President's Council Meeting Summary

May 7, 2003

 

 

Present:  Dene Thomas, Kathy Martin, Rita Morris, Whitney Pugh, Carmen Rahm, Renee Hofeldt, Deacon Meier, Richard Moore, Patty Leonard, Janis VanHook

 

Absent:  Dean Froehlich, Chet Herbst

 

Guest:  Dawn Byers for Chet Herbst

 

 

Calendar Review

Calendars for May and June were distributed noting President’s travel and major campus events.

A campus meeting is scheduled on May 13 at 3:15 p.m., in MLH 100. 

 

 

President’s Report

 

The legislature approved $218 million for FY2004 Colleges and Universities budget which is plus 2.1 percent.

Presidents were cautioned to protect a percentage in reserve.

Governor Dirk Kempthorne told college and university presidents Tuesday he may be forced to cut from their budgets in the current spending year.  Kempthorne told the presidents that things are as tight as they were a year ago and to continue the spending restraints.  He also said “to make no plans” for the money they had been holding in reserve.   

The facilities bonding legislation was approved.  There is a specific process that must be followed which, best case scenario, would put the construction start in late August.  The Idaho State Building Association is now oversight agency.    The Bond Package will include all state facilities and will be issued at the same time.  So our timeline is controlled by the ISBA.

 

The Presidents’ Council met with Governor Kempthorne on Tuesday.  Discussion focused on the Blue Ribbon Task Force’s recommendation to create a New University of Idaho system.   The proposal would include all current higher education institutions, UI, ISU and BSU.  The plan also would include a New University of Idaho Community College with campuses in Twin Falls, Coeur d’Alene, Nampa, Lewiston and Idaho Falls.   Besides sharing a single-system president, campuses would share top administrators in system wide departments.  The draft recommendation was adopted by the committee and may be modified prior to the June 24 meeting of the full 48-member task force.

 

Three candidates interviewed for the position of Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. President Thomas has offered the position to J. Anthony Fernŕndez, and he has accepted the position.  His start date will be mid-July.

 

President Thomas presented to the Professional-Technical Leadership Symposium at the University of Idaho on May 2. 

 

The annual employee awards social is scheduled for Thursday, May 8, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. in the Williams Conference Center.

 

 

Provost and Vice Presidents’ Reports

 

Provost: 

 

Interviews for the Dean of Community Programs are in progress.  Kathy Martin has interviewed.  Paul Neuman will interview next week.

 

The Dean for the School of Technology Search Committee will have candidate interview on Monday, May 12.

 

Mid-term Grades:  Effective with the Fall 2003 semester:

 

1. Mid-term grading will be available for all courses and is recommended for all students.

 

2. Mid-term grades will be required for all 100 or 200 level courses of 3 credits or more.     Exceptions to this requirement are Directed Studies (190, 290), Internships (194, 294), Practicums (195, 295), Co-Ops (196, 296), Research           Assistantships (199, 299), and kinesiology activities courses.

 

The following language about mid-term grades will appear in the catalog.

 

Mid-Term Grades

 

Grades are available for student viewing and printing via WarriorWeb.  Mid-term grades are not recorded by the Office of the Registrar but are available to students via WarriorWeb.  Mid-term grades are not official grades but are valuable for both students and faculty as reality checks and advising tools.

 

Lecturer Contracts will be issued with language will be given 60 day notice if they will not be renewed for the upcoming year.  Resulted 3.107  policy changes appointment status.

 

 

Administrative Services:

 

General appropriations is generally ear marked, additional cost in health costs are mostly covered.   Questions are how we allocate the revenue for student fees to be determined by budget liaison committee and presented at the Tuesday campus meeting. 

 

 

Student Affairs and Enrollment Management:

 

Fall 2003 Headcount:  1603 with a new report to be issued on Friday.  The applications are up 19 percent. 

We are being challenged in the Coeur d’Alene and Treasure Valley areas.  The independent school districts have been more difficult to coordinate visits.  Follow-up telephone contact with current students is being conducted.  Advanced registration is up.

 

Two bids are being reviewed for the Student Health Insurance Program.  There are differences between the two bids, but it appears that we will have a good health care plan.

 

Graduation Week activities list was distributed.

 

Direct Reporting Units

 

Athletic Department:   Golf coach Paul Thompson has been voted Frontier Conference Coach of the Year.

 

 

Meeting Adjourned

The next President's Council will be on Wednesday, May 22, at 9:00 a.m., in the Alumni Board Room.