Minutes of the University Budget Committee

 

Meeting Date:  Thursday, January 6, 2011, at 4:00 p.m.

 

Regular Members Present: Scott MacGilvray, Todd Fraley, Don Palumbo, Alexandra Shlapentokh, Maureen Ellis

 

Ex-officio Members Present:  Joe Gaddis, Gary Vanderpool, Wanda Wynne, Patricia Anderson, and Dillon Godley

 

Meeting was called to order by Chairman, Scott MacGilvray at 4:05 p.m.

 

Scott MacGilvray called the meeting to order and discussed how important it is to get a dialogue started between the administration and faculty. It is very difficult for us to plan going forward because the State is changing the rules on us on a regular basis, which makes planning difficult. Would a different approach with the legislature be beneficial i,e, planning for the future, saving for a rainy day, “use it or lose it” spending policies. ECU’s administration has been very forth-coming with information, which has helped with budget issues in the past. What mechanisms do we have in place where faculty/administrators can speak with the legislature so we have a voice about budget issues.

 

What direction should we go with the Budget Committee?

 

Committee members made suggestions about how to proceed – should we look at the big picture (globally) or deal with more immediate, unit issues. How do we get the budget issue.

Dr. Anderson discussed the history of how the Budget Committee operates within the Faculty Senate and how a message can get through to the General Assembly.

 

Since the last meeting:

Rick Nisewander – (1) on December 20^th - the State Budget Office stated that there would be a 2 1/2 % cut over what was originally stated, which comes out to 5% per month for the next 6 months. Tighten spending. (2) a spending “freeze” do not fill state funded positions unless critical to the mission. Each state institution needs to determine that for them self. For the time being, there’s a soft freeze and budget guidelines will be forthcoming – what is the definition of critical nature. Additionally, there will be more restrictions on spending down the road. It appears that the $3.7 billion is not changing, which now gives the State a target to shoot for. Higher Ed will have 15-20% hit.

 

Per Scott MacGilvary: the legislature has cut the budget for the past 7 years so this is becoming the norm, rather than the exception. What is going to happen down the road – should we alter our vision of what ECU will be? Do we need to relook at our status as a research institution?

 

Gary Vanderpool: With this legislature -- enrollment growth could be at risk. They may put it on hold for this period, and then just not reinstate it at a later time.

 

Next scheduled meeting: 2 weeks on January 20 at 4:00 p.m. Scott MacGilvray will put together something for the Faculty Senate meeting on January 25^th based on summation of our meetings.

 

Meeting dismissed: 5:02 p.m.

 

Submitted by Maureen Ellis