Inter-institutional Faculty Senate

Oregon State University

February 2 and 3, 2007

IIFS Meeting Notes

 

Attendees: Joel Alexander( WOU), Lee Ayers (SOU), Scott Burns (PSU), Sarah Andrews-Collier (PSU), Duncan Carter ( PSU) Paul Doescher (OSU), Peter Gilkey (UO), Solveig Holmquest ( WOU), Janet Hume-Schwarz (EOU) Kate Hunter-Zaworski (OSU), Jeff Johnson (EOU), Kathie Lasater (OHSU),Jon Nicols ( UO), Maureen Sevigny (OIT), Joanne Sorte (OSU), Steve Teich ( OHSU), Dan Wilson (SOU) and Craig Wollner (PSU)

 

Guests: Friday

Bill Lunch OSU Political Science Professor and OPB Political Analyst

Jock Mills, Director, OSU Government Relations

Mike Quinn, OSU Faculty Senate President

Kate Halischak, OSU Athletics, Student Athlete Academic Services

Karen Sprague, (UO) Vice Provost Undergrad Studies

Ed Ray, OSU President

Jay Kenton, (OUS)Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration

George Pernsteiner, (OUS) Chancellor

Susan Weeks, (OUS)Vice Chancellor for Strategic Programs and Planning

Denise Yunder, (OUS) Human Resources Director

Saturday

Senator Frank Morse(R)

Representative Sara Gelser (D)

Jock Mills, Director, OSU Government Relations

 

Meeting convened at 12:20 pm

 

Paul Doescher introduced Bill Lunch, OSU Political Science

 

2006 Election:

·      mid term elections reflected an un happiness with Federal Republican House and Senate

·      A wave of changes and national trends dominated local issues

·      More democrats turned out to vote and the republicans, who  are more likely to vote, were . out voted by the democrats the Republicans. This turn out differential that is not the  norm is why the democrats prevailed in Oregon as well

·      The Centrists and moderates shifted towards the democrats and it was simply a bad year for republican party

·       

Issues: corruption and ethics, scandals,   “Sex will always trump money in elections”…

Corruptions 41%

Economy 39%

Terrorism 39%

Iraq 36% 

 

Oregon:

·      Democrats took control of Oregon house, there have 31 seats in the House for control but not enough seats to pass revenue measures

·      Ballot measures 41 and 48 both failed they would have had huge impact on state revenue.  There are many questions on the defeat of Ballot measures. Was it out of state support or tax reform? Oregonians did get an understanding of the catastrophic impact, but it is still too early to tell what really was going on. This may signal that we are at end of a cycle.

·      There is a changing composition of electorate and a move from republican to democrat. Also see shift in the state as color changes from red to blue, and this increased from 8 to 12 counties. Marion Co and Washington Co are both significant for how state will go…

 Appendix A for Bill Lunch’s Hand Outs

 

Jock Mills Director, OSU Government Relations

Paul Doescher introduced Jock Mills

Budget:

·      Best budget for Higher Ed at start of session, but there are a lot of target funds and not a lot of funds going to students and classrooms.  There will be many discussions over targeted funds- enrollment growth. The competition is at OUS not at the Legislation

·      SOU is making things much harder and important that fights are within OUS and not the legislator.

·      Faculty-student ratios these are to be resolved by OUS and Board and given to legislature

 

Key Issue:  Allowing OUS to keep interest on tuition rather than having interest go to general funds. There is a Bill that will allow OUS to do this and add $19 million to OUS budget, but the Governor also reduced budget by $19 million. The students are trying to get the money back especially since students are financing a larger percentage of their education. There is a competing proposal by the State Treasurer to take all the interest and put it into rainy day fund. The OUS institutions need to support the students and get the $19 million in interest put back in higher ed.

