Present: Kim Dubree, Donna Breault, Denise Cunningham, Jill Martin, Teresa Steele, Becky Swearingen, Cathy Pearman, Jon Turner, David Hough, Tami Arthaud, Steve Jones
Dean Hough started the meeting by welcoming the new members. Teresa then shared a handout with the list of the Budget Committee meetings for the fiscal year. It was confirmed that they are all on the third Friday of the month in Hill Hall 314.
Dean Hough reviewed a document prepared by Teresa Steele outlining policy recommendations by the COE Budget Committee over the past three years. Dean Hough indicated that it will be posted on the web. He reminded BC members to share this information along with all BC discussion items with faculty at their next departmental meeting.
Per BC request during the June 18, 2015, meeting Dean Hough provided a funding plan to increase all Assistant Professors beginning salaries to $55,000 which is retroactive to 2012. The Dean shared a spreadsheet that showed the breakdown of funds needed to make salary adjustments. After discussion a motion was made by Becky Swearingen and seconded by Cathy Pearman to go forward with the proposed funding plan. The motion passed unanimously. Teresa will prepare PAFs and letters for Dean Hough’s signature to each assistant professor who will be receiving a salary adjustment. Adjustments will be made as soon as allowable, per University policy.
Dean Hough discussed the Strategic Hiring Plan, reviewed positions still in need of being filled, and announced that he had received confirmation late yesterday afternoon from the Provost’s Office that the funding plans are accurate. Therefore, he asked the BC to approve encumbering funds from the on-going salary budget for the following positions: (a) Assistant Professor of Child Life, (b) Assistant Professor in Literacy, (c) Assistant Professor in Multicultural Programs,(d) Clinical Faculty in CLSE with assigned duties in Field Experiences/Certification, and (e) Clinical Faculty in CLSE with assigned duties as the SWRPDC Coordinator of Programs. After discussion, a motion was made by Becky Swearingen and seconded by Cathy Pearman to approve encumbering the funds necessary from on-going salary savings in support of these positions. Additional discussions will be held by the Dean with each department during their next faculty meetings. Motion passed unanimously.
The committee then discussed funding priorities for FY16 & FY17. The committee agreed to “stay the course” in terms of increasing tenure-track faculty positions, utilize instructor positions as needed, and meet staffing needs with clinical faculty when possible. The dean explained that the Faculty Advisory Committee will revise the Strategic Hiring Plan criteria and P3 forms after Dr. Roberta Aram, last year’s co-chair, completes her review of “lessons learned” and recommendations for future revisions. The process will remain the same, i.e., FAC addresses strategic needs, the BC approves funding, and the LC makes final decisions.
Jon Turner told the group that he had been hearing from schools and superintendents across the State that our Counselors to Campus program was a tremendous success in terms of name recognition, recruitment, and marketing. Dean Hough noted that the COE enrollments for Fall 2015 were the highest percentage increase among all colleges, so we will be getting additional on-going salary funds in support of faculty positions. He explained that the $122,000 COE received this year is being used along with other on-going funds generated from personnel decisions to support the hiring plan approved herein.
Jon Turner suggested the BC consider a plan to support some type of ongoing recruitment initiative similar to the Counselors to Campus model, again, noting that idea has gained much attention state-wide. Becky Swearingen asked what the $35,000 budgeted for Certification was being used for and Tami Arthaud asked what the $157,000 budgeted for online enhancement incentives was for. Teresa agreed to examine expenditures in those lines for FY15 and report back to the BC. Dean Hough explained that we could track same for any and all lines upon request. His initial thought was the Certification funds were for graduate assistants and other office help. He also explained that online funds in support of the $55 per student and online course development paid to faculty were funded centrally but those funds were transferred into COE accounts and used for supplemental pay to faculty. He thought that was what the $157,000 was but would double check and report back to the BC. Steve Jones asked what the Program Support Fund reached $127,000 in FY 15 and had a budget amount of $80,000 for FY16. Dean Hough explained the history of how the BC developed the Program Support Fund three year ago, resulting in COE having $80,000 of one-time money each year added to that line.
The dean told those present that there is a need for a college policy to cover expenses of staff for travel and professional development. CEFS shared its policy, and the Dean recommended all departments review theirs and agreed to draft a policy for the BC to consider at its Sept. 25th meeting.
Meeting adjourned at 9:32 a.m.
Respectfully Submitted
Teresa Steele, Budget Officer
Next COE Budget Committee Meeting: September 25, 2015, Hill Hall 314 8:00 a.m.