President's Council Meeting Summary

February 25, 2004

 

 

Present:  Dene Thomas, Kathy Martin, Rob Lohrmeyer, Richard Moore, Tony Fernández, Whitney Pugh, Allen Schmook, Polly Blasko, Bert Sahlberg, Jim McCracken for Dave Taylor, Dawn Byers, Kathie Wilcox, Chet Herbst, Janis VanHook

 

Absent:  Dave Taylor, Deacon Meier

 

Guest:  Ken Clark

 

Calendar Review

Calendars for February and March were distributed noting President’s travel and major campus events.   

 

President’s Report

 

Ken Clark will work with Senator Mike Crapo’s staff to acknowledge the AISLE grant.  Ken will submit several dates/events for the senator’s scheduling consideration.  Ken also will arrange meetings with Senator Crapo and the appropriate people connected to the AISLE grant.  Ken has also requested funding from the Department of Transportation for skid pad property and a request for Department of Commerce Rural Development consideration.

JFAC voted for a general fund increase of 2.5 percent which will pay only a portion of the $8.5 million needed to give raises to employees and cover their benefits. The difference will come from increases in student fees.  The full legislature must vote to pass JFAC’s budget.  President Thomas believes it is important to provide 2% increases regardless of the legislature’s action.

The State Board of Education meeting is scheduled March 10 through 12, in Boise.  In January, the Board approved a 8.5% student fee increase.  At the upcoming meeting, President Thomas will request the full 9.98% increase.   President Thomas has agreed with student leadership to not ask for more than 9.98%.    

Native American Awareness Week is March 8 through 12.  President Thomas distributed the conference schedule, encouraged individuals to attend.  Deacon Meier will represent the administration at the Friendship banquet.  The Nez Perce Advisory Board meeting is Monday, March 8.

 

 

Provost and Vice Presidents’ Reports

 

Provost:

 

Provost Fernandez attended the AASCU Academic Affairs winter meeting February 9 through 10 in Tampa, Florida.  The focus for the meeting was Embracing Change:  Universities in a new era.   Panels included:  Managing programs in periods of budget reduction; International education; integrated urban universities; issues in reauthorization of the Higher Education Act (HEA); managing data; academic innovation; and the American Democracy project.   Two important workshops focused on legal issues and media crisis.

 

The Council of Academic Affairs Programs (CAAP) met on February 18.  Discussion topics are noted below:

 

Financial Exigency policy reconsideration will recognize the AAP guidelines for full academic year (36 calendar weeks) notice to tenure faculty of termination.  Provosts agree and recommend the State Board of Education reexamine the issue.

 

Level of tuition benefit for faculty and staff at the colleges and universities will be surveyed at the AASCU institutions across nation.  There appears to be a push for uniformity throughout the state.

 

70-credit hour rule and transfer of credits from a community college exception for LCSC/NIC was discussed.  Provost Fernandez will write a memo requesting the rule be waived in the case of LCSC students at Coeur d’Alene to allow more than 70-credit hours transferred. 

 

PACE students summer session fees are currently over $1,000 more than what they would be charged during a regular academic year.  The State Board of Education will be requested to approved a modified fee structure for PACE .

 

The Promise B scholarship award has changed to one year.  Institutions may match the award by providing the funds for the second year.   The award criteria are left to institutions’ discretion.

 

CAAP recommends the State Board of Education exam higher education residency requirements, develop uniform residency requirements, and exam in-state and out-of-state tuition for part-time students.  Higher education need to comply with the laws of Idaho regarding residency

 

CAAP discussed academic roles and missions of institutions specifically to statewide teacher education component.  Teacher education directors and deans will meet to discuss what mission is fair.  LCSC has expressed interest in offering alternative certification program(s) and to form a statewide cooperation with a lead institution.

 

Dr. Mary R. Hassett, professor of nursing at Fort Hays State University, visited the Nursing and Health Sciences Division on February 19 and 20.  Dr. Hassett will provide a program assessment report to Provost Fernández regarding resource needs for that department as they grow in the near future.

 

Study Abroad Council will be formed to restructure the program with academic advising.  There are several things that must be facilitated by the faculty.  The Academic Dean’s office will manage the council and the possibilities available to faculty and staff.

 

Administrative Services: 

The State Board of Examiners amended the State Moving Policy and adopted a new policy regarding real estate relocation assistance. The policies reflect a few principal changes in policy and substantial changes in format. The most critical change affects moving reimbursement for newly hired employees:

·        The agency director or designated representative shall have the authority to decide whether to pay moving expenses on a case-by-case basis up to the limits set forth in this policy (Moving Policy IIIA) and

·        The maximum aggregate moving expense reimbursement shall not exceed 10% of the employee's base salary or $5,000 whichever is less (Moving Policy IIIC4).

 

Around The Table

 

The Coeur d’Alene graduation ceremony is planned on Friday, May 7, 4 p.m. at the Coeur d’Alene Resort.  There will be approximately 90 graduates.

 

Grant funds will be utilized to provide signage at airport for exhibits are the Center for Arts and History.  

 

The Skid Pad project is moving forward although at this stage of the project, it is requiring much attention to details.

 

Harlan Vandenbark, retired Professional-Technical faculty, has received a terminal diagnosis of CBD - Frontal Lobe Degeneration, and is now in the Guardian Angel care facility.

 

The chemistry storage room situation requires attention that will include an additional FTE and room amendments.   The storage area is inadequate; equipment modification is necessary; and addition of a new position to oversee the management of the storage area is needed.   There are liability issues that must be addressed.

 

Club raffles must have state lottery approval.  Prize awards can not exceed $999.99 in value.  Student Affairs will work with clubs and organizations to educate the advisers.

 

A modified academic forgiveness policy will change the standing policy for old credits.   The forgiveness policy for credits that are at least five years old with petition and valid reason must be for the full-semester rather than per course.  The policy has been submitted to the Provost for review and approval.

 

 

The new connection to the Internet via XO Communications is in place.  The changeover to the new provider will take place on Friday, February 27, at 5:00 p.m.   The move is estimated to take approximately six hours to complete the process, during which time there will be no access to the network, either locally or off campus.  That means no e-mail, web browsing, WebCT, Datatel, or printing from networked printers. 

 

College Advancement will continue to establish endowments with a $5,000 minimum for the next year.  The minimum will then change to a $10,000 minimum.

 

LCSC is now a member of the Clarkston Chamber. 

 

Organization membership renewals need to be reviewed for duplication.  Council members should notify department heads to check for institutional membership in an organization prior to subscribing as a member.

 

 

College Communications has a photo intern available.

 

CSO salary compensation sub-committee will meet on Thursday.

 

Offender Workforce Development Conference is scheduled for Friday, April 16, in the Williams Conference Center.

 

Meeting Adjourned

The next President's Council will be on Wednesday, March 3, at 9:00 a.m., in the Alumni Board Room.