As with many meetings and discussions on campus lately, theshrinking University of Memphis budget was a hot topic atyesterday's Faculty Senate meeting, where program and departmentdownsizing was discussed.
Faculty Senate President Craig Langstraat reported on hisbudget-issues meeting with Provost Ralph Faudree, saying the twoare working with deans and department chairs to consider areas tocut.
The missing piece in the budget cutting proceedings, however, isthe decision on tuition increases, Langstraat said, adding that theamount of increase still has not been decided. Increases of 8, 11or 14 percent are all being considered. However, Langstraat said itis unlikely the 14 percent increase will go into effect.
The number of cuts in departments depends on the tuitionincrease, Langstraat said, adding that even with the highlyconsidered 8 percent increase there would still be somedepartmental cuts.
David Wray, the faculty sub-council representative to TBR, gavea report on budget cuts, which he said would amount to $56 million,from the TBR perspective. He said if there is not a raise intuition, a limitation on the number of students would beconsidered. There could also be a loss of as many as 659 jobs inthe Tennessee Board of Regents system.
When discussing programs that may be cut, Wray suggestedconsidering athletic programs and gave an example of The U of Mfootball team. He said the team had a $2.4 million deficit thisyear and has not broken even since 1992.
The University should not lose faculty and staff and havedeteriorating buildings while money is poured into non-revenueproducing sports, Wray said. He suggested that athletics should beconsidered in the same way as academics for consideration ofcutting low-producing programs.
Langstraat also informed senate members of a letter beingdrafted by The U of M president and provost asking faculty workindividually with students who miss class for University businessor involvements. He said this is not being sent as a Universitypolicy but rather as a request.
Faculty Senate president-elect David Ciscel presented aresolution to the Faculty Senate on faculty decision-making incurriculum to ensure that future changes to the general educationcurriculum are brought to the Faculty Senate for final facultyapproval.
Ciscel said the resolution is important because there has been ashift in course requirements to administration personnel instead offaculty in the colleges and schools.
Walter Kirkpatrick gave a report from the faculty policiescommittee on the quality of individuals who teach. Kirkpatrick saidthe appropriate administrator in consultation with other facultyshould hire faculty and that the qualification of the applicantshould be reviewed prior to accepting them as an employee. He alsoaddressed the issue of low pay and lack of health benefits for parttime faculty.
Kirkpatrick said they are "facing poor salaries and noadditional benefits. We take full advantage of these part -timefolks," and they should be compensated more.
The first meeting of the new senators and officers will be April22 in the Senate Chambers. The 2003-2004 Faculty Senate will be ledby Ciscel and all other officer positions including secretary,parliamentarian, two at large members for the executive committeeand the chair for committee on committees will be voted for at thefirst meeting of the new senate.
