Faculty Senate Minutes

Western State College of Colorado

I.          Approval of the agenda
 Approval of the agenda was moved and seconded.  The motion carried. 

II.        Approval of minutes
Approval of the minutes of the November 9, 2009 meeting was moved and seconded.  The motion carried.

III.       Intercollegiate Athletics Ad Hoc Committee Chair’s Report

Terry Schliesman reported that the committee had recently met for the first time, reviewed the charge, and considered how to address the seven points within the charge.  The committee will meet every two weeks through February and may meet more frequently as necessary to provide a preliminary report by the end of May. 

IV.       Chair’s Report
Patrick asked if there were questions about his budget sub-committee report.  A few senators asked for clarification about the handout he provided at the senate meeting.

V.        Old Business
Budget Prioritization.  Several senators sought to better understand the purpose of the academic prioritization in light of an overall 5% cut in expenditures for FY 2010-11 with an additional 5% (for a total of 10%) cut for FY 2011-12.  Clarification of what such cuts would mean to academics was sought.  While the degree to which academics and other units on the campus will reduce expenditures is unknown and unlikely to be flat, a 5% cut to academics in FY 2010-2011 would be $543,811 and an additional cut of 5% in 2011-2012 would result in a total reduction of $1,087,622.  Some senators wanted to know if other areas such as administration and athletics were going to be cut as well and John Sowell mentioned that all areas were going through the exercise of proposing what a 10% cut across two years would affect. 

The academic major expenditure sheet was discussed.  Overall, several departments did not want to see ground lost to salaries through salary reductions and were especially concerned about junior faculty.  A second major theme was to not cut administrative assistance in departments.  A request from one department for input on cuts in other areas including facilities etc. was requested to aid in collaboration with non-academic areas.  While most departments did not also want to see cuts to staffing and an increase in class size, several senators recognized that some change in personnel costs must occur if academics is cut as the remaining budget items of operating budgets, travel, sabbaticals, CTE, PAF’s etc. were insufficient sums given the magnitude of the proposed expenditure reductions.  A general desire for strategic cuts was expressed and for allowing flexibility where possible. Some senators proposed that we consider reducing travel, but maintain the Professional Activity Funds if possible.  Concerns about the quality of student education experience and course offerings were expressed.  CALL faculty also expressed concern as did several senators at hearing from students that faculty where suggesting to students that the school was going to close etc. and felt that such statements, based on rumor and supposition, were unprofessional and counterproductive.  Several faculty mentioned the need and importance of the administration developing a communication plan for students given the rumors circulating. 

            Senators asked about the timing of decisions.  John Sowell explained that initial proposed cuts will be presented to the budget committee on Friday, December 4^th, and input on the proposed cut distribution would be sought from the faculty senate at the December 7^th meeting.  John Sowell also mentioned that initial review of the budget suggests that we will need to experience higher student to faculty ratios and such will result in the need for education to look differently at Western. 

            Several senators also asked that the administration consider revenue ideas in addition to expenditure reductions.  A resolution [In light of pending budget cuts, the senate recommends to the administration that they focus on revenue generating opportunities, aside from tuition increases.] was introduce,  moved by Alina Luna and seconded by Terry Schliesman.  After some discussion that the resolution did not mean that focusing on revenue was meant to be in place of working on expenditure reductions, it was carried unanimously. 

 Faculty Constitution and By-laws.  Senators felt that the budget discussions were likely going to dominate senate conversations during the next few months.  A request to table the discussion on revising the faculty constitution and by-laws was moved, seconded, and unanimously approved. 

VI.     Announcements
None 

VII.    Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 6:13 pm