As a result of College Board approval the day before, Chair Leroy Boyd announced at the April 21 meeting that the Robert Holland Faculty Council is now Robert Holland Faculty Senate. Though the body's organization and mission will not change, members had sought the new designation to bring it in line with those of the other state universities.
To lead the 50-member group next year, members chose Dan Embree of English to succeed Boyd, the Animal and Dairy Science representative who has served the maximum two consecutive terms. Other candidates for the top office included Marion B. Couvillion of Communication and Frances C. Graham of Extension Home Economics.
Following Embree's selection, Couvillion accepted a nomination by Graham as the candidate for vice chair. When Graham was asked if she wished to have her name submitted for secretary, she declined. Melanie McClellan of Housing and Residence Life volunteered to serve as secretary if allowed to institute changes that might improve the demanding, time-consuming process of detailed recordkeeping. The new officers officially assume their duties July 1.
After electing officers, the 43 senate members present heard President Donald Zacharias' report on higher education funding from the 1995 legislative session and how the university's ability to provide significant salary increases will present a challenge this year. He gave several reasons, including no new money for higher education in the state General Fund and last-minute changes in guidelines for state sales tax-derived funds and those from a category previously limited to one-time expenditures.
"The amount of money we will have available for salaries for faculty, staff and administrators is the equivalent of 3 percent of E&G [education and general] funds used for those salaries," Zacharias said. However, when the money required for promotion raises is added to this formula, "that [equivalent] drops to less than 3 percent." Also, raises this year "cannot be across the board," Zacharias said, because the College Board has decreed that they be only for merit.
As he spoke, Zacharias noted that Provost Derek Hodgson was simultaneously engaging the deans in a similar budget discussion. Zacharias said he was seeking senate recommendations for equitably distributing what money there is for faculty raises, just as Hodgson was of the deans.
He termed current higher education funding to be much like "skating on thin ice, but, in essence, the Legislature has said, 'Get used to it.'" Despite the financial squeeze, Zacharias said there is some good news from the session, including approval of bond funding for renovations and new facilities.
"This is probably one of the greatest years we have had for bonds," Zacharias said. Buildings scheduled for renovations with the bond money include Hand Chemical Laboratory, Magruder Hall and Garner Hall.
As for new facilities, Zacharias said $7 million offered earlier by alumnus Dave Swalm of Houston, Texas, for a new chemical engineering building is being matched by $3 million from the state. Also, there will be $2 million for a project that includes the relocation of horticulture greenhouses from their present location at the corner of Morrill Road and President's Circle and renovation of the area for a future parking space once construction is complete at Hand Lab and the Swalm building.
Additionally, a $1.5 million private gift from the widow of alumnus George Perry of Spanish Fort, Ala., to improve the cafeteria received an equal match in bond support and another $3.5 million was approved for a multi-purpose arena, a practice arena and a livestock barn on the South Farm.
Returning to the salary situation, Zacharias admitted to being "very frustrated" with the turn of events this year. He observed that "this is a difficult time for higher education because the Ayers (desegregation) case has us divided." He said this is a particular disadvantage when compared with the lobbying efforts of the community and junior colleges.
"Our colleagues in the community colleges have got greater force based upon their local constituencies and the unity they have," he said. "One thing we have got to find is unity among the eight (senior) institutions."
Zacharias said he has already spoken with Tom Layzell, the new commissioner of higher education, about the challenge.
"I told him we've simply got to do a better job of presenting our case for salaries and that I've already started to put some (supporting) material together."
Looking ahead, Zacharias said a conversation he had the previous evening with Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Robert G. "Bunky" Huggins of Greenwood left him with hope for the 1996 legislative session.
"Senator Huggins agreed that things must change and he promised to work very diligently to see that things come out differently next year."
This World Wide Web version of MSU Memo was modified and updated by Chris Brown.
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Last modified: Friday, 14-Jun-2002 15:59:04 CDT.
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