 

Two weeks ago budget projections were very gloomy, still do not know what the revenue picture will look like. Still need taxes to assist and all the proposed new taxes are in trouble. Even if the revenue holds and taxes pass, then all the extra funds will go into rainy day fund Oregon relies more on income tax for general fund than any other state in the country The state needs to diversify income sources. The corporate kicker if it is retained will go into rainy day fund. The State Treasurer is still trying to get funds that will help shore up state Bond Rating. A lower bond rating will generate higher interest rates

 

Capital budget will address deferred maintenance. A problem with the capital projects is getting the matching funds.  There is a worry about the amount of debt in the system so now priority setting will be about how much money the projects are generating so those with better matching funds are more likely to go ahead. For example, the OSU  Kelley building was constructed with private funds that off set the debt load. Oregon is very unusual in doing this interplay of capital and general funds

 

There is concern that the growth trajectory in the Higher Education budget into next biennium is not sustainable.  All state agencies have to show how they will work with 2-4% cuts. Higher Education is no exception and is also going through exercise of determining where to make cuts.

 

There is a strong move for annual sessions with the current session predicated to end June 29 and to come back next February, however it was pointed out that Biennial budgets and annual sessions is a bad combination.

 

 

The Full Inter-institutional faculty senate acknowledged Vickie Nunnemaker’s hard work and support for arranging the meeting.  The committee also extends sympathy to Mina Carson on the sudden loss of her mother and sends best wishes for a rapid recovery to Marye Hefty

 

Mike Quinn OSU Faculty Senate President

Paul introduced Mike Quinn who is the twentieth OSU Faculty Senate President. Mike talked about the importance of shared governance at OSU and set curriculum as an example. The Faculty Senate President is a member of the Presidents Cabinet and the Provost is ex officio of the Faculty Senate Executive Committee.  Both the President and Provost have participated on the Executive Council and often attend Faculty Senate Meetings.  The Faculty Senate supports the work of IIFS and its role in building strong communication channels and acting as the eyes and ears of the faculty, for example (PERS/PEBB/ORP/TDI) . The Senior IIFS representative is also a member of the Executive Council and his facilities communication.  Mike, also talked about OSU as a land, sea, space and sun grant institution. This is also reflected by the diversity of the OSU Faculty Senate that includes professional faculty, instructors and extension faculty. The OSU Faculty Senate represents every one who is non union.

 

Kate Halischak: OSU Athletics, Director of Student Athlete Academic Services

(Kate reports to the Vice President for Academic Affairs)

Kate outlined the NCAA regulations that should increase graduation rates and APR. However the NCAA did not consider all the impacts on student athletes. For example if OSU recruits a student then they make a commitment to support towards graduation. If the student goes away due to academic problems, then should the institution transfer the support to another new student or support the returning student who already has failed at OSU?  The NCAA rules are that a student must take 12 credits /term and show success and progress towards a degree.

Appendix B Includes Kate’s hand out.

 

What makes a successful program?

 Kate is speaking from 18 years at another university. Athletics and academics are not a good fit and yet athletics still need to turn a profit. It is important to have faculty, admissions and the whole community involved not just athletics. 

 

Is there a financial connection between athletics and academics?

Athletics does get funds from OSU state funds, the schools in the SEC athletics funds the other part of campus.  Move to build out Reser is to create move funds towards making athletics more self sufficient.

 

Last year they started a new program for incoming freshman student athletes called the “Bridge program” to help 17 students adjust to OSU. Need to coordinate with facilities services to make sure classrooms have seats that are large enough to accommodate football players and also to have air conditioned classrooms. The main academic problems are in football and basketball program. This is due to students learning to play and get proficient at a young age. Most are involved in the club sports where high school academics are not emphasized or considered, consequently students are not prepared academically.  It has been noted that the GPA in the women’s program are dropping as they become more competitive.  Student athlete’s lives are very full and for students in academic trouble, they are also in study hall. Their days are really full with practice and training but new support is helping.

One IIFS senators raised the issue of scheduling the football civil war at the end of Dead Week. This impacts the whole student body just before final exams at UO and OSU Faculty Senates requesting that this not happen.

 

How well are we doing at OSU for student athlete?

University is working on special admissions and finding students who fit well and do well.

How are success rates?

Kate’s goal is that we recruit students who will be successful, “Your Graduation is our Super Bowl”

 

 

Karen Sprague University of Oregon Vice- Provost Undergraduate Studies

Credit Transferability and College NOW

There will be new opportunities with increased High School diploma requirements and more academic rigor in High School –this should improve student college preparation.

