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Scenes from Faculty Senate

Joint Strategic Planning Committee

Thursday, September 20, 2007

9:00am - 10:50am

President's Conference Room, Green Hall

Attendance: Robert Carothers, M. Beverly Swan, Tom Dougan, Celest Martin, Laura Beauvais, Barbara Costello, David Fastovsky, Dayle Joseph, Joanne DiBello, Domingo Morel, Neil Leston, Ann Morrissey. Guests: Linda Barrett, Cliff Katz and Cheryl Rand.

Welcome and Introductions: President Carothers welcomed the new members of the committee. He explained that Senate Chair Jim Miller and Senator Dana Kovarsky were not able to attend nor were Vice President Weygand and Vice President Beagle. He then asked those members who were present and guests to introduce themselves.

NEASC Update: Provost Swan reported that the University was on track with the Accreditation Self Study, which had been completed and mailed to the Accreditation Team. She explained that the NEASC Accreditation visit which was scheduled for October 21-24 and reported on preparations for the upcoming visit.

FY'08 and FY'09 Budgets: Ms. Barrett reported on the status of the FY'08 Budget and reviewed with the Committee the University's Budget request for FY'09. She alerted the committee to a directive from the Budget Office that would reduce the FY'09 budget by 3% less than the FY'08 Budget.

President Carothers said that at the rate funding has been going over the last several years; the state's percentage of the University's budget could hypothetically go to 0 in 2024. He suggested that it was time to consider a new paradigm for funding, possibly establishing a public corporation for Higher Education in RI with tuition and fee revenues kept in a trust.

Academic Program Evaluation: Using a series of slides, Assistant Provost Katz reported on the history of program review at URI and what led up to the AIIM. He shared sample slides of the various departments and answered questions about the graphs and the circulation of the information.

It was noted that a new committee, the Academic Program Review Committee, chaired by Professor Michael Rice and including Senator Beauvais and Vice Chairperson Martin, would consider possible revisions to the instrument, as well as discuss dissemination of the information.

Next Meeting's Agenda: It was announced that the main item for the October 4 meeting would be the NEASC Self Study, including discussion of how the committee would implement the JSPC's additional charge:

The committee shall be responsible for the periodic and systematic review of various aspects of institutional effectiveness and shall ensure that the results of these reviews are used for continuing improvement.

President Carothers also suggested that the President of the Student Senate have an opportunity to report on matters of concern to the student body.

Announcements

  • There will be a reception for the URI Foundation Excellence Award Winners later that afternoon.

  • Representatives of the Champlain Foundations will be on campus on September 26. There will be 6 proposals presented during the visit.

  • The first meeting of the General Faculty-Graduate Faculty is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. in the Cherry Auditorium prior to the Faculty Senate Meeting. Included on the Agenda would be remarks by President Carothers.

  • The dedication of the Heidi Kirk Duffy IEP Complex will be held on Friday, September 29.

The meeting adjourned at 10:50 a.m.