Table of Contents
[Interinstitutional Faculty Senate Meeting ]
[December 6, 2002, at Oregon Health Sciences University ]
[December 7, 2002 ]
Interinstitutional Faculty Senate Meeting
December 6, 2002, at Oregon Health Sciences University
Present: Elizabeth Boretz (EOU Spanish), Scott Burns (PSU Geology), Nels Carlson (OHSU School of Medicine), Duncan
Carter (PSU Liberal Arts and Sciences), Bill Danley (SOU Special Education), Elaine Deutschman (OIT Mathematics), Dan
Edge (OSU Fisheries & Wildlife), James Earl (UO English), Dick Fairley (OHSU Computer Science and Engineering), Marye
Hefty (OIT Communications), Jim Lundy (OSU Transportation Engineering), Bruce Sorte (OSU Agricultural Science), Steve
Teich (OHSU Library), Jim Tooke (EOU Mathematics Education), Bob Turner (WOU Biology), Craig Wollner (PSU Social
Science)
Absent: Peter Gilkey (UO Mathematics) Jim Isenberg (UO Mathematics), Marc Levy (SOU Psychology).
I.Welcome and Overview of OHSU Issues by Peter Kohler, OHSU President.
A.Stressed the huge need for nurses (and pharmacists) to make up for a projected decline in registered nurses. According
to the graphic shown, the projected need for nurses in 2010 will be 39,164 in Oregon. If OHSU stays on the current
path of training, there will be 31,687 nurses in 2010. If all programs double production, there will be 35,887 nurses in
10 years.
B.Mentioned the growth that has occurred in the OHSU research programs, which is part of the shift in becoming an
economy of the mind. The operating budget in 2002 is $943M. The enrollment in 1995 was 1,777. The enrollment in
2001 was 2,535.
C.Focused on the OHSU transportation access problems (parking and traffic)
1.Working on zoning the campus to help resolve the space issue, which includes zones for the campus, education, and
research.
2.Looking seriously into building an aerial tram to help resolve the space issue.
II.Lesley Hallick, OHSU Provost
A.Emphasized the nursing shortage and mentioned a potential shortage in dentists.
B.Discussed the Area Health Education (AHEC) Model for distributed education
1.OHSU is the education hub with five districts for health education located throughout the state.
2.Model purposes are first to train professionals in the location in which they live because studies show they will stay in
this location, and second to train professionals outside the hospital because most medical care today does not take
place within the hospital.
C.Discussed a new approach to health education in which more simulations and externships are being used to give
students access to real applications in their education. One aspect is to practice a skill until proficient by
experimenting with different simulations. Another aspect is to send students to externship sites for the last few months
of their education.
D.Mentioned two new building projects
1.Biomedical Research Building
2.Patient Care Expansion (a clinical building for heart, cancer, and women's health patients); this extra capacity is needed
because patients are being turned away at this time.
E.Focused on OHSU transportation access solutions.
1.The zoning approach makes sense because it will put patient access in one place.
2.Firms currently competing for the design of the Portland Aerial Tram
a.Will take 100 buses off the road a day
b.2.5 minute ride
c.no pollution and little noise
d.public right-of-way
III.Kerry Barnett, OUS Board Member (employed by the ODS Health System)
A.Explained that the Chancellor's deal is an effort to educate (and arrive at a consensus with) the Oregon political system
and constituents about what it takes to educate students (given limited funding and increasing student numbers).
IV.Chancellor Richard Jarvis
A.Explained the deal as a strategic attempt to establish a different dialogue with the state. In the past, we have yearly
direction adjustments (even four or five adjustments a year). The deal is providing a start at strategic direction.
1.The political process of budget cutting is not strategic. It doesn't make sense. We are trying to step back and put a
logical process back into these cuts.
V.IFS Member Interaction with Kerry Barnett and Chancellor Richard Jarvis
A.Barnett-Stated he believes that things will eventually get better. The tax system will not look the same in the future.
Our job is to hang on and do the best we can do "and move the ball down the field."