 

Senate Bill 342

Senate Bill 342 started out as common course numbering bill, but there was in fact no need for this and the system could live with curriculum diversity. There was a need to improve the management of curriculum, and also a system for tracking and managing Transcripts. This led to the construction of a state wide computer system called ATLAS that was invented in Ohio and works well.  When ATLAS is in place it will help students to articulate between various campuses.  The other big problem was how are decisions made, by who, and what is transferable. Many of these issues are still not resolved.

 

General education requirements rather than majors requirements

There is a need to separate general education from major or pre-requisite work.  The general education course work could be transferable such as many of OSU BACC core and this was the intent of SB 342.

 

How are decisions made? The problem is with the community colleges, and some of these problems go back to when the AAOT was created about 15-20 years ago and CC transfer students who wanted to transfer to the 7 OUS institutions.

When students try to transfer general education they met with all sorts of problems, so the students took the AAOT however the 4 year institution could require extra courses and foreign language.  AAOT did solve a lot of problems and made transfers easier, but it left unspecified how the courses should be selected and approved. So over the years a person in Salem in the community college and work force development office of the state Department of Education was making the decision, however the individual is not a faculty member. Most courses were fine, but there are exceptions for example, ceramics counts in an AAOT, but at UO that would not count. Need conversations to look at those students who move to OUS before completing AAOT as success for sciences, since it doesn’t pay to have AAOT in sciences.

 Karen brought many documents to the meeting and these are attached in Appendix  C.  Another item in SB342 is the process to come up with transferable courses. Based on outcomes  B342 Section 1.2 (c). The approach has been to create an opportunity for faculty to work on this.  Formed faculty groups in 6 disciplines in AAOT:

Writing

Oral Communication

Math

Humanities

Social Science

Science and CS

 

Need balanced representation but also need small groups and equal number from 4 year, community and private colleges(those that have transfer relationship such as George Fox).  Committee members will take them back to campuses for feedback on criteria them to.

 

Should campuses be examining core?   Don’t propose a general overhaul of the general education components as there are already a high number of courses that will articulate, but there is a need to examine the problem courses such as ceramics and remedial reading courses. So all institutions offer the Oregon Transfer Module OTM (CC and OUS)   The OTM is 45 credits and Gen ed. is 55 credits of AAOT.  Many campuses are looking at revising the general education requirements. Departments are adding courses for student credit hours and for financial and not necessarily curriculum reasons.  New Criteria will not harm existing good courses.

 

IIFS Comments:

Jeff Johnson(EOU):  IIFS was involved in drafting OTM

 

Paul Doescher (OSU):  How could OTM criteria and structure be used to set standards for College Now programs? 

There are issues with early college courses, and there are students who probably shouldn’t be there. Inconsistency in transcripts and other ways high schools record college now in ways that is not easy to recognize where the course was taken.  Recommend common method for all early college programs like they already do it for IB and AP. There are still problems transferring data on students .There will be electronic transfers and these will by system wide in two years.

Issues identified include:

• ID controls,
• K12 becoming permanent record, 
• how CC and HS transcript these courses. Currently you cannot track students from K12 to CC because they have no transcripts at CC and trail is lost at CC. Can track K12 to OUS because transcripts are used, but these are not used for CC and hence a broken link. Consider asking CC to ask for transcripts for data purposes and not for admission.

 

Now issues of quality of courses at HS level.

College NOW was developed out of a .system of technical/vocational course. Students take CC courses in HS and get credit. The HS then expanded it into their academic side. College Now is where students in HS can take college courses with the same number and title as college classes but are taught by HS teachers. Sensitive issue is whether these courses are really college courses and no one is checking to see if these meet standards

PSU is developing a model after Syracuse  that is moving to set up an accreditation program other states are also setting up accreditation programs:  KS, ID and UT…National Accreditation for Dual Enrollment  Program  provides oversight, text, syllabus and review work.  Work is needed on ways to improve the standards and increase quality of programs.  The Oregon Educational Enterprise is a group that is working with CC, OUS and K12 to shape agenda for group.

