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CENTRAL MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY
OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

October 15, 2003

TO: CMU Colleagues and Students

FROM: Mike Rao

SUBJECT: CMU Update 35


Here is another update. I hope you find it informative.

STATE BUDGET UPDATE

The State of Michigan's 2002-2003 fiscal year ended on September 30 and the 2003-2004 fiscal year began on October 1. In recent weeks, the fiscal outlook for the state has not been encouraging. Revenue estimates for the 2002-2003 year are approximately $300 million less than anticipated. It is also estimated that the state's 2003-2004 fiscal year may include approximately $600 million in revenue shortfall. The approximate combined $900 million shortfall will have to be resolved during this fiscal year (October 1, 2003 - September 30, 2004). Economic recovery is on the way but is not happening as quickly in Michigan as had been hoped. The state budget will either need an infusion of new revenue or budget cuts will come. The impact on higher education remains uncertain. Knowing that higher education shares a significant portion of the state's general fund discretionary spending, there is a chance that university funding will be affected.

In light of these significant challenges at the state, I reactivated the Senior Staff Budget Advisory Group (SSBAG) last week. SSBAG will be chaired by Provost Tom Storch and co-chaired by Vice President George Ross. I have requested that the group resume its review of the university budget so that the university can be prepared, if forced to make additional budget reductions, to act accordingly at any point in the course of this year. I have again requested that the members of SSBAG maintain sensitivity to keeping confidential any part of their review that may impact personnel. At the same time, I have requested that they remain sensitive to those areas that do not involve personnel and, in these cases, work with the Budget Review Advisory Council (BRAC) and/or other appropriate university group that is likely to be affected by the review. An appropriate timeline for this continued review will be determined during the next few weeks as events at the state level continue to unfold.

MICHIGAN STORY FESTIVAL

This weekend, events of the inaugural Michigan Story Festival will be held at locations on CMU's campus and the community. The festival is a collaboration between CMU, the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe, and the Mt. Pleasant community. CMU is proud to be a festival sponsor, along with the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe and the Michigan Humanities Council. For more information about the festival, please see www.michiganstoryfestival.org.

FEDERAL BUDGET ALLOCATION

Thank you to U.S. Senators Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow, and Congressman Dave Camp, who have been instrumental in earmarking $3 million for nanotechnology development at CMU in the 2004 Defense Appropriations Bill signed by President Bush earlier this month. In the past two years, the university has received a total of $5.9 million for the CMU program, which is supported by the Army Research Laboratory in partnership with CMU-based Dendritic NanoTechnologies, Inc. (DNT). The federal funding is supporting research by the following CMU professors, who are working with Donald Tomalia and other DNT researchers: Dillip Mohanty, Ajit Sharma, Marco Fornari, George Kaminski, Valeri Petkov, Bob Howell, Leela Rakesh, Brad Fahlman, Anton Jensen, Jim Falender, and Stan Hirschi. This is research that has the capacity to significantly impact both quality of life throughout the world as well as the economy of central Michigan. Congratulations to all who are involved with this important program and with obtaining this additional federal funding.

ACADEMIC STANDARDS

Continuing discussions and efforts are underway designed to identify appropriate academic standards at the baccalaureate level. The annual fall Raising Academic Standards Conference will take place 9-11 a.m., November 7 in Dow 171. This will be an update on the progress of the raising academic standards initiative to date, with a focus on grade inflation and other initiatives still underway. Raising academic standards will also be the focus of an all-day workshop in January and a series of workshops throughout the spring semester coordinated by the Faculty Center for Academic Excellence.

While many have simply connected academic standards to matters associated with grades, it is prudent to clarify that the most important aspect of our focus on academic standards should center on expectations for learning and teaching, rigor, and preparation for the life of a CMU-educated graduate. Fundamentally, it is my hope that discussions engage the majority of the academic community to better define what it means when a graduate holds a degree from Central Michigan University.

In September, a special General Education Task Force reported to the Academic Senate on the outcomes of their efforts in the spring of 2003. Included among their recommendations were suggestions to (a) form a new Gen Ed Task Force in 2003-04 responsible for creating an action plan to study and revise CMU's University Program and Writing Across the University Program policies and (b) administer a standardized general education assessment instrument to a pilot group of students this year. Based on endorsement from the General Education Council, the General Education Coordinator and the Office of Academic Affairs are working to administer the assessment tool this year. In addition, the Senate is currently in the process of discussing the recommendation to initiate a new Gen Ed Task Force and the process of selecting appropriate membership for the proposed task force.

