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Scenes from Faculty Senate

Joint Strategic Planning Committee

Monday, April 25, 2005

1:00 - 2:30 p.m.

Green Hall President's Conference Room

Attendance: Robert Carothers, M. Beverly Swan, Robert Weygand, Faye Boudreaux-Bartels, Celest Martin, Karen Ramsay, Bill Rosen, Michael Rice, Jim Kowalski, Roxanne Gomes, Vince Petronio, Arjun Tekalur, Abu Bakr, Ann Morrissey. Guests: Linda Barrett and Cliff Katz.

Announcements: Provost Swan announced that President Carothers was returning from Providence where he had attended a press conference called by the Governor and would arrive late.

Provost Swan said that there were two searches in her area, the Dean of Admissions and the Vice Provost for Academic Affairs. She said that candidates for the positions would be on campus beginning on April 26 and encouraged everyone to attend the interviews.

FY'06 Tentative Allocation Update: Ms. Barrett reported on the tentative budget for FY'06. She noted that every item was subject to change depending on the legislature's actions and on tuition revenue.

It was noted that the proposed budget was built on enrollment projections and the University was concerned that any drop in out-of state admissions would have a serious effect on the Budget. In addition, any cost-savings derived by the State by switching to United Health would not affect the University's Budget.

President Carothers apologized for being late. He said that the Governor had announced the Pre K-16 Council's initiatives with the Department of Employment and Training to address concerns about getting the RI workforce ready for jobs in a new economy. He said that the membership of the Pre K-16 Council, which was chaired by the Governor, did not include educators with the exception of the Commissioners for Higher Education and Elementary and Secondary Education.

FY'07 Strategic Budget Priorities: Copies of the Faculty Senate Executive Committee's draft list of budget priorities were distributed. Faculty Senate Chairperson Boudreaux-Bartels provided information on the first of the three categories identified by the Executive Committee, which was to increase operational support for departments and related divisions, including the Library, classroom support and licenses for computer software for teaching and research.

It was agreed that Senate Chairperson Boudreaux-Bartels would elaborate at the next JSPC meeting on the remaining two priorities

President Carothers requested that other members of the JSPC bring forward what they believed to be budget priorities at the next meeting.

Capital Projects planning: Vice President Weygand outlined his plans to reorganize the area of Capital Projects Planning to improve the functioning in that area.

Next meeting agenda: It was agreed that the Agenda for the May 9 JSPC Meeting would include a broader discussion of budget priorities and further consideration of how to approach consideration of the University's Mission Statement and the process for developing the next strategic

The meeting adjourned at 2:30 p.m.