HE.03.14
September 29, 2003
University of Illinois
Urbana-Champaign Senate
Final;Information
HE.03.14 Report on the Board of Higher Education Meeting, June 3, 2003.
The BHE met from 9 to 11:30 a.m. at John Wood Community College in Quincy, Illinois. Chair James Kaplan reported that Thomas Lamont (elected vice chair) had been appointed to a 6-year term. Frances Carroll, U of I Trustee, was named as the public university governing board member to a one-year term. Gilbert Rutman, emeritus professor of economics at SIU-E, and Proshanta Nandi, emeritus professor sociology/anthropology UIS, were appointed to six-year terms. Citations were adopted honoring those leaving the Board: Steven Lesnik, former chair, Lourdes Monteagudo, Mark Barmak and Lee Walker.
President William Simpson of John Wood welcomed the group. The 1974 creation of the College met organized resistance from taxpayers and other area schools. It currently has 50 faculty and 323 Associate Faculty on the main campus, 2 other Quincy sites and 4 other sites in the 9-county district serving a district population of less than 100,000. The student body is 53% part time, 63% female, with an average age of 28.
Advisory committee reports began with the Faculty Advisory Council. The report noted faculty concern as they approach a fall with reduced numbers of faculty and support staff and increased student enrollment. While every effort will be made to maintain quality, there will be a loss in the quality of education provided due to reduced resources. The addition of a 7th commitment to The Illinois Commitment has been endorsed by 15 colleges and universities. The Council is working on development of an op-ed piece. Faculty do not understand the emphasis on transferring funds out of SURS given its success as contrasted to proposed alternatives. A resolution honoring the work of the departing Board members was distributed, as were statements applauding the faculty-focused nature of the BHE assessment process and statements on budget and legislative issues. (See HE.03.13 FAC report.)
Representatives of the private non-profit and proprietary institutions stressed the need to ensure choice for students by maintaining their ability to attend institutions of their choice in Illinois rather than going out-of-state. Also, private institutions are ready to serve more students at a time when public institutions are under enrollment pressures. The community college representative noted that all colleges face increased enrollments with decreased support from the state. The student representative expressed concern that many community colleges utilize off-campus housing for their students since this means they do not have a means of monitoring student behavior. Also noted, the group has developed a web site.
Chair Kaplan said the BHE would look into two issues raised by the FAC: excess reporting requirements and fund allocations. The 7th Commitment will be on the August 12 agenda.
Debra Smitley and Dan Layzell updated the Board on recent legislative actions. Overall, higher ed received a 2.9% reduction in General Revenue Funds (GRF) from FY’03. Excluding retirement funding and group health insurance, the drop was 5.2%. Public universities were cut 7.7% with an 8.2% cut to university operations, excluding direct patient care. Chicago State got additional funding of over $2M for academic program restructuring, a financial outreach center, and a library move. Community colleges were cut 3.2% but received some additional grants. ISAC received an increase of 4.8%; 5th year MAP eligibility was reinstated. The Illinois Century Network was transferred from the IBHE to CMS (Central Management Services.) IBHE had a 10% reduction in office administration costs. Capital allocations: $30M for capital renewal projects; UIUC $2M planning money for Lincoln Hall Remodeling; EIU $4.2M for electrical system upgrades; $50M to the community college enhanced construction program; and $22.1M to ISU for life safety in Stevenson and Turner Hall at ISU. Thomas Lamont stressed the highly negative impact of the budget, the only Board member to do so.
Legislation requires public institutions to report all revenue sources and disposition. One bill established separate bargaining units at the three U of I campuses and for all professional schools. One must now teach 6 hours rather than 3 to be in a bargaining unit. Truth in tuition setting the maximum tuition for 4 years at the level charged each entering freshman class is effective in 2004. Ethics training is now required and lobbyists are prohibited from serving on boards. A bill to give baccalaureate status to a degree in nursing at Danville Community College was referred to the Senate Rules Committee. The community college representative spoke against granting such authority to community colleges.
Board member Robert Barr summarized the lengthy report on affordability. The draft is available for pubic reaction with final action at the August 12 meeting. Among the 20 recommendations are enhancing academic preparation prior to entering college, providing aid for up to 135 credit hours, offering a 4-year completion guarantee, monitoring progress of students in community colleges, providing aid for low-income high school students to prepare for and take assessment exams, increasing MAP funds at the rate of inflation and tuition increases with maximum awards at the average of public institution tuition and fees, stress aid be based on financial need, aid go to students not institutions, simplifying the application process, and that the MAP program “should be the highest priority” in efforts to improve affordability and participation of low-income students. While calling for a new biennial report, it also called for analysis of ways of streamlining and cutting costs including reporting requirements.
Doug Day presented a report on underrepresented groups noting sharp improvement in enrollment and graduation rates of Black and Latino students. He stressed that colleges were working hard to recruit minority students and prepare them to succeed in college. The brief report on non-tenure track faculty indicated that colleges were providing more mentoring, more helps, and giving them a role in governance. Pay and benefits were being improved somewhat.
At the request of a chair a new committee is being established to study health education professional programs given the shortage of health professionals, particularly in some areas of the state.
Ken Andersen, Chair, FAC to the BHE
Senate Representative to the FAC