Mānoa Faculty Senate Executive Committee
Minutes of April 13, 2009

Present: Crookes, Crosby, Hilgers, Keil, Ross, Tiles, Wakayama

2 pm

1. Minutes of previous meeting were approved as amended.

2. Chair’s report. Discussion of faculty-academic retreat date (May 7 or April 29.)

MET: The Chancellor will form an advisory committee to advise the Chancellor on the implementation of the prioritization review process. It appears that most members will be Deans.

3. The Budget workgroup met on Thursday. Cutshaw says the Senate budget had a counter proposal which nominally reduced the cut from $34m (this is equivalent to around a 13% cut overall) to $20m but requires a 5% surcharge on anything the university earns. The Senate also proposes that the State get all the interest on the accounts that the university holds. This is likely to be more than a $34m cut. (Bill SB 844)

HGEA furloughs are contemplated at the level of one month for each of two years.

4. Committee reports: CoR and CSA met briefly; CPM is working on the dossier simplification resolution discussed at the last Faculty Senate meeting; CAPP is working on the resolution for the approval of the BS/Computer Engineering degree; CoA met and reviewed the year’s actions (with particular emphasis on the recruitment of transfer students); GEC is continuing to discuss the requirement of foundation courses being met during the freshman year.

5. The agenda for the faculty-administration retreat was discussed with a focus on the planning processes.

3 pm

Meeting with VC Ostrander

Cancer Center: has accumulated $33m in tobacco tax monies; the Leg wants to sweep that and the Leg wants to change the formula concerning how these tax monies will be accumulated and allocated; both of these will have a very negative effect on the plans for the renewed Cancer Center. In particular, this will eliminate the possibility of an elite Cancer Research Center. Health care (in the form of Hawaii residents’ access to clinical trials, among other things), research, economic engine, all are arguments for an elite center, but the outlook is not good, as a vicious spiral is involved.

Discussion of the way the current 4% cut is being handled, or is to be handled, by Deans and Directors. Some differences across Deans may be legitimate. SEC expressed concerns in cases where “temporary” positions have been prolonged over many years.

Current legislative initiatives pending were reviewed. Far more substantial cuts than have yet been contemplated are possible because of legislative actions. The VC expressed concern as to whether UH will continue to exist as a research university.

SEC asked the VCRGE about the Graduate Council, which is a body presently appointed by Deans, that is, outside of faculty governance procedures. The VC deferred to the Dean of Graduate Division about details, saying that he believed that policy proposals emanating from Grad Council would go through or come to the SEC, but that is not the view of the SEC. SEC recommended that appointment to Graduate Council go through the Committee on Faculty Service. Or, one member of CAPP, one member of CSA and one member of the Committee on Professional Matters should sit on Grad Council, all of whom should themselves be graduate faculty, to liaise and communicate with Faculty Senate in general or SEC in particular. A precise specification of this proposal will be formulated and presented to VCRGE (by SEC Chair Keil).

The PBRC has approached the VCRGE seeking agreement to meet under the auspices of a mediator. This seems likely to go forward in the next few weeks. Meanwhile, the VC is working on a detailed reorganization proposal and will consult with the union, among other entities.

4 pm SEC continued meeting and returned to the matter of Grad Council.

Adjourned 4:30 pm

Respectfully submitted,
Graham Crookes