 

Ed Ray OSU President

 

President Ray started by discussing Extension programs around State of Oregon. The main item of concern is the loss of $220 million to the Rural Schools Program that funds a number of county programs.  Counties agreed to give up revenues with the understanding that federal government would give transfer funds under the Secure Rural Schools Act. This program is the use of timber money for local schools.  In Lane County many programs face elimination.  This will have a huge impact on Oregon counties supporting program and collaborative projects and will have a cascade effects on extension. This is the human cost as a result of the omnibus budget bill. Senators Smith and Wyden and the entire Oregon delegation are doing what they can to help out.  State legislators are also trying to help to get increased funding.  This problem is related to the major issues with earmarks. The consequence of elimination of earmarks will impact land grant institutions and accounts for substantial support of agricultural projects.  The Federal Budget has significance impact on OSU as well as counties in the State that leaves all the universities struggling.

 

OSU Strategic Plan presented to Board {Copy of the powerpoint is attached in Appendix D}

Vision 2007 involved large number of OSU people and capitalized on work that was done. Five areas were developed to move institution forward and improve academic excellence, Increase graduation rates, trying to manage resources. The university is also in the quiet phase of a major fund raising effort in addition to establishing new partnerships and collaboration such as ONAMI. The university is investing strategically in the thematic areas.

 

OSU developed a strategic plan in 2004 and most OSU units developed their own strategic plans. OSU also looked at peer land grant institutions. OSU was the first OUS institution to develop a portfolio.  The Higher Education Board will meet with each institution, and look at each institution’s strategic plan. At OSU the key problem is determining how are we going to pay for salaries.  The effort involves all the deans and forces the university to set priorities and this will include reducing or eliminating activities.

 

Jay Kenton, (OUS)Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration

George Pernsteiner, (OUS) Chancellor

Susan Weeks, (OUS)Vice Chancellor for Strategic Programs and Planning

Denise Yunder, (OUS) Human Resources Director

 

Jay and Denise addressed the IIFs on the TDI and ORP:

Faculty Advisory Committee for Retirement Plan Redesign was to meet on Saturday

• communication out to people
• Plan design with the investment menu
• TDI annuity program
• Record Keeper-how does it all hang together
• Governance: structure is very difficult to administer
• Investments: annuities are a challenge
• On a fast track with .some decisions that will happen in a month because six months are needed for implementation and can not do this in the summer
• complicated contracting because of the types of companies
• what is creative, is how to put the right investments on the structure and also to get the best rate of return…

 

Jay Kenton: It may take longer than originally planned. The Federal Government regulations will change by Jan 2008- May need to split ORP and TDI. But if no split there will be more assets and more leverage. OUS website will have committee minutes and information from committee. Pulled legislative concept to decouple ORP and PERS. PERS rate for new tier 3 people will drop down to 12%. There is a disconnect between Senior and Junior Faculty and need to look to 09 session of legislature. There is a need to find ways to talk to all levels. Many of the problems are due to a lack of trust.  Much is related to PERS

Comments from IIFS:

Peter Gilkey: UO  Referred to earlier times and expressing gratitude to Denise for trying to look at things proactively and the ramifications of change.

Denise : Need to take time to take new run at this and will need to wait until end of session and get through the TDI/ORP. The window is Fall Term 07 to get this sorted out because will need to finalize by March 2008. About 2014, the PERS rate will go down and need to look forward before then. There will be all sorts of issues and all faculty will be impacted.

 

Jay Kenton: Total Compensation of Faculty

OUS has the highest benefit rates in the nation and we have the lowest salaries in the nation.  This is causing hardships in recruitment and retention and it is made worse by real estate prices. In Portland there was an increase of 20% in one year. New faculty will have difficulty with home ownership. Time to start a discussion but there is still distrust and we need to look at how we compensate individuals and may need to decouple from state plans.

 

Paul Doescher.(OSU)   Need to consider cafeteria plans for insurance dollars. President Bush made proposal to put a tax on medical insurance and this takes away value so need to figure out how to approach and look at cafeteria plan..

George Pernsteiner (OUS):  Doesn’t think we can change PERS, but we can change health care with PEBB we now have the numbers and may be able to change things.

Can only change PERS for new people coming in…

Jay Kenton: how do we compare with other institutions if we look at total compensation? We are still below the middle. At UO, that has nine comparators, UO is always at the bottom for total compensation across the board by rank

 

Susan Weeks and George Pernsteiner

OUS Brief-Performance Measurement

Need to report to State and Board of Higher Ed. Trying to help make the measures in a much more palatable manner. The new Framework is to make it more straightforward.