B.Jarvis-Responded to a question about considering enrollment caps. We cap enrollments now with a financial aid
system that is the worst in the country and with resources that are going down. The quality dimension in higher
education is under too much strain. However, he doesn't see an enrollment cap discussion as helpful. He sees a
discussion helpful about the relationship between quality and quantity.
C.Jarvis-Responded to a question about how to define quality. A problem is the single index we use is to equate quality
with funding, but this is a proxy.
D.Barnett-Responded to a comment about higher education "hunkering down" instead of thinking outside the box to
privatization options. The "reality" is we will have less money in the short term, and he does not want us to overreact
to the current deficit with a 50-year plan [to go private]. Georgia is an example of a state that has turned its higher
education around. There will be opportunities.
VI.Jackie Dingfelder, State Representative, Portland
A.Has been a representative for 18 months and has served in five sessions
B.Explained that every state is facing problems.
C.Stated that the legislature has been unable to create new sustainable funding within Oregon and because of this
"accounting tricks" are taking place. We are mortgaging the future of our state by acts such as borrowing against the
tobacco settlement money.
D.Stressed that Measure 28 polling does not look good. If this ballot measure does not pass, there will be "draconian
cuts." These cuts will impact everyone.
E.Mentioned that no statewide tax increase has passed in 30 years in this state.
F.Declared her support several times for the governor elect's ability to bring people toward consensus. The new governor
knows that the people in the state want to know that their money is being spent wisely.
G. Stated that term limits hurt legislators, and now that these have been lifted, we should see improvements.
H. Jarvis-Responded to a question about why stay in the public system. The primary support is in the public
system. We should approach the state with a deal of what we would like to do (which affords flexibility). However, if
we discuss autonomy, this will not go very far.
I. Dingfelder-Flexibility is a better word than autonomy.
J.Dingfelder-People are holding a magnifying glass to government to watch spending. We need to demonstrate to the
state that we are managing our money well.
K.Dingfelder-Kulongoski supports growth in bioscience, and this is one area in which growth will be acceptable.
L.Dingfelder-Seventy five percent of the PERS participants are in PERS 1, and this is where 98% of the fiscal liability
lies.
M.Dingfelder-The future for Oregon is investing in brainpower, and the state has not made this shift
N.Jarvis-27M will be lost immediately when Measure 28 goes down. Tuition is reaching a dangerous set of limits and so
is capacity. We do not deny access; we suppress access. We push it away. We do not appear to be suffering.
O.Kerry Barnett-Polling has shown that the public will pay higher taxes for something of specific value. Most people
believe the K-12 system can sustain indefinite increases in funding with no gain to education. So, we need to focus on
specific education areas for funding (like football). We have a confidence problem. People have no confidence that a
tax will give benefit. Political institutions respond to a crisis.
P.Jarvis-Responded to comments about providing the state with a menu of choices related to higher education. The
problem is that we are seen as a private good. We are not an entitlement. We are at a dangerous point. K-12 is an
entitlement. We are not either, but how do we embed this into the minds of Oregonians? I worry that the privatization
talk will take us down a slippery slope with the state backing away from its responsibility to education.
Q.Jarvis-Responded to the comment that the main thing the public wants is for us to educate people for jobs (to talk
about social responsibility will not work). Through the "deal," we are getting the message about what higher education
is and needs.
R.Jarvis-Clarified the Deal. We want to show the state that there is a relationship between access and quality. The state
can't keep pressing us down. We need a commitment to higher education from the state. The first goal is to see this
language in the executive language. My work is listening to schools and then establishing relationships with the
executive branch.
S.Jarvis-Public universities mean in the West a pride in their communities. We need to nurture and support this.
T.Bob Turner -To make the legislature understand the impact of hiring more fixed term staff (instead of tenure staff) we
need to explain that this is like term limits in government. Both have a negative impact.
