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The following events took place at the Wednesday, Feb. 27 meeting of the full Faculty Senate:
The Faculty Senate passed a motion 29-8-10 drafted by Laura Turner to “ensure that the reduction of the university’s contribution to the Children’s Center’s budget be no more than the average reduction, on a percent basis, to the University’s contribution to other programs on campus.”
The university provided $234,165, or 33.9 percent to the Center’s total of $718,094 for the 2001/02 budget. The proposed budget cut would include a 50 percent cut in the university’s funding for the Children’s Center, which would be 17 percent of the center’s total budget. Budget cuts could have caused the center to close down. Budget cuts are generally between 2 to 5 percent.
Several members spoke in favor of the motion to halt the budget cuts. Judy Kuhns-Hastings said that as the need for child care increases in the state of Maine and that Maine’s flagship campus needs to follow suit.
Gary Quimby, the Children’s Center director, explained that fees for parents would increase dramatically in order to accommodate for the proposed budget cut. He said that the center’s budget is dependent upon 100 percent capacity. Increased fees would drive parents away.
Dr. Dorothy Klimis-Zacas said that the center is a tool for attracting new faculty.
The Senate discussed the effect of convenient child care on professors’ tenure. Gender issues involved in the motion were discussed.
Student Government President Pearce Paul Creasman spoke out against the motion, saying that extra tuition doesn’t justify supporting it.
Faculty Senate President John Maddaus read a letter from UMaine President Peter S. Hoff endorsing the Faculty Senate’s motion on maintenance of technology classrooms, which was passed on Dec. 12, 2001.
Maddaus announced the policy on peer committees for joint appointments. The policy, signed by both Executive Vice President and Provost Robert Kennedy and President Hoff, requires that “all tenure track faculty with joint appointments must have a home with an academic department.” The policy provides guidelines for tenure and promotion of research faculty. The guidelines require that “joint peer committees consisting of peers from the research unit and the home academic department need to be appointed by the academic department chair in consultation with the center director.”
Mark Anderson, interim chief financial officer, announced the proposal to raise both in state and out-of-state tuition by 4 percent next year. This proposal, along with other proposed adjustments, is estimated to increase revenues by $1,600,000.
Creasman brought to the attention of administrators the issue of using students’ Social Security numbers for posting grades. He asked if they are aware of any policies concerning the use of S.S. numbers.
Howard Patterson, chair of the Committee on Committees, announced that all committee vacancies have been filled.
Bob Rice, chair of the Constitution and By-laws Committee, said that the committee will meet next week to plan procedures for evaluating and possibly revising the Faculty Handbook.
Kathleen March, chair of the Library Advisory Committee, reported that the committee is looking over funding difficulties. She announced that Fogler Library will send out an electronic newsletter starting soon. Physical work needs to be done on the library. The committee is looking into developing a formula for indirect costs to go to the library. Software that will keep track of pages printed in Fogler will be installed after break to regulate printing costs. The first 300 pages printed in the library would be free. After that, students will be required to pay a fee.
Owen Smith, chair of the General Education Review Committee, announced that Creasman has joined the committee. The committee will meet next week to discuss how to proceed in reviewing General Education requirements.
Jim Warhola, chair of the Interdisciplinary Programs Committee, reported that the committee has received proposed guidelines for interdisciplinary studies and by-laws.
Dana Humphrey, Board of Trustees Representative, announced that the next BOT meeting will take place at the University of Maine in Machias.
