MU BOG - June 18, 2009 Meeting Notes
MU BOG Meeting
6-18-09
Dr. Monica Brooks, Faculty Representative 2007-09
AGENDA
Access the entire BOG package here: http://www.marshall.edu/ill/09-BOG/MUBOG-June-18-09.pdf
Minutes approved
Classified Staff Report (Mike Dunn)
· Mike was elected to the BOG as the classified staff representative; Nina Barrett will become the chair of the CS group.
· Mike asked a member of the gallery to speak: Kim Lawson, classified staff, from the LCOB has been here five years and is unable to meet financial needs for her family and is leaving Marshall; she is aware of a dozen people who have left recently due to the low salaries; fully funding the salary schedule would retain several people.
· To fully fund the classified staff schedule the university would need 1.6 million dollars or 4% tuition increase to fulfill this need.
· Except for SWVCTC, Marshall is at the bottom of the staff salary scale among the WV public institutions.
· 1% increase in tuition is equal to $400K in revenue; this year MU will have a tight budget and very little in reserve for emergencies.
· Chairman Schell indicated he and the BOG are very sympathetic to the staff salary situation; however, the current financial situation does not allow the university t solve this issue at this time.
Nominating Committee – Election of Officers
· Vera Gibson elected to Chair; John Hess, Vice Chair; and Mike Sellards, Secretary
· Unanimous vote
Report of the President
· Dr. Kopp indicated the finance committee meeting went well
· Freshmen apps are up for 2009 (11.2% increase over last year)
· Recruitment has been more aggressive with their student phone campaign; we have a better handle in re: to our student matriculation
· 1670 students are registered for orientation; over 14% increase from last year.
· 4.5% increase in freshmen enrollment is projected – the plan is to be conservative in this estimate; financial aid applications have also increased (up 16% over last year)
· Dr. Kopp specifically commended Tammy Johnson and Beth Wolfe for their efforts in increasing enrollment!
· This is a five year challenge to rebuild the recruiting program for MU and it appears we are indeed making progress!
· Legislative progress – Special Session
o Promise bill included funding and BOG representation for WVU; includes mandatory training.
o The local legislative team was recognized individual for tireless efforts in support of higher education.
o 2010 base appropriations will remain at the same level; MUSOM had a 400K reduction; MU was able to secure funding for the Luke Lee pre-school.
o Land sale of University Heights was included in our budget (2.3m)
o HB113 passed (capital bonding bill) 150m in bonds will be generated 60% goes directly to higher education; MU should receive capital funding.
o Six supplemental appropriations bills were passed; we will receive one-time money of over 1m dollars; Bill Burdette has worked consistently to ensure MU interests in Charleston.
o Speaker Thompson has done a tremendous job not just for Marshall but for higher education. He is extremely supportive and committed to higher education in the state!
· Budget planning and development – the President’s office has worked toward long-range planning; however, the late legislative session and deferral of the state budget into the last session; unknowns re: 2010 presented the university with a challenge.
· New Deans:
o Dr. Mary Todd – Honors College (Founding Dean)
o Dr. Charles Somerville – College of Science
o Dr. Donna Spindel – Graduate College
· Faculty searches
o Hired 18 new professors; includes new department chair in English; have also added members of the research team: pharmacology; interdisciplinary research program; and MURC.
· MU is working to bring a new genetics company to Huntington.
· College of Fine Arts (Music) – has been awarded a FIPSE grant to provide exchange programs with Brazil.
· We are in the process of hiring a new Athletic Director.
· MUSOM received 3rd ranking in nation (includes top ten award) for placement; seniors received 100% pass rate for the boards.
· 2600 students attended commencement.
· Dr. Bob Bookwalter has revitalized the forensics program; students participated in the national tournament this year.
· Capital renovation projects: several renovations are underway on campus.
· BOG Attendance:
o WV Code mandates 6 BOG meetings (proposing 3rd Thursday every other month) they will revisit the Aug 20 date to try and coordinate with the development program offered by the HEPC.
o In an effort to have maximum participation, the BOG members are encouraged to attend every meeting.
o BOG members should have these dates at least a year in advance.
· Recreation Center should be dedicated sometime in early August.
· Building enrollment is critical to increasing our revenue stream; out-of-state enrollment is an important component; Provost Ormiston is working on a two pronged approach- he is working to increase enrollment while also increasing retention of existing students.
Committee Reports
Finance Committee – Mike Perry
· Mike indicated that this is one of the BOG’s most important roles; the finance committee also recognizes the importance of funding salaries at competitive rates for both staff and faculty; the over-all budget is a significant challenge this year; the finance committee views this responsibility as an important and critical one.
· Every time we increase the tuition, we do make it that much more difficult for our students to attend Marshall. At the same time, we must consider increasing tuition to ensure that MU is competitive and can meet its financial needs to continue to provide quality education to the students.
· If we would have grown enrollment by 7% this year, we wouldn’t need to impose a 7% increase onto tuition; unfortunately, this is what is needed to make ends meet.
o $169 increase for resident
o $240 for non resident
o There are other increases for metro and MUSOM students in addition to some new fees that are going to be assessed.
o A tuition increase totaling 6.9% was approved.
· Equity programs that address faculty salaries will continue
o Specifically Brooks asked if creative salary augmentation programs in academic divisions that are in place to address salary compression that results from the hiring of new faculty at competitive market wages would be suspended due to the statement on Page 4 item 4 of the Agenda Board Package.
o Brooks clarified that she was aware that several deans and chairs had programs in place to address compression of existing faculty when hiring new faculty at or close to market.
o Both Layton Cottrill and Dr. Kopp indicated “No” – the statement on page 4 does not prevent the university from continuing faculty salary equity programs in place to address faculty salary compression.
Page 4 item 4: Other Major Anticipated Expense Increases/Revenue Decreases (Total = ‐ $3.19‐million)
• No compensation increase for any employee group is proposed in the budget. State Code mandated increases due to faculty promotions, Annual Employee Increment (AEI) and Staff Reclassifications, however, are included in the proposed budget.
· MUSOM Capital Projects - The proposal for a new building; property purchase; existing building expansion (approved).
· Finance committee also had a report from the internal auditor.
Academic Committee – Tish Chafin
Action Item: Addition of New Degrees (Page 62)
· BS in Athletic Training
· BS in Exercise Science
· BS in Medical Imaging
Action Item: Intent to Plan (Page 69)
· MS in Accountancy
Action Item: Intent to Plan (Page 80)
· MS in Health Informatics
Action Item: Addition of New Major (Page 101)
· BA in Anthropology
Action Item: Degree Deletion (Page 104)
· BA in Multidisciplinary Studies
Future meeting dates – Chairman Shell stressed that everyone needs to be in attendance; additionally he wants all BOG members to consider attending the HEPC Board Development Conference at Stonewall Jackson on August 21 and 22, 2009.
Executive session
Adjourned by 1:00 pm