 

Legislature likes Performance Measures of OUS and the budget is tied to measures. Many are easy to measure. Metrics of Learning Outcomes are important. Inside the Spellings commission report strong emphasis on learning outcomes. There is great potential for federal regulation and mandates in learning outcomes. The Spellings Report supports a few tests but these have limited value. Also includes a criticism of Accreditation process

 

George Pernsteiner: this is sort of like SB342  and what are the outcomes of all that we do?  Asked Provosts to come up an approach that includes trying to reframe SB 342  rather than have legislated measures.

• How do you demonstrate that you provided that value? ….
• There has been work on assessment?
• “You don’t make a pig fatter by weighing it”….
• Engaged in continuous assessment cycles…

 

• “Talking about music is like dancing about architecture "….

 

Craig Wollmer( PSU):  University Assessment Portfolio….

Good faculty and good colleges etc assess all the time and have plans for continuous improvement.

Joel Alexander (WOU): Do something for consumption of legislators and show evidence. But be sure to use it in a bounded and limited way to modify behavior and hopefully the assessment would not be used against us.

 

Scott Burns (PSU): The performance measures for OUS makes us look pretty good. But they do not look at quality.  Need to suggest some performance measures for quality. Such as the number of failed searches, % of fixed term faculty, SCH % taught on each campus by part time faculty, the average enrollment or class size. All these measures have a relationship to quality and retention.

 

George Pernsteiner: Is the education attainment level of this state meeting the needs of the 21^st century? The education level of the adult population is declining.  May want to look at a systems approach to look at the balance of inputs and outputs. Need to look at key indicators for what will bring about success. HS graduation requirements and needs for admission and why can’t HS get general education while still in HS

 

IIFS Meeting Notes Saturday Day 2

Call to Order at 8:30 am

(Notes are out of Order from the Agenda to keep the Reports together)

 

Jock Mills:  Budget Model…Revenue defer to Frank Morse.

Are we seeing a change in Oregon Psyche?

PSU survey of voters is starting to see a shift, as Oregonians realize the relationship between taxation and quality of government services. Brief discussion of Rural schools funds.

 

Jock Mills Introducing Frank Morse Senator( R ),  OSU Alum, was CEO of Morse Bros. member of Education Sub committee of Ways and Means and also Education Sub Committee

Sara Gelser: Democrat in the legislature was on 509J School board and also one of 12 OSU alums in the house and senate. She is Chair of the House Committee on Ethics Rules.

 

Sara:  Asking for concerns about this session seeing more bipartisanship and reinvestment in higher education. Look at the long term strategy to get Oregon where it needs to go…

Frank Morse: speak to some issues:

            Building a financial framework for OR

            Impact of initiatives on OR system on budget and in the last 16 years general fund budget has grown but 27% of budget is driven by voter initiatives. Part of the growth in spending that is already earmarked and things have not changed since 1990 and over lay of initiatives. This is played out in Higher Ed where the budget has decreased in 36%. K12 has seen a 11 % reduction on a per student basis. For Higher education a large infusion of funds are need just to put us where we were before Measure 5.  Also have trade offs with prison system there is a structural imbalance. The Kicker is really bad for fiscal management. We depend on income tax and this is highly volatile and in the governors budget this is a most volatile system. Very few funds for cushioning

 

What are solutions

Frank Morse: background in Business-taught when seeing a problem need to look at cause not just symptoms!

In the legislature the problem is kicker and revenue. HB 2530: Bi partisan group of 5 Senators hopeful to start fiscal reform and address the restructuring of the revenue systems and the budget process to bring in SB 473/4  and look at spending as well as revenue. The process is built around continuous improvements to reduce costs and improve quality.  At the outset there is a need to repeal of corporate kicker.

What about personal kicker?

“People are more intelligent than they are given credit”

 

Revenue: HB 2530: 

·      a reduction in personal income tax and capital gains tax.

·      Propose economic stimulus- for seniors and low income

·      Put in 5% sales tax with standard exemptions this stimulates economy-Oregon Tax Incidence Model

·      Would improve employment and economic growth due to restructuring and increases revenue.

