Minutes

Minutes, Truman Chapter of AAUP
February 6, 2009, 4:39 pm
University Club

Special meeting with President Darryl Krueger
Meetings are open to all university faculty members.

Faculty present: Betty McLane-Iles (presiding), President Darryl Krueger and about 20 more faculty members: Marc Becker (notes), Sylvia Macauley, David Robinson, Provost Troy Paino, James Cianciola, Diane Johnson, Lynn Rose, Giray Sadik, Jerry Hirsch, Andy Hilgartner, Martha Bartner, Janice Grow, James Harmon, Johnny Frost, Jordi Teillard, Joshua Levy, Victoria Landrum, Steve Reschly

Betty: Introduces AAUP and welcomes president.

David: We need to elect delegate for statewide conference for February 28. David nominates Martha Bartner as delegate, Betty McLane-Iles as alternate, and David Robinson as second alternate. Passes unanimously.

Budget
Krueger: Budget, feels like he is living in a dream world. Projected budget increase of 1 percent. $14.6 million taken out of Missouri’s extension. Mizzou’s retirement and and insurance was self-run, and they took a big hit. Fortunately we are with Mosers, though we also took a hit. Their contribution was 6 percent, and our’s is 12 percent. Reality is hard to cope with: worse recession since depression. He doesn’t understand how we’ll avoid recession and still have a 1 percent increase. Minnesota will probably be $7 billion short, and Winnoa also going through severe budget cuts (unusual for Minnesota). Most serious dilemna. We looked at covering it with student fees, but agreement with governor takes that off table. Even students recognize that this potentially puts us in a great deal of trouble. No time to respond after legislative acts. Legislator says that they are not paying attention to governor’s proposals, do not want to use Obama’s stimulus money for this. We’ll probably be somewhere between governor’s proposal and legislator’s 5 percent proposed cut. January revenue stream was up, but Missouri lags behind national trends (Nevada was down 36 percent and is looking at closing universities). We don’t have sufficient data, and won’t until until June. Some internal searches that doesn’t add to budget. All administrators have turned in efficiency reports, holding stuff tight, but there will be some revenue this year. The university is in financially good shape, but not prepared for this terrible circumstances. Will there be a tuition or fee increase? Student-initiated fee isn’t off the table, but faculty and administrator involvement would violate the agreement with the governor. Open in these matters, and that is the only way to work in this environment.
Sylvia: We are looking at between a 1 percent increase and a 5 percent cut?
Krueger: Doesn’t seem like reality, will probably be much worse. Money in stimulus plan for student aid (that would bypass state) and for capital improvements. Situation is very much in flux, and issue of how deep the revenue cuts will be. Trying to avoid layoffs, and to hold university where it is. No decisions can really be made until June. Last week released 3 positions (Political Science, Communication Disorders, and Justice Systems), and 1 DPS. Earlier we were looking at 18 – 22 percent cuts, but not privy to information on what changed. Governor stuck his neck out for us. Until economy turns around it is scary. Worse than 2001 recession.
Jerry: What are chances that students would initiate fee increase without us?
Krueger: good, 1100 people on facebook in favor of saving university.

Reorganization
Paino: Buzz about plans for reorganization. Dixon’s plan was to revaluate reorganization plans after 2 years, and we are there now. One thing that is not working is the structure and size of the College of Arts and Sciences. Not bringing back divisions.
Krueger: Board did not want to bring back divisions.
Paino: Talking to chairs and others on campus. Idea of creating different schools (Arts & Humanities, Social and Behaviors Sciences, Science and Mathematics, with 6/6/7 depts in each), with a dean over each one. Going to a five college model, with departments remaining as is. Would strength department chairs rather than weaken them. Thought about doing away with deans and having chairs report directly to provost, but too many chairs. Change functions of some unfilled admin positions (assessment and grants). Change some reports directly to provost.
Vicky: School of Fine Arts? Especially for people going on to MFA.
Paino: Too small, back to division system.
David: Issue of personnel evaluation and peer review. Concern that we don’t just reassign current internal administrators. Need to conduct search for these positions.
Paino: Unfortunately dean search canceled, but we need the right leadership, and not just reshuffle administrators. But would have to be internal interim appointments. Would have to put faith in administrators and faculty committees.
Jerry: Where does military science go?
Paino: There are a couple of departments that could go different places.

Promotion and tenure guidelines
Krueger: Other important issue is promotion and tenure guidelines, but Paino has to leave for another meeting and he doesn’t know a lot about the issue.
Diane: Amber Johnson is taking over the chair of that committee.

Curriculum reform
Jerry: Curriculum reform. We have to do some of this to move forward.
Krueger: Promised board that we wouldn’t go back to old curriculum. Haven’t been involved in curriculum since 1989. Walter Ryle was president for 30 years, largely teacher training. In 1969 when Charles Mclain came 90 percent were teachers. If we remained there we’d remain around 1000 students. Came in 1971, first person hired with a real political scientist degree. Began to diversify the curriculum. If we stayed there, we’d be 2500 students. Out of that emerged the Liberal Arts and Sciences program. Need to preserve critical mass of high preforming students which makes the Truman experience. Far exceeded our dreams. Now we are reaching another critical point. Whenever we have an internal budget crisis it is easier to cut other person’s area. Here we sit as a smaller institution with more money, which makes us vulnerable. Time for another plan to enhance and further liberal arts mission. Recruitment is very important. Lingering along for 6-7 years, and with decrease in demographics and very select student population. Smart classrooms. Maybe there is something there for us. Netbooks.
Marc: lack of technological support to do this.
David: Need more grant support.
Krueger: When he left he was trying to increase research. Maybe shifting energy and resources to technology

Truman Institute
Krueger: If little box is Truman (6250 students), we could have another little box to generate students. So engaged in ensuring that we’d become what we said we’d become that we didn’t focus on little box. St Louis institute, summer programs, international programs, etc. Ready to release an internal search for a Truman Institute. We have talented personnel here.
David: You shouldn’t find resistance if it is done properly. We have more problems with bad administrators than with physical plant or students who create too many obstacles.
Krueger: Hope to find good people in internal searches. David has more faith in external searches than he does, problem of bringing them up to speed.
Diane: Environment changing so quickly that people who used to know what they were doing but no longer have the skill set necessary for the job.
Krueger: But we have to try. We will put out a call for applicants and see what happens.

Foundation
Krueger: Foundation goal of $30 million, and we’re between $16-17 million. True need is more than $400 million because of need to endow scholarships. Not afraid to ask, to cultivate big givers. Putting together a plan. But this will take some time. We need to focus, and people don’t give to places they think are troubled. Need more visible plaques.
Jerry: Broader problem with signage, particularly for disabled.

Krueger: Calls people into meetings just to be brought back up to speed on what is happening at university. Not issue of turning back to old guard, but open to ideas and looking for suggestions. Tomorrow at board meeting will announce committee for presidential search.

Adjourned: 6:05 p.m.

Respectfully submitted by Marc Becker, secretary