Periodic Updates - Update #33
CENTRAL MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY
OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
July 16, 2003
To: CMU Colleagues and Students
From: Mike Rao
Ref: CMU Update #33
Here is another brief update.
STATE BUDGET
The senate and house conference report on the state higher
education budget for fiscal year 2003-2004 reduces CMU's
current year appropriation by 6.1%. The budgeting process
began last spring with an across the board cut to all
universities of 6.74% in the Governor's budget
recommendation. CMU's appropriation in dollars for 2003-2004
will be $81,541,700 instead of current year funding at the
beginning of the year of $90,003,800, an $8.5 million
reduction. The gap between CMU and most other universities
in Michigan is narrowed in the current fiscal year compared
to the previous year (2002-03).
With the Governor's support, the legislature added
$15,000,000 to the Governor's original recommended budget.
$9.5 million was to be distributed among the four schools
that are the lowest in per student funding (CMU, GVSU, OU,
SVSU). The funding was distributed based on a floor funding
amount of $3,890. Because other schools' per student funding
dropped much lower than even CMU's, their respective amounts
of support from the $9.5 million are larger than CMU's.
Nonetheless, our advocacy for a minimum on floor funding has
been accomplished. It is important to note that CMU lobbied
for, and will also receive, a special additional
appropriation of $1.5 million, committed by the legislature
and Governor for the current year. This funding will come
from tobacco settlement funds.
The remaining $5.5 million is distributed among the
remaining 11 public higher education institutions. Each
institution (other than the four already referenced)
received a break against its 6.74% cut of $250,000 plus a
proportional amount based on current year state support. For
example, EMU received a $250,000 break against its base
6.74% cut plus $173,932 for a total of $423,932. This
funding is one-time.
The Michigan Merit Awards are in the budget for the full
award amount of $2,500 per student. This funding is
important to CMU because it represents approximately $7
million to the University annually.
CMU is certainly grateful to both Representative Caul and
Senator Goschka for their willingness to consider CMU's
advocacy for minimum per-student funding, accounting for
enrollment growth that had previously remained unfunded. We
are also grateful to Governor Granholm and Senators Shirley
Johnson and Al Cropsey for their support and contributions
to this process. Senator Goschka and Representative Caul
both openly reviewed the importance of continuing to
implement public policy at a time when reductions were being
made. Any kind of "across the board" reduction would clearly
have adversely impacted universities that have been
disproportionately funded lower on a per-student basis more
than those with a higher funding base and shrinking
enrollment. I am grateful to the state for implementing
policy that inherently benefits all universities in a more
equal way.
CMU's long-term advocacy for public policy that embraces
fairness in funding among universities has been acknowledged
and acted upon. We have made great strides in the past year
with the physical presence and work of Vice President Kathy
Wilbur. As such, I extend to her my sincere gratitude for
her diligence, political skill, and monitoring of progress
with our policy advocacy.
2003-2004 UNIVERSITY BUDGET
At its July 10 meeting, the CMU Board of Trustees approved
operating and capital budgets for fiscal year 2003-2004. A
$471 increase in tuition and mandatory fees was included as
part of the operating budget. Expenditure reductions,
totaling $14.3 million for the fiscal year that began July
1, were also approved. Please refer to
http://www.cmich.edu/newstips/ntips.asp?ID=481 for more
information about the Board actions. For a list of budget
reductions that are incorporated into the budget, please see
the budget and planning web site at
http://www.budget.cmich.edu:8080/BNPWeb/
BudgetUpdates/budget_updates.htm.
FUND RAISING AND CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
Fund raising at colleges and universities in the U.S. was
down 1.1% last year, the first drop nationally in private
giving to higher education in fifteen years. Countering the
national trend, CMU fund raising was up 15.7% this past
year, bringing funds privately raised to a new all-time high
of $10.2 million, compared to $5.6 million only four years
ago. These funds have enhanced scholarship funding, and,
therefore, funds available to attract to CMU some of
Michigan's most motivated students.
During the weekend of September 13, the university will
launch the public phase of a comprehensive capital campaign
geared heavily toward building endowment funds for student
scholarships. A variety of activities are planned to engage
CMU and the Mt. Pleasant community.
