Interinstitutional Faculty Senate (IFS) Meeting

December 7-8, 2001

 

Dec. 7th

 

Present: Scott Burns (PSU), Ann Tedards (UO), Elizabeth Boretz (EOU), Duncan Carter (PSU), Bill Danley (SOU), Elaine Deutschman (OIT), Peter Gilkey (UO), Marye Hefty (OIT), Jim Isenberg (UO), Kirsten Lampe (OHSU), Mary Anne Linden (WOU), Jim Lundy (OSU), Bruce Sorte (OSU), Gary Tiedeman (OSU), Bob Turner (WOU), Craig Wollner (PSU)

Absent: Jeff Johnson (EWU)

 

I.            President Dan Bernstine (PSU)

A.             PSU very involved in development of downtown urban planning.

B.             nearly 22,000 students – enrollment up

C.             first African American president in Oregon higher ed system, been in Oregon 5 years.

D.             expressed concern about the budgetary and tax revenue issues in Oregon

E.             access is at top of PSU’s priority list, need to be able to meet the demand for higher ed, nobody should be denied access because of inability to pay

F.              need to show support for our faculty and staff

G.             Guiding Principles for dealing with budgetary challenges:

1.              maintain student access for Oregon undergrads with high quality

2.             continue investments in technology

3.             maintain collaborations with community colleges

4.             preserve viable resources

5.             cut research and public service programs first if necessary for budget

H.             Need sacrifices from Oregon public as well as from our universities…

II.         Debbie Murdock, Government Relations for OUS

A.              Special Sessions, Legislative Budget Committee Meeting scheduled for next week.

1.              All posted on legislative website (www.leg.state.or.us)

2.             Public hearings (comments) will be taken by House committee on Thursday

3.             The role that higher ed can play – use the committee time – these are the places for the public’s participation in the process. Need to have real citizens show up.

4.             Senate committees regarding budget are scheduled for Tuesday.

III.     Lesley Lehman, Chair, Strategic Planning Committee of State Board of Higher Ed

A.             It’s really about students, despite the over-riding concerns about budgets.

B.             We know that you are under-compensated and we’d love to be able to do something about that.

C.             The goal of fully funding the “model” slipped when legislature became over-enamored with some pet projects such as boosting technology funding, etc.

D.             Somehow we’ve given the impression that it’s okay, that “we’ll muddle through,” and now it’s time to speak out more assertively.

E.             Board has been going through some self-examination.

1.              Want to get handle on relationship between higher ed, the economy, and the workplace. Will help us present benefits to public.

2.             Better define our relationship to preschool through 14 (“P thru 14”)

3.             We should clarify how much to be involved in individual universities’ decision making progress regarding their own program and other initiatives.

4.             Take a hard look at alternative funding models.

5.             Are there alternative governance structures we should look at that would be more effective?

F.              It was Board’s intent to solicit input from universities regarding the Chancellor search. “You have been heard,” she said.

IV.        Vice Chancellor Diane Vines

A.             At some point we’ll have to limit access – can’t keep adding students with no additional $$.

B.             Will be talking to legislature about raising tuitions and/or limiting enrollments in some areas.

C.             Town meetings, facilitated by the Board, are planned on individual campuses; they’d like our input and participation.

1.              First series – winter/spring – to hear about the needs of campus people from all over the state

2.             Over the summer, Board will digest the information, and this input will help drive the budget planning process for the next biennium.

3.             Fall series – take a budgetary strategic plan to the public forums to get feedback.

D.             There is a lack of a good accountability system to follow money allocated to specific programs – from OUS to the campuses, and even within the campuses.

E.             Across the board, the general fund constitutes about 16-20% of the total budget. It’s questionable that the source of those funds should be able to dictate all the programs where those funds are sent.

V.            Betsy Johnson, State Rep, Scappoose

A.             Regarding the difficulty of the RAM model: “I couldn’t explain the RAM model to anyone. I don’t believe anybody could explain the RAM model.”

B.             “The State is $720M upside down and falling. I heard the word “billion” used the other day. When we meet, we might be dealing with a shortfall as high as $900M.”

