebouhian (92)
Natural and Social Sciences:
M. Grady (92)
J. Hansen (94)
T. Janik (93)
F. Krohn (93)
K. Mantai (93)
T. Rywick (94)
J. Romal (93)
M. Seyedian (92)
P. Sinden (93)
R. Weist (92)
Students:
B. Jeffries.
Ex Officio:
D. Burdette
M. Dimitri
W. Foeller
D. Hess
J. Hurtgen
D. MacPhee
W. Rockett
J. Straight
S. Warner
A. Wheeler
Unexcused Absence:
K. Porpiglia (92)
G. Prechtl (92)
A. Raspini (93)
Guests:
P. Kale
S. Luntz
J. Westwood
G. McNeil
K. Lucey
S. Brown
L. Husch
C. Zlotchew
B. Murphy
C. Plaister
N. Boynton
R. Booth
S. Besemer
J. Bowser
P. Courts
T. Steinberg
S. Getter
M. Peters
L. Lewis
P. Deakin
K. Mills-Courts
M. R. Amiran
R. Ambrosetti
H. Mahoney
M. Notte
L. Loft
P. McDonald
V. Courtney
C. Willeford
L. Broude
C. Prevet
Thomas McNeil, College Senate Secretary