Eastern Mennonite University
Undergraduate Council
September 17, 2007
#2
CC301/302

Present: Marie Morris, Beth Aracena, Kim Brenneman, Spencer Cowles, Vi Dutcher, Cathy Smetlzer Erb, Joan Griffing, Cyndi Gusler, Doug Graber Neufeld, Cyndi Gusler, Nancy Heisey, Jerry Holsopple, Elroy Miller, Patrick Reynolds, Gloria Rhodes, Deirdre Smetlzer, Mary Sprunger, Arlene Wiens, Lester Zook

Student Reps: Sara Roth, Lindsey Grosh

1. Doug shared a devotion that focused on communication. Listening to what people are really saying is more than just hearing the words. He told of how in Cambodia it is up to the listener to discern what the speaker is actually saying; whereas in America, people say what they mean. He encouraged everyone to listen carefully to each other, not just hear what is being said.

2. Developing an Undergraduate FTE Implementation Plan

To help formulate a response to the Undergraduate FTE Reduction Plan presented to department chairs in May by the President’s Cabinet, Marie distributed hard copies of the several documents that were distributed via email. The documents include the May 3, 2007 Undergraduate FTE Reduction Plan, the GVC Response the UG FTE Reduction Plan, Cluster Conversation Summary, Undergraduate Departmental Enrollment Trends, and Undergraduate Department Responses to the UG FTE Reduction Plan. She also outlined the timetable for completion of the Implementation Plan.

Marie reported that she, Nancy Heisey, Owen Byer, Jayne Docherty, and Mark Metzler Sawin met with Loren on Sept. 12. During the meeting Loren indicated that two, possibly three, faculty FTE could be reallocated to recruitment, advancement, and/or possibly advising for undeclared majors.

After reviewing data that contributes to the faculty/student ratio questions were raised as to why SH are included for items that are funded by separate operational or restricted budgets. It was suggested that:

• Bach/Prep SH be removed from the faculty load schedule, and
• That release time, funded by a separate restricted account, also be removed when calculating the ratio.

Removing these will reflect a reduction of » 1.8 FTE. Marie noted that when comparing departmental loading alone from 2005-06 to 2007-08 there has been a 2.44 FTE decrease in FTE. It was suggested that this be counted toward the 9 FTE reduction recommended by prioritization.

Marie is concerned that a clean cut, or layoff, of 9 FTE may challenge the integrity of the undergraduate unit and thus the university.

The UG FTE Reduction Plan recommended limiting annual sabbaticals to six per year with with only four being UG. The overall consensus of the faculty is this recommendation is unacceptable. Marie conveyed that the administration hears the faculty’s need to retain this benefit. One alternate idea being entertained is to limit sabbaticals to six but to not have a quota. Rather, that Faculty Status Committee would award the top six proposals regardless of undergraduate, graduate, or seminary. The faculty felt it would be important to look at the impact of limiting the sabbatical awards and look at what the average has been and will be for sabbatical requests. Some faculty still feel there should not be a cap on the number of sabbaticals awarded.

The reduction plan presented in May recommended a 41 SH reduction in the Global Village Curriculum. Marie opened discussion of the GVC response by stating that she would like to see a strong GVC program established by 2017, or sooner. Her hope is to get to the place where faculty are eager to teach in the GVC and that we are staffing those courses with our strongest general education faculty. Marie asked Beth Aracena to discuss recommended cuts being made by the GVC program. Beth stated two reasons why the numbers seem “fuzzy”; FYE needs more resources/money to cover the structural changes that include Student Life, and would advocate funds for guest speakers.

The following are preliminary recommendations from GVC

• Keep Life/Wellness
• Eliminate colloquia, but recognize that some departments have faculty members heavily loaded in GVC and those hours need to be redistributed to offer additional courses in the distributive model, which is recommended.
• Cut senior seminar, and have each department identify a capstone course in the major.

It was recommended by someone on Council that a research writing course be added, as our students have very poor writing skills. After a concern was raised about hours lost in the previous general education revision, it was reiterated that hours would be transferred to the distributive model. Beth offered that a revision of the GVC could possibly result in a reduction of 0.5 FTE.

The following summary points were offered as important to include in introductory comments for the “Implementation Plan”:

• That faculty support the overall goal of working towards financial viability.
• We support the following
• Meaningful student-oriented GVC
• Nurture our faculty
• Strong departments with quality majors
• Creative synergistic clustering

4. Other discussion points

• The university needs to be mindful of what it cuts, even cutting the little things can take away what makes the university unique.
• Acknowledge why this is happening.
• Will cabinet be receptive to the Implementation Plan that includes cuts already made?
• Key Assumptions need to be established so that in the future the university will be better able to respond to financial stressors in ways that preserve the vision and mission of the school.
• The number of adjunct hires needs to be monitored as to not jeopardize the integrity of the institution.

In keeping with the timeline, Marie noted that Dean’s Committee will work to reconcile the UG FTE Reduction Plan released in May with the departmental responses and points made at this meeting. She asked everyone to convey to their faculty that this is a work in progress. Department chairs were encouraged to send feedback to Marie and Nancy by Wed. 9/19 noon.

Recorder,
Cheryl Doss