Chairs Council Minutes
April 14, 2004

Present: June Decker, Pam Kuthe, Donna Rees, Michelle Behr, Lloyd Cowling, Pat Cano, Marcia Bourdette, Faye Vowell. Bertha Benavidez, Adele Springer, Linda Baldwin, Michael Metcalf, Katherine Woodard, Junius Logan.

1. Discussion of Comment Cards--Faye Vowell--Comment boxes are scattered around campus. Comments that impact all of Academic Affairs were discussed. One of the comments suggested that departments need to communicate better. The chairs gave the following examples of lack of communication: SOE did not notify Wellness of a teaching requirement; Pat Cano stated that language requirements are not clearly understood by advisors. Michael Metcalf stated that requirements are in each catalog, but students need continual reminders. There is a domino effect when changes are made. Similar situation was mentioned in Faculty Senate. Asked Pat Cano to send advising update regarding language. On the positive side, Business mentioned a custodian taking students to admissions.
2. Degree Plan Change Form--Faye Vowell--Draft of Degree Plan Change Form with changes handed out for consideration by Chairs. The form was approved and will be placed on General Use drive.
3. Discussion of Adjunct and Overload--Faye Vowell--Update on status of budget discussions.
   • Last year we were allocated $400,000, and we spent $527,000. Next year we will have $500,000, and out of that $500,000 we have to fund the 10% increase to adjuncts and stay within the budget.
   • That will mean that we cannot offer the same number of courses that we offered this year.
   • Donna Rees asked how many tuition dollars were generated out of adjunct and overload courses. Pam Kuthe asked if we are going to turn students away? Faye Vowell stated that increased credit hours do not necessarily mean more tuition dollars.
   • After the audited actuals and fall census date, if we have underestimated our enrollment, it's possible to go in and have a discussion about adding dollars because we have more money than predicted. Business Affairs is concerned that we will not make budget projections for this year.
   • This years budget is predicated on two assumptions: (1) On the SC campus, enrollment will fall 3%; (2) External University it will be flat. We are starting off behind where we were last year regarding tuition--projecting no growth--some decline. Our goal is to try not to have a 3% decline on SC campus. We need to look at every sophomore and be sure that they pre-enroll and become juniors. These students will move into upper division courses and help with retention. After audited actuals, AA could request more dollars. Budget committee has asked to be a part of this decision.
   • The $500,000 including a 10% increase is what will be discussed at the 7:30 am budget meeting tomorrow morning. Faye Vowell shared a handout created by Rick Johnson on ways to distribute the increase. Pam Kuthe what advantage there would be if we cut down on adjunct and overload courses? We will be turning students away. Faye Vowell asked chairs to look at instructional load reports for fall 2003 and spring 2004 to see what we have been spending and how we have been spending it. We also have a projection of ad/overload for fall 2004. The hiring we are doing will reduce some sections for fall 2004--this may address some of the concerns.
   • The $500,000 does not include the Extended University adjunct and overload budget.
   • There was some discussion on increasing minimum enrollments. If classes don't make, we could use the pro-ration model.
   • Michelle Behr stated that the money should go into adjunct and not overload. Don't increase chair stipends.
   • Michael Metcalf stated that budget should be $600,000.
   • June Decker stated that the increase should not be at the expense of hiring full-time faculty. Adjunct numbers are going up and full-time faculty numbers are going down. Pam Kuthe stated that this situation hurts Nursing with NCA.
   • Faye Vowell's thoughts on reducing the adjunct and overload budget:
     1. Look at course enrollments for last 10 years. Courses offered every semester could be offered once a year and increase enrollment and reduce adjunct hours. Look at frequency of offering--course rotation.
     2. Look at major and make sure you need every course in your major. No extraneous courses offered or added. June Decker stated that often majors don't have choices in what they offer because of higher agencies.
     3. Get more adjuncts or only allow adjuncts to teach 6 hours.
   • Michael Metcalf stated that proration is a good idea.
   • Lloyd Cowling asked if we could institute this policy?
   • Pat Cano stated that Humanities faculty have course releases and are unjustified and not accountable. The Chairs agreed to look at course releases in relation to adjuncts hired.
   • The Chairs agreed that they could live with the $500,000 and agreed to allocate approximately $50,000 of this money to increase the pay for adjuncts. No money will be put towards an increase for faculty overloads.
   • When we start the fall semester, we will have a Chairs’ retreat and talk about this issue again. Academic Affairs will have data cleaned up for chairs and will probably send this out before then and ask that you help clean up data.
4. Reallocation of GAs and work studies--Faye Vowell—
   • Coming out of the budget discussions, no additional money will be available to pay for graduate assistants and work study students. We need to reallocate the existing positions.
   • A form has been created to gather request information to make this allocation
   • The Chairs Council scheduled a meeting for hearing on Tuesday, May 4 at 2:00 p.m. in Hunter Hall.
   • Faye Vowell will ask the Budget Committee to help make the allocations.

Meeting adjourned at 3:25 p.m.