C.             “We’re looking at 5 days of grueling negotiations beginning Monday.”

D.             A number of legislators who are not supportive of higher ed perpetuate a myth that higher ed is full of a “bunch of whiners.” Some believe that we are over-funded, and simply not frugal nor efficient with money.

E.             Other potential funding sources: tobacco money, Medicaid extra money – one-time money.

F.              Question: Why does K-12 get positive support from the State while higher ed does not? Shouldn’t we see education as a seamless process from P through college? The legislators see a “different face” from K-12 than from higher ed. The children’s faces, the overcrowded classrooms, etc. vs. presidents of universities in a competitive stance.

G.             Would support having periodic “special” sessions of legislature to do incremental adjustments to budget rather than trying to overhaul the entire thing at once.

VI.        Bob Bruce, Chancellor’s office.

A.             Priorities – how can we be more effective with economic & workforce issues, and work better with K-12 and private education entities?

B.             We’ve not been very good about talking to Oregonians about these issues, which is the purpose of the town hall meetings.

C.             12 meetings, January through April, 3 per month, including Hilsboro, Bend/Redmond, Coos Bay. Inviting community leaders, business leaders, variety of individuals. Will invite all participants to continue to engage in an electronic dialogue.

D.             Also hope to educate public about what we do in higher ed.

E.             Hope for another round from Sept. 2002 through January 2003 to feed back to them, and solicit their support for, the budget initiatives for the 2003-2005 biennium.

F.              There are coordinators on each of the campuses.

G.             Admits there have been no initiatives to utilize mass media such as TV to educate the public or appeal to rural, Native American, and other hard-to-reach segments of the population.

VII.     Roger Bassett, new member of State Board

A.             Been in higher education policy work a long time, served as Education Advisor to three Governors, Commissioner of Community Colleges for some time.

B.             A fundamental underpinning to all of our concerns is that several of the public’s general perceptions, expectations, or beliefs are that

1.              their tax dollars should come back to them in one way or another.

2.             Any surplus in the state budget is nothing but “fat.”

3.             Public education is just another public service.    

4.             The terms “public” and “public education” have lost their tread.

C.             Therefore, the public would need to see a “hook” to get them behind higher education.

D.             Institutions that do not have something of value do not receive support or end up on chopping block.

E.             All of these are the subjects of a string of “issue papers”

F.              How do we position ourselves?

1.              It’s not enough to do forums, conversations, etc. to make ourselves more visible.

2.             We must “run Higher Ed for Statewide Office.” Have to do all of those things with the deadly seriousness of a statewide candidate. Tons of cash, frequent appeals, radio, television, face-to-face, etc.

G.             RE: The Chancellor Search

1.              Job should be statewide educational leader.

2.             One of the issues I’m worried about.

3.             Needs skills to “ride herd” on the campuses.

4.             Rock & hard place role. Between legislature & constituency.


Dec. 8th (Saturday)

VIII.       Approval of Minutes, October 2001

A.             Jeff Johnson (secretary) not present today, and minutes not available for review.

IX.          Academic Council Report (see document notes from meeting)

A.             Discussion ensued over the changing membership on the Board.

B.             There is a seat on the Board that can be filled by a faculty member, but is not dedicated to faculty membership. Governor can choose whether to appoint faculty to Board. Geri Richmond currently holds that seat, her term is up this year, and that seat may not be refilled with a faculty member.

X.            OUS Budget Cuts

A.             Peter Gilkey shared a 3-point letter from Nathan Tublitz, President of the OSU University Faculty Senate, asking that IFS urge the State Board not to attempt a fiscal bail out of OSU as that would likely have budgetary implications for the other OUS institutions.

B.             Gary Tiedeman stated that it’s not that OSU is “in the hole” but has a $19M shortfall, and must make cuts by a particular date in order to not remain indebted.

1.              Bruce Sorte has been elected as President-elect of the Faculty Senate at OSU.

2.             Plan of OSU to deal with the shortfall currently stands as follows:

a)             Re-design the OSU campus structure. One idea was to hand the redesign of the academic portion 100% to the Faculty Senate.

b)             Remainder of this year to be devoted to dealing with immediate budget concerns vis-à-vis the state system.

c)             Next academic year will be devoted to the redesign process, which will be completely influenced by the faculty at OSU.

d)             Have to address the $19M PLUS the state mandate of the 2% minimum reduction that all institutions are having to deal with.

e)             Discussion around reasons for the shortfall – OSU may have continued to its expenditure patterns and even added expenditures (e.g., scholarships, other enhancements, etc.) while other campuses may have begun to reduce costs in advance.