December 7, 2002
Present: Elizabeth Boretz (EOU Spanish), Scott Burns (PSU Geology), Nels Carlson (OHSU School of Medicine), Duncan
Carter (PSU Liberal Arts and Sciences), Bill Danley (SOU Special Education), Elaine Deutschman (OIT Mathematics), Dan
Edge (OSU Fisheries & Wildlife), James Earl (UO English), Dick Fairley (OHSU Computer Science and Engineering), Marye
Hefty (OIT Communications), Jim Isenberg (UO Mathematics), Jim Lundy (OSU Transportation Engineering), Bruce Sorte
(OSU Agricultural Science), Steve Teich (OHSU Library), Jim Tooke (EOU Mathematics Education), Bob Turner (WOU
Biology), Craig Wollner (PSU Social Science)
Absent: Peter Gilkey (UO Mathematics) and Marc Levy (SOU Psychology).
I.Unanimously approved the October Meeting Minutes.
II.Academic Council Report(s)
A.Because of other commitments, Bob Turner has not been able to attend the last two meetings, but has been keeping up
to date by reading the council notes and talking to others. Bob sees the most interesting issue the "Gear Up Program,"
which is an OUS-funded initiative to help disadvantaged middle and high school students prepare for college.
B.Bill Danley and others mentioned the value in the academic council meeting as an opportunity to interact (in spite of
the provost meeting being closed door).
C.Duncan Carter expressed concern that OUS is not nimble enough (to use a Governor's Task Force term) in getting
degree programs approved.
III.Friday Session Debrief (A Summary of What We Heard)
A.Initial discussion focused on the perception that the Chancellor did not concretely describe his "deal." Many members
of IFS felt that based on the meeting that the Chancellor does not have a concrete plan for how move higher education
forward. There was some discussion about the deal being a way for the Chancellor to get his "foot in the door" with
the governor, legislators, and the public, and that at this point he is "building important personal relationships. IFS
members did not hear "a glimmer" of legislative strategy, which is a concern.
B.The group agreed that IFS should find out if Kulongoski has an education advisor and then invite this advisor to the
February meeting.
C.The group discussed some initial messages they would hope Chancellor Jarvis could pass to the governor and the
public, including the following:
1.As we increase our adjuncts and decrease our tenure faculty, we are reducing our institutional memory, and this impacts
our schools just like term limits impacted government in a negative way.
2.As a state we are giving away our resources (just like exporting our lumber or fish) by making our schools unaffordable
to our students.
3.We need to stress the value we bring to the state.
D.Scott Burns suggested that a group of IFS members meet with Grattan Kerans and Chancellor Jarvis. The group
decided to attempt a meeting on December 19, which is the day before the board meeting. Elizabeth Boretz, Scott
Burns, Elaine Deutschman, James Earl, Dan Edge, and Craig Wollner agreed to attend. The message will be 1) thanks
for listening to us and 2) the message he wants us to give to legislators (instead of us all randomly talking with them
about our own issues) because his message was not clear from our meeting with him. Specifically, Bruce Sorte
mentioned the following:
1.What are the contingency plans for the system if the tax goes down?
2.What is the Chancellor's financial aid plan?
3.What is the Chancellor's PERS solution?
4.What specific impacts will reduction have on quality?
E.Nels Carlson asked for a clarification of the IFS mission. Are we an advocate for higher education or for the faculty?
He explained that a problem is that there is not a perception by the public that the higher education system is broken.
The group decided to address this mission question at the February Saturday session.
IV.Campus Reports
A.OSU
1.In the presidential search process, faculty were involved.
2.The new IFS representative is Mina Carson.
3.A presidential announcement has been made that all hiring will be made with a commitment to diversity.
4.A 4% performance based raise is being given this year.
B.OIT
1.The president is actively highlighting/emphasizing the OIT medical fields.
2.We are looking for ways to couple the medical fields with the engineering fields on campus.
3.Discussions are taking place about a new medical building.
4.Faculty members are retiring because of PERS.
5.The school has a hiring freeze.
C.OHSU
1.The fiscal year budget next year is $1 billion.
2.A revenue goal is to have the school's university work break even financially.
3.OHSU is the most expensive or second most expensive medical school in the nation. Students completing medical
school here take on a huge student loan debt. This debt prevents many of them from pursuing primary care careers and
instead forces them into the higher paying medical specialties.
4.Our faculty salary comes from money we generate. Nels loses money when he attends faculty senate meetings because
he cannot attend clinic.
5.Right now a strategy for the school is to increase the out of state students because they pay more.
