HE.03.10
April 28, 2003
University of Illinois
Urbana-Champaign Senate
Final;Information
The FAC met at Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights. President Tony Diekema in welcoming the group commented upon the difficult economic situation, particularly at the public institutions. He noted that Illinois higher education is a mosaic of many types of institutions with diverse missions. At different times given the changing environment every institution faces issues of economic health whether a state-assisted public, private tuition dependent, or comprehensive research institution.
Trinity Christian College, founded in 1959, currently has some 900 students with an additional 225 in degree completion programs. Approximately 2/3rds of the full-time students live in campus housing. The goal is to grow to about 1200 residential students. The college, located on the former Navaho Hills Golf Course, is an independent institution religiously aligned with the Christian Reformed Church. It seeks to make use of the cultural resources of the Chicago area as part of a strong liberal arts orientation.
The morning session focused on a discussion of current issues, followed by committee meetings with a return to the focus on current issues in the afternoon business meeting.
Dan Layzell of the IBHE talked with the group via speakerphone. He said that as yet there are no specifics on the higher education budget as we await the Governor’s budget message. Fairly drastic reductions in the FY’04 budget are expected. Another round of legislative hearings on the higher education budget is likely after the Governor’s budget presentation. It is “anyone’s guess where it (the higher ed budget) will end up.” The amount to be taken from the 8% reserves previously mandated by the Governor will be announced during the week of March 31.
When asked whether the recision of this year will become
the base for next year’s cuts, Layzell responded he did not know. While pension
funding is a key issue, the IBHE has not talked about the impact on SURS and
higher education. It is not known if the recommended budget will have targeted
cuts or leave those decisions to institutions.
The Governor’s representatives
stress cutting administrative costs rather than academic costs. Asked if there
was a tendency by the government to divide costs simply as academic or
administrative the answer was “Yes.” The FAC expressed anger about the fact
that the Bureau of the Budget is keeping the administrative cost study submitted
by the IBHE confidential because it is “in draft.” Access to data is denied
that might clarify the issue of administrative costs. The FAC felt that a
Freedom of Information request should be filed but the time line can become long
if the request is denied. The requester then must go to court (costs money) to
seek the information.
The Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI) was the subject of extended discussion. Students often are misled or required to take additional coursework. The problems seem to be tied to how institutions interpret the agreements. The June FAC meeting will focus upon the issue as a basis for further study next year.
The business meeting focused on committee
reports/recommendations. The Quality Committee called for study of issues
related to IAI next year and is preparing a statement on assessment. The Public
Policy/Communication Committee is seeking ways to interpret the work of faculty
to external publics.
Such possibilities as Op Ed pieces, letters to the editor,
press releases on behalf of faculty and legislative activity are being studied.
The Personnel Committee will review the newly released IBHE report on minority
faculty and staff to form recommendations to be shared with the IBHE before its
final recommendations are released. The Committee, like the IBHE, is awaiting
the Supreme Court decision on the University of Michigan’s admission policies.
The remainder of the business meeting was given over to discussion of what the FAC chair should say on budget and legislative issues at the April 1 IBHE meeting. (See the report of that meeting HE.03.11.) The Personnel Committee stressed the urgency of opposing provisions in HB3511 that would terminate the current SURS Board as of June 30 replacing it with a new Board and chair appointed by the Governor who also would appoint the Executive Director. This could cause great harm to the financial health of the SURS system if the fiduciary responsibility that falls upon the Board is imperiled. If the effort to remove the state pension systems from the bill fails, the FAC will urge all faculty to vigorously petition legislators to kill the proposal as it relates to SURS.
The Budget Committee seconded the concern about
modifications in the SURS structure, raised concerns about the manner, timing,
and amount of the 8% sequestering of FY’03 state budgeted allocations and
possible recision, and projected budget cuts for FY’04.
The Committee made several arguments: it is simply a fallacy that such a cut can
be accomplished in the final quarter of the year without harming the education
of our students.
The continued misunderstanding of what constitutes an
administrator and administrative costs is shocking. There is a failure to
appreciate the impact of past cutbacks and reallocation of resources. Further
cuts next year will undermine the ability of the institutions to meet student
enrollment growth and student needs. Higher education is not the cause of the
state’s problems; it is one of the solutions. A lack of commitment to higher
education will hinder the economic growth of Illinois for years to come.
Ken Andersen, FAC Chair
UIUC Senate FAC Representative