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Scenes from Faculty Senate

Joint Strategic Planning Committee

Monday, March 28, 2005

1:00 - 2:30 p.m.

Green Hall President's Conference Room

Attendance: Robert Carothers, Robert Beagle, Tom Dougan, Robert Weygand, Faye Boudreaux-Bartels, Celest Martin, Bill Rosen, Michael Rice, Jim Kowalski, Patrick Mills, Ann Morrissey. Guests: Linda Barrett and Cliff Katz.

Announcements: President Carothers introduced Mr. Patrick Mills, who was joining the JSPC as the new President of the Student Senate.

Vice President Beagle reported on legislation before the RI General Assembly that would provide for matching funds for gifts to the University. This legislation sponsored by Representative Shanley. Vice President Beagle noted that this legislation would be of great benefit to URI as it begins its next capital campaign. He noted that some URI Alumni were working on behalf of the legislation as well.

President Carothers announced that charter high school proposal would probably be approved as a state school for post adjudicated youth. He said that there was support for the concept but not as a charter school. He said that it might be possible for the school to open in the fall of 2006 with a small number of students.

Minutes: the Minutes from the JSPC's Meetings of February 7 and March 7, 2005 were approved as revised.

FY'06 Budget Update: Vice President Weygand reported on the status of the proposed budget. He explained that the University would have a clearer picture of whether the legislature would restore some of the requested funds in late April

Office Assistance Update: Vice President Weygand, Assistant Provost Katz and Ms. Morrissey reported on their efforts to improve the training of people responsible for answering questions or directing them as appropriate. They said that they were beginning with Academic Affairs and Business Services and expected some of the proposals to be implemented in personnel, purchasing, and the controller's operations and in enrollment services.

The Executive Committee urged that flow charts be posted for each of the paperwork processes to be implemented

Future Strategic Planning & Mission Statement process: Ms. Morrissey distributed possible timelines for considering the Mission Statement and for developing the next three-year strategic Plan. She asked members of the committee for advice on how to proceed.

Chairperson Boudreaux-Bartels said that the Executive Committee would like to discuss the two processes further before providing their input. She explained that members of the current Executive Committee might not be in office when the JSPC begins its work on the Mission Statement and Strategic Plan.

SEDA Update: Senator Kowalski brought the committee up to date on the activities of the Space Allocation and Enhancement Committee. He said that in terms of day-to-day operations, the new guidelines and their wide promulgation seemed to have had a positive effect. He noted that the issue of responsibility for classroom space and equipment had to be clarified. He explained that there were a number of groups and offices that had a role in the maintenance, upkeep and allocation of classroom space and equipment and that the SEDA Committee hoped to be able to sort out responsibilities.

The meeting adjourned at 2:30 p.m.