·      This may sound like sounds like fussy math, but a large part of the state economy is making no contribution to welfare of state

o      underground economy,

o      capture tourist dollars and backfill structural budget gap and remove volatility or our system

Need support in the House and moderate Republicans will step across the aisle!  The incremental solutions  such as the .cigarette taxes etc are not a solution to the Oregon problems

 

As a legislator, the role of government is a financial platform for the Oregon Enterprise to be successful, and the Legislature needs to step up to task. Grass roots reaching out to business community and working with key constituent groups. There will be five focus groups around the state. The purpose is to take message out to the state and also to get a sense of Oregonians support. In addition will do state poll. If results are favorable then move the legislature into action.  This will be successful when “When Legislators are more concerned about solving problem rather than being re-elected”.

 

 

Sara Gelser:  Higher Ed. Budget!  One of the current problems in budget is the need to address basic issues not the targeted programs. The faculty members and those in the trenches are casualties in a Post measure 5 environment. It is time for triage to treat the whole patient and not merely the parts. Even with marginal increases there is still structural in balance. We will have capital construction and increases in funding and not what governor proposed and there are some solutions and put blood back into system

 

Ways and Means: need to look at costs by looking beyond current biennium.

 

Frank Morse: Oregon is not a high tax state we are 41/50 in total taxes in Idaho puts tax increase 2 billion and CA systems general 6 billion. Population is beginning to shift as basic institutions are failing. Oregonians are slowly seeing the connection between services and taxes. Oregonians in general have low expectations.

 

Duncan Carter(PSU):  Higher Ed. may be more volatile, as it takes time to build up programs, and may take 20-30 years for faculty start up. Unfortunately the turn over of young faculty causes many issues that often are not seen immediately.

 

Scott Burns: talk about issues related to Quality. Better scholarship program for low income students and access is not the biggest problem. Issues related to quality include: class size, fewer full time faculty, trying to promote quality of student, huge budget cut backs. SOU is losing state confidence with pending layoffs, failed faculty searches -difficult to recruit and retain faculty.

Jon Nicols(UO): With the tax reform, will higher ed be better off?  There are lots of other demands out there.

Sara Gelser: Putting more money into failures rather than success! -the prison system versus schools. System is out of balance and not sustainable and legislature does not have flexibility and the budget hands are tied as a result of voter initiatives.

Craig Wollmer (PSU)::Can you do incremental solutions or do you need to keep it all or none?

Sara Gelser: Incremental .addresses an issue of trust -small steps to build trust

“Need to look for success rather than failures and that will encourage investment.”

“Education is paramount… and electorate will make decisions …need to educate”

 

Jock Mills: State wants a “Rainy Day” fund and they are going after money this puts Higher Ed in a rough position

 

Scott Burns chaired rest of meeting:

Sarah Andrews-Collier- Provost Council

Notes extracted from Provost Council meeting notes:

PSU

·    Executive Master in Public Administration – Approved for Ext Review

·    Master of Music in Jazz Studies – Tabled until March.

·    Graduate Certificate in Software Engineering – Approved for referral to Bd

            SOU     

·    Reinstatement of Master in Business Administration - Approved

·    Master in Theatre Education with an Emphasis in Production and Design – Approved for Ext Review.

            OSU 

·    B.S. in Accountancy- Approved for Bd referral

            Name Change

·    UO M.A./Ph.D. in Music History to M.A./Ph.D. in Musicology – Approved for referral to Bd

 

 

·      Susan distributed the template for Long-Range Planning Portfolio, and the schedule for Board presentations, noting that OSU will debut the project at the Friday board meeting. Earl Potter suggested that as this project has evolved into a portfolio format, a component be added to the matrix which permits discussion of distinctive campus environments. The Provosts concurred.

 

·      Susan distributed an example of the Issue Briefs being developed for Ways and Means presentations, in this instance, Student-Faculty Ratios.

 

·      Update on OUS Research Council – Dave Woodall

 

·      The Council discussed the activities of the Research Council and concurred that some initiatives other than tech transfer need to be developed with this group

 

Chancellor’s Report – George Pernsteiner

·      The Chancellor noted that, in the eventuality that the Legislature wants to reduce the budget for Higher Education from that which the Governor proposed last month, the Legis. fiscal office has requested he submit a prioritized list of reductions totaling $80 Mil. This list   would need to be presented to the board in March in anticipation of the deadline.