Members of the Board of Trustees have taken a leadership
role in this campaign at a high level by committing more
than $4 million of personal funds to the university. In
fact, four members have each given or pledged amounts
exceeding $1 million. This level of support from members of
an appointed board is truly extraordinary for a public
institution of higher education.
The excitement that Monica and I feel for the university's
campaign has motivated me to announce that, this year, I
will donate to the campaign the entire amount of the 4%
raise that the Board of Trustees decided to extend to me at
its meeting last week for 2003-04. I appreciate their
confidence and support and, in turn, want to show our
family's personal support for the university as it embarks
on this historic fund raising campaign.
ENERGY CONSERVATION AT CMU
In Update 28,
energy conservation was discussed to enlist the help of all
members of the CMU community to keep utility costs to a
minimum, particularly in light of major reductions in
expenditures. While members of the facilities management
team are working diligently with the items below, more
engagement by members of the faculty, staff, and student
body will be necessary to achieve greater success.
Custodians, maintenance personnel, police, and
administrators can work at each of these, but others who use
facilities later in the evening are asked to please help CMU
in the following ways:
- Turn off lights and equipment when not in use.
- Adjust thermostats to 76 degrees F for summer (and 68
degrees F for winter).
- Promptly report any problems, such as leaky sinks and rooms
that are too hot or too cold, to the Facilities Management
Service Center at 774-6547.
- Submit longer-term energy savings suggestions to the
University Energy Committee (UEC) web page at
www.fmgt.cmich.edu/energy_ECon.html#.
The UEC (formerly the Energy Conservation Commission) is
active promoting energy reduction efforts on campus. In
addition, three focused teams have been established under
the UEC umbrella to address specific key areas:
- Energy Communications Committee (awareness, visibility,
media relations).
- Lighting Committee (indoor and outdoor, efficiency,
standards).
- Water Saver Committee (showers, sinks, toilets).
Volunteers are needed to serve on these committees,
particularly student representatives. Contact Tim Vajcner if
you are willing to participate (774-1566 or
mailto:vajcn1ta@cmich.edu).
AUGUST COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY
Central Michigan University's summer sessions conclude with
a commencement ceremony on August 2 in Rose Arena. A total
of 2,090 graduates will receive their diplomas. The speaker
for the 10:00 a.m. ceremony is David Broder, political
correspondent for The Washington Post. Congratulations to
the newest CMU alumni who are receiving degrees in August.
NEW ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT IN
ACADEMIC AFFAIRS DIVISION
Congratulations to English Professor Maureen Eke upon being
named associate vice president. Maureen has been serving in
this most important position on an interim basis since last
September. I am delighted that she has accepted the
provost's offer to make the position permanent. Having a
talented African studies scholar with administrative
experience in this position will be helpful, especially in
light of budget reductions felt by all administrative units
on campus.
The offices of Minority Student Services, Multicultural
Programs, Native American Programs, Student Disability
Services, Gay & Lesbian Programs, and Women Studies report
to the diversity associate vice president. Associate Vice
President Eke will also oversee the Office of International
Education, an important component in promoting and
understanding global education and diversity at CMU.
FULBRIGHT SCHOLARS
CMU is honored to have two members of the faculty named as
Fulbright Scholars for the next academic year. Professor
Harry Mika is one of 10 scholars in North America chosen by
the Fulbright New Century Scholars Program for a project
that aims to pinpoint settings that might serve as case
studies for ways in which sectarianism, ethnicity and
culture have contributed to violence, civil wars and some
type of societal disruption. The New Century Scholars
Program's purpose is to create new models for collaborative
thinking among scholars globally, with a focus on the
challenges and changes for the 21st century. Associate
professor Mensah Adinkrah was awarded a 2003-2004 Fulbright
scholar grant. Professor Adinkrah will spend the next
academic year in Ghana studying homicide against women and
girls, a major social problem confronting many African
societies. Congratulations to Professors Mika and Adinkrah,
both of the Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work
department, on these honors. This year, only 800 U.S.
professors and other professionals received Fulbright grants
to lecture and conduct research abroad in more than 140
countries.