6.We are bringing on new faculty. Can we maintain the money to sustain them?
7.Computers and electrical engineering have been merged into one department. We have a new bioengineering
department.
D.PSU
1.The provost has been working on strategic visioning. The vision and value statements have been officially approved.
2.Currently the enrollment is 22,000. In 10 years, this is projected to be 35,000.
3.A goal is to double the research income in 5 years (now $22M to $50M).
4.The school is working to increase out of state students and to increase diversity.
5.A $90M capital campaign is taking place (with $45M raised to date).
6.Scott Burns has been reelected to faculty senate, and Craig Wollner is taking Elizabeth Furse's place.
7.In the PSU School of Business, 20% of the faculty members are retiring because of PERS.
8.At a faculty senate meeting a resolution passed related to terrorism that points out that activism does not equate to
terrorism.
E.SOU
1.Faculty and staff are getting to know the new president.
2.A huge debate is taking place in faculty senate about governance(e.g., what we want to be and what is our vision).
3.The president formed a "Triple A Committee" comprised of all faculty (selected by her) to plan for the proposed
budget cuts. It is a budget and planning committee.
F.WOU
1.Budget reduction planning is taking place.
2.No program cuts are planned.
3.A move at WOU is to move from three hour to four-hour classes in an attempt to decrease the course preps.
4.Solveig Holmequest is the new IFS representative. Bob Turner has family obligations that prevent him from attending
the February meeting. However, he will set up all the details of the meeting (which is at WOU).
G.The salary increase situation
1.OIT-no raises
2.OSU-4% performance based
3.UO-A presidential warning that it will be a long time before a raise
4.PSU-No salary increases. Letters were sent to all fixed term staff warning that on June 30 staff could be let go for
budget reasons.
5.WOU
6.EOU-4% across the board and .5% addition for the lowest salaried personnel.
H.EOU
1.The vote for the union comes up in January.
I.UO
1.The faculty senate and FAC have been meeting once a week with the president to discuss campus/teaching issues.
Discussion points include the class sizes being too big and the teaching mission being too tough. The general feeling is
that we are bracing for a shock. We have a sense of no strategy for dealing with the cuts.
2.In the last year, have gone from 17,000 to 22,000 students, and faculty members are complaining about delivery
problems.
3.The quality of our student body is going up. We are receiving more out-of-state students and our admission standards
are higher.
4.Attracting out-of-state students is seen as a solution to the financial situation.
5.A capital campaign is taking place for $600M.
6.The faculty senate voted that issues about Iraq are out of its purview (when presented with the resolution that we
should not go to war with Iraq). Where do issues related to terrorism fit within a school?
7.Peter Gilkey was reelected to IFS. This is Jim Isenberg's last meeting. Bob Zimmerman is the new IFS representative.
V.IFS/AOF
A.A motion was made and passed by a majority vote (with two dissenting votes) that the following links related to OUS
be added to our web page (within a framework that does not imply endorsement but access to information):
AOF
AAUP
AFT
OSL
OUS
These links will be added under a disclaimer/introductory sentence that reads, "Additional perspectives about the
Oregon University System are available at the following sites:"
VI.Remarks for Elaine to Make to the Board on December 20
A.Elaine-We are looking for a stronger articulation of how the OUS system will be presented to the legislature.
B.Bob-Let us stress the "Economy of the mind" as opposed to the business model.
C.Bruce-This is a good time to bring up the need for some funding from the board.
D.Duncan-We noticed an apparent lack of a plan.
E.Elaine-We have noticed their absence from Salem during the legislative session and we want to see them there more.
F.The contacts for the board for future IFS meetings are Bob for WOU, James for UO, Jim L. for OSU, Bill for SOU, and
Scott for PSU.
VII.Election of Officers for 2003
A.Peter Gilkey was elected president
B.Dan Edge was elected to Academic Council.
C.Marye Hefty was elected secretary.
VIII.Thanks given to Elaine Deutschman and the Gavel Passed to Bill Danley
A.Craig Wollner made a motion to officially thank Elaine Deutschman for the excellent job she has done as the president
of IFS.