 

·      The Chancellor distributed the OSB of Education proposal for High School Diplomas. He noted two areas of concern, 1) what is meant by the lab requirement for sciences, and 2) there is not enough foreign language. We will need to work with P-12 to assess learning so proficiencies can be measured, with respect to seat time, etc. with a mind to Freshman entrance requirements.

 

Update on Performance Reporting – Ruth Keele

·      Workforce Shortage Areas – Ruth distributed the data on teacher preparation areas around foreign languages, etc.

·      SB 919 Report – Ruth distributed copies of a memo requesting data on technology training and internships – student and faculty – for SB 919 reporting purposes.

·      Certification Exam Pass Rates – Ruth distributed data on pass rates.

 

Robert Mercer reported that the Chancellor’s office is preparing recommendations for exceptions to the residency requirement, making it possible for certain exemptions, for example active duty military, major medical treatment, etc.  This option was available at one time in the past, but in recent years has not been permitted.

 

Scott Burns and Lee Ayres from OUS Board Meeting

Ed Ray from OSU made a 90 minutes report on the OSU Portfolio  Orange and Black Power point- Seems to be disconnect with OSU faculty

OUS board:-IIFS has had representatives on many committees- many disbanded

New committees need to assign board members to different committees and can IIFS have a representative on the committee

Finance and Administration:

Strategic Initiatives : Kirby D.  strategic plan 4 main points and assignments

Delegation  Committee …Joint Boards K12 new HS requirements SB 342….follow through…Karen Sprague and  Gretchen Shute Dalton.. Tony VV

Alignment K through Grey need two or more on this committee

 

Hermiston Question: Branch campus of EOU and Blue MT. CC.

In governors budget there is a joint program for EOU and BMCC

Oregon Student Association Feb 22, 2007 rally at Salem. All the rallies are on the Chancellor’s web page -At Noon and 30 minutes long…..

American Federation of Teachers is pushing HB 2578. This bill is aimed at fixed term faculty.

·      upgrade part time to full time and commensurate salary

·      too many fixed term-convert FT to tenure track-with out national search

·      Issues of fees that are assessed on graduate students -Union issues-organizing graduate students and some relief for fees

Academic preparation: between 50 % or more of incoming freshmen are not ready for Mth 111 and many are challenge with calculus.

Finances:

·      Many problems with Universities approaching bankruptcy- want 10%  reserves-SOU were at 3%.

·      Talk about Finance and $80 Million and the problem of moving budgets and how do we move forward when they don’t know how much to work with?

·      Hearing about OIT and building Dorms…some questions and financial question - Investment of private entities and problems with difference in dorm rental and local leases

 

Maureen (OIT): JBAC Karen Sprague-have not seen schedule visits and have not been to CC. JBAC is meeting with Student success conference and dealing with SB342.

 

Campus Reports;

WOU:

Joel: faculty searches- balanced budget-President 8.9% reserve-Strategic planning Process.

 

EOU:

Jeff: situation with president -he received a one year contract extension….

·      Enrollment issues down 5% in winter term and huge concern.

·      Clarification - not building a branch campus in Hermiston. EOU has extended residential programs around the state .Hermiston there is not universal support for this! Programs are very specialized programs….taking advantage of expertise in local area.

 

PSU:

Craig: -need space because buildings going off line -problems with space,

·      ramping up negotiations with AUP-embarking a step system to increase pay between ranks-will involve 1/3 to ¼ per year either get it or not -no merit increases until all at median ,

·      Union-everyone gets cost of living raise before merit raise- and if you are in faculty not scheduled for increase then you might miss the opportunity for raise.

·      Realignment of faculty job categories for fixed term, post docs, and research

·      Enrollment is pretty flat but increased in winter quarter but flat for year

Sarah: issues with PEBB, PERS, and salary and cuts in higher ed.

Scott: governor’s budget -Kurt Schrader requesting 10% cut and prioritize it

·      Looking for Athletic Director

 

OSHU:

Steve Tram works, moving facilities down hill, snow days- Easing of parking issues on hill

Kathy: Leslie Hallie Provost and 5 Deans in very different silos this challenges the concept of a university - to look at assessment indicators that make it look like a university. Each of five schools- all very different. They have had to come together to put together assessment indicators- this is demonstration of getting the right people at the table.