ALTERNATE ROUTE TO SECONDARY
EDUCATION CERTIFICATION
An experimental program for preparing secondary teachers,
particularly in the areas of math and science and geared
with a rural emphasis, was submitted to the Michigan
Department of Education by the College of Education and
Human Services. Formal approval of the proposal was recently
received. This fast-track program will assist college
graduates who possess undergraduate degrees in teachable
areas and who are interested in entering the teaching
profession at the secondary level and will help school
districts identify potential teacher candidates for existing
teacher shortage areas. The first alternate route to
certification cohort will begin in Spring 2004.
Congratulations to Dean Karen Adams and everyone who worked
with her in developing this innovative new program that will
help address the need for qualified teachers in the state of
Michigan.
ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES
Interim Executive Vice President and Provost Kohrman will
return to the College of Science and Technology (CST) as
dean in August. Bob's exemplary leadership as provost for
the past year has been greatly appreciated, both by the CMU
community and me. The value of his thoughtful and wise
guidance through some very difficult issues has truly been
immeasurable.
When Bob Kohrman returns to the CST dean's position, Rich
St. Andre, currently interim dean, will also resume his
previous position as associate dean in the College of
Science and Technology, a position currently filled by
Professor Jane Matty. Rich and Jane have also provided
outstanding service and great leadership in their roles
during the course of the last year.
SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN UPDATE
CMU continues to draw and serve about one-third of its
student population from southeast Michigan. The president's
office continues to expand external partnerships and
relationships in the Metro Detroit region with the help of
Executive Assistant to the President Tyrone Jordan. Extended
Learning (CEL) cohorts are being explored with Bank One, as
well as additional cohorts with DaimlerChrysler Financial at
locations in Farmington Hills and Kansas City. After meeting
last month with UAW international president Ron Gettlefinger,
Tyrone and I are working to further engage the union with
CEL. As is the case with the Legislature and many others,
reinforcing that CMU serves large numbers of students from
southeast Michigan, both on the campus in Mount Pleasant and
in Metro Detroit, has been helpful in our discussions.
Tyrone and I also continue to explore opportunities to
engage students and faculty colleagues in the community and
corporate sectors in Metro Detroit. A considerable portion
of private dollars raised for scholarships at CMU continues
to increase from the Metro Detroit area.
UPWARD BOUND GRANT
The university has received renewed funding of $234,624 per
year for each of four years from the U.S. Department of
Education for CMU's Upward Bound program at Northern High
School in Detroit. Ten graduates of the current CMU Northern
High School Upward Bound program have been admitted to CMU
for fall semester 2003. Other activities of the Office for
Institutional Diversity this past year include the 1st
Annual Campus Forum on Diversity focusing on creating an
inclusive classroom environment that supports engaged
learning. The 2nd Forum on Diversity will take place this
September 2003. A two-day SEED (Seeking Educational Equity
and Diversity) summer seminar for faculty was held in May,
which brought together twelve CMU faculty members
representing various departments.
STUDENT INTERNSHIPS
Recently, the Grand Rapids Press had an article about
student internships at the Van Andel Research Institute, a
cancer-research facility, which featured CMU Biology major
Megan Senchuk. The Summer Internship Program was designed to
allow college students an opportunity to be mentored by
professionals in their chosen field, use state-of-the-art
equipment and technology, and learn invaluable people and
presentation skills. For more information about the intern
program, please refer to
http://www.vai.org/vari/intern.asp.
The university continues to attempt to match its professors
with prospective principal investigators at Van Andel,
hoping that our work together will lead to expanded
opportunities for students and faculty members interested in
molecular research.
REGIONAL ACCREDITATION
CMU's site visit from the Higher Learning Commission of the
North Central Association of Colleges and Schools for
regional accreditation will occur in 2005-2006. Planning for
the self-study under the new criteria will begin this
summer. Teams will be formed in the fall. For more
information about the new evaluation guidelines, please see
http://www.ncahigherlearningcommission.org/ or contact Tim
Hartshorne in Academic Affairs for more information.