XI.         Chancellor Search

A.             Fact remains that there is no known written document that lays out the protocol for a Chancellor search.

B.             Board is not obligated to canvass the faculty or anyone else in their decision making process, yet politically and diplomatically it might be wise.

C.             Next opportunity for us to comment on this process publicly will be at the December 21st  Board meeting.

D.             IFS will draft a letter to the Board explaining why there has been concern about faculty and student input, to educate or remind them about what the history of faculty governance is all about and how it benefits the system and the state at large.

1.              Ann volunteered to take the lead on the draft, and will send it to Craig to integrate the Chancellor characteristics listed below, then submit it to the IFS ListServ for our review.

2.             We are used to another kind of search process, one that is commonly used for other institutional administrative positions, e.g., deans, provosts, presidents, etc. OUS, on the other hand is coming from a different perspective – and it seems inconsistent with the more pervasive model.

3.             There is historical precedent for a more inclusive process – some have been done that way and some have not.

E.             What are we most concerned about?

1.              A Chancellor who would run OUS like a corporation – focus on efficiency, profitability at all costs.

2.             A Chancellor who would not acknowledge the diversity within the system – who would try to set policy as a “one size fits all” approach.

F.              Characteristics we would most like to see in a Chancellor.

1.              Understand the diversity of the system – one size doesn’t fit all.

2.             Ability to work with the legislature

3.             Public relations

4.             Significant academic background

5.             Rich understanding of history and mission of higher ed in Oregon.

6.             Long range vision, particularly in planning ahead for changing biennia.

7.             Consensus builder.

8.             Ability to articulate a collaborative relationship with entire educational system of Oregon.

9.             Leadership qualities sufficient to facilitate collaboration with university Presidents.

10.           Ability to see Oregon Higher Ed as part of a national mission.

XII.     WOU Strike issue – 215 faculty members at WOU, not all of whom are members of the union. Negotiations are continuing between union and administration. Deadline supposed to be beginning of Winter quarter.

XIII.  Overall IFS Strategy

A.             Presentation to Board.

1.              Reiteration of the desire for inclusiveness in the Chancellor search process.

2.             Applaud the strategy at OSU to have faculty and presidents take the lead in reconfiguration of their own campus. Could be a good model for OUS to consider in other campus-specific issues.

B.             For future goals over the next year.

1.              Perhaps rather than being so reactive to issues, we could be more proactive.

2.             But perhaps it is part of our role to be there to monitor issues within the system and attempt to influence their progress.

3.             We could respond to Roger’s suggestion that we change the way we “sell” higher education to the state. We could take a lead role in ideas for that.

XIV.     New Business.

A.             Re: planning for the Friday meeting of IFS next time (Feb. 1st & 2nd, U of O)

1.              Ideas of people to invite

a)             Gubernatorial candidates

b)             legislators

c)             board member Roger Bassett

d)             Board member Geri Richmond

e)             Chancellor Cox.

f)             Perhaps also the person who chaired the Governor’s Task Force on Higher Education of a few years ago? Duncan Wyse.

g)             John Moseley, Provost of U of O – who had presented in the past on ideas to increase faculty salaries. Perhaps someone from the Budget Committee on which Moseley served.

h)             Invite Governor Kitzhaber and tap his perspective on our future and how to better “sell” higher ed.

i)              Others thrown out on the table for consideration

XV.       Election of Officers

A.             Nominated slate:

1.              Elaine Deutschman – President

2.             Bill Danley – Vice President (President-Elect)

3.             Marc Levy – Secretary

4.             Bob Turner – Academic Council Representative

B.             Unanimous vote of approval of slate.

C.             Craig Wollner continues as Past-President

XVI.    Calendar items

A.             Next year – October 4th & 5th OIT, December 6th & 7th OHSU.

B.             OUS, AAUP, OAF, IFS joint meeting on April 27th at OSU