 

 

OIT:

Maureen: Accreditation visit in April and Strategic planning process underway, searches underway problems with .timeliness of authorizing positions- took months to get permission for search

·      Internal Study of Provost Office underway.  Looking at and how well office serves academics. How do you sort out people and programs? In addition, there is some pressure from administration-need to reinstate Deans or replace deans with associate provost-but may or may not be working -.also may need more deans .

·      Faculty think that more responsibility for Department Chairs

·      Revising Faculty Compensation Plan-and moving faculty to correct levels. What do we do or do we move ahead and need to work on equity before merit-need to fund equity first.

·      More aggressive recruiting effort out of state students -trying to bring in CA students -enrollments have dropped

·      OIT has 1 or 2 representatives to IFS…Maureen served a year without an election -Marye term ended Dec 06 and it got extended to Dec 07-Maureen was re-elected for three years. Senate next week will have a discussion about how many people and true representation- in constitution of IIFS –OIT will have two representatives.

·      Fund balances: OIT has highest 11.3 % fund balance-strategic question of when to draw down fund balance or make cuts

 

UO –no report

 

OSU

Paul: Sustainability Council presenting a resolution for a zero carbon emission campus-will be debated on Thursday

 

SOU:

Lee: SOU will be bankrupt next fall- Provisional Plan is to cut $4 million from budget -non academic 17 layoffs Dr. Potter met with the Deans-it is up to Academic units to come up with the rest 25 faculty positions- a rubric was used. Assistance offered.

*          College of Arts and Sciences: one Dean will include most of SOU, still have Education and Business

*          Currently 23 chairs and will go down to 10 -merging of departments. For eg. Criminology would merge with Chemistry and CS. Cuts are being felt very deep. CS is losing 2 lines and several adjuncts. CS is also having a dip national wide. The morale is low and energy that has come from younger faculty is crumbling.

*          Administration everyone is new and many looking.

*          SOU is trying to find a mission it is in state of flux and needs to gain stability-people who are cut are the people who do much of the work

*          How was change presented to students? The Student Body knew more about the administrative/classified and unclassified lay offs than faculty. Deans went in with Department heads had gag order with the faculty line announcements, and President did not meet with Faculty leadership prior to her speech.

*          Earl Potter is the senior Administrator who has been there since 2003

*          Students: juniors and seniors will finish but freshman and sophomores in very unstable. Nothing has been discussed to help students and faculty control and manage anger*meetings and forums are in the works.

·       

ACTION: IIFS recommend support to SOU for employing a Faculty Consultative Committee -Whole situation indicates importance of communication at all levels.

 

 

ACTION: College Now proposal

The IIFS requests the Provost Council to undertake a formal evaluation of how the College NOW! Program serves the interests of Oregon Students.

[One abstention and all others in support of resolution.]

 

Next meeting of IIFS AGENDA ITEM

Discussion on the protection of intellectual Property: need more specifics-OUS policy on IP. URL

 

Three OUS Committees IIFS representation

Finance : Janet Hume-Schwarz (EOU)

Strategic Initiatives: Paul Doescher (OSU, Dan Wilson (SOU) and Craig Wollner (PSU)

Alignments of SB342: Jon Nicols (UO), Solveig Holmquest ( WOU),

Performance Measures: Lee Ayers has volunteered to work with legislature and work with OUS, and Joel Alexander and Kathie Lasater as consultants.

 

Paul Doescher asked question on FTE release for people involved-.and trying to get enough support for participation.

 

Next meeting invite Elaine Yandle –Roth and Robert Kieran- institutional research….

 

May need to revisit schedule of June meeting….June 8 and 9^th at  SOU…the board meeting is now in Portland

 

Next meeting at April 6-7, 2007 at State Capitol on Friday and WOU on Saturday.

Suggest: Neil Bryant, George P. and other invitees in addition to Senators and Legislators and look for people in other districts

Get others such as Kurt Schrader, and Richard Devlin Higher Ed. Meeting

Chairman of House Committee on Higher Education

 

Adjourn At 12:18 pm