Planning, Budget, and Facilities Committee
Meeting, March 6, 2009 12:00 pm, Solms Hall room 106
Present: Suzy Carpenter , David Carson, Michael Donahue, Sean Eastman, Doug Frazier, Kam Lau, Michael Mink, Stephen Primatic, David Wheeler, Ellen Whitford
Guests: Rebecca Carroll, Andy Clark
Absent: Shelly Conroy, Suzanne Edenfield, Mike Mahan, Vickie McNeil
The meeting began with David Wheeler summarizing the message from Kevin Hampton re: how to proceed with forwarding committee recommendations to the senate and the President, and we began discussing our lists of budget priorities and cost saving measures.
Budget Priority #1: Academic Quality
1. Maintaining faculty lines.
2. University should consider setting goals for improvement and/or maintenance of a good faculty/student ratio. The current ratio is approximately 1:21.
3. There should be a target figure for the full time/part time faculty ratio. Currently, it’s 79/21, which is in line (actually about 3% better) than comparable schools.
Doug Frazier commented that library funding is approximately in line with comparable schools, and mentioned that staff is concerned about furloughs. He feels that, should furloughs become unavoidable, they be implemented at higher levels first. The committee agreed with this sentiment.
Dr. Primatic commented that more support is needed for digital technology in the classroom
Prof. Carpenter commented that multiple computer labs aren’t necessary, and consolidation is a potential cost saving measure.
Dr. Mink added that staff line job security is an important consideration, and Dr. Wheeler mentioned that general campus safety also needs to remain a high priority.
The committee brainstormed some potential cost saving measures, including:
1. Turn off computers at night.
2. Maintain fewer campus police cars.
3. Use golf carts only when necessary.
4. General building maintenance.
5. Consider instituting parking fee for faculty.
6. Departments: more diligence with respect to supplies.
7. Consider the possibility of resource sharing (copiers, printers etc.) between departments.
8. Reduce travel budgets.
9. Adjust heat to lower utility bills.
David Carson suggested having someone from facilities attend our next meeting to discuss potential cost saving measures.
The next meeting was set for Friday, April 10 at 12:00pm, in Solms Hall 106. The committee will not be forwarding any information to the Senate at this time.
Respectfully submitted,
Sean Eastman, MATH
Secretary