KRESGE CHALLENGE GRANT

Thank you to everyone who contributed to the fundraising for the new state-of-the-art Health Professions Building and enabled the university to fulfill the $600,000 Kresge Challenge Grant. To receive these prestigious grant funds, CMU had to raise $1.9 million by July 1, 2003, part of an overall fundraising goal of $10 million for the building. On behalf of the university, your support is greatly appreciated.

SERVICE EXCELLENCE UPDATE

Several years ago, I engaged members of the university to help define and focus upon service excellence at CMU. Service excellence initiatives have been implemented during the past two years and continue this year. This initiative has been highly successful. Data again will be gathered from students and others this year to determine their satisfaction with CMU-provided services. Human Resources is leading this initiative and provides training programs delivered on a regular schedule and that are available upon request from units. Please contact Human Resources at <http://www.hrs.cmich.edu/PCD/ServExcel.htm> for additional information.

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

An important part of every public university's role and mission is the advancement of its communities, particularly where its alumni live, lead, and work. Many members of the CMU team continue to engage key business and industry leaders, community and education officials throughout Michigan, CMU alumni, legislators, and media representatives. Their outreach efforts are focused on expanding external relationships and partnerships to identify student scholarships (our top fund raising priority), student internships, graduate job placements, sponsored faculty research opportunities, and funding resources. Relationships developed between staff and members of the president's advisory boards have been exceptionally helpful (http://www.pab.cmich.edu). The advisory boards serve as only one model for continuing to develop relationships between the university and appropriate external constituencies. Ultimately, outreach from offices and individuals other than the president will be critical to the future of the university's opportunities to fulfill its mission, move ahead, maintain its competitiveness, and expand its support from Michiganians.

VISITORS TO CMU

It was an honor to have the opportunity to welcome to campus several special guests recently, among them First Gentleman Daniel Granholm Mulhern, Attorney General Mike Cox, Congressman Thad McCotter, State Senators Mike Goschka and Deb Cherry (Chair and member, respectively, of Senate Higher Education Appropriation Subcommittee), State Representatives Sandy Caul, Judy Emmons, and David Palsrok, and the Higher Education and Capital Outlay staffs of the House and Senate Fiscal Agencies. This week, State Representatives Jack Hoogendyk, David Farhat, and Glenn Steil, all members of the House Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee, will be visiting. It is fundamentally important to our government relations efforts for visitors such as these to see the Mount Pleasant campus first-hand and understand not only the opportunities that we are able to provide to our students but the university's needs as well. I appreciate the efforts of Vice President Kathy Wilbur and her staff in making these visits possible and for the relationships that she is helping to build in Lansing and beyond. To help in CMU's advocacy efforts, please refer to http://www.cmich.edu/govrelations/ for more information.

CAPITAL CAMPAIGN WEB SITE

In September, the university officially kicked off its historic $50 million capital campaign. The campaign, which will extend through 2006, is focused on raising funds to support student scholarships, promote faculty research and creativity, encourage student engagement in research, global environments, work environments, activities that require critical thinking, enhance the learning environment, and support ongoing and special programs. Please see http://www.vision.cmich.edu/ for more information about the campaign, including the opportunity to view a dynamic campaign video.

CAMPUS KEY CONTROL

The university routinely captures data about losses of university assets on campus and in recent months, a more in-depth review was conducted of some aspects of physical security. A primary measure for protecting assets involves control of keys to university buildings in Mount Pleasant. Weaknesses have been identified and a plan for addressing these weaknesses is in the process of being developed. Options considered may include asking for the assistance of building coordinators across campus in strengthening procedures for the assignment and issuance of campus keys. The vice presidents will share more information relative to this topic with their areas at the appropriate time.

FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE ACT COMPLIANCE

When the Family Medical Leave Act, a federal law, was first implemented almost a decade ago, university-wide training for supervisors was provided. The training was important to provide necessary information and resources to supervisors to ensure that provisions of the law were consistently applied. Since that time, there has been turnover in supervisory positions. Inconsistent application of the provisions of the family medical leave act could lead to legal problems for the university and perhaps personal liability for individual supervisors. To address these concerns, Human Resources will be providing training to supervisors. More information will be forthcoming. For more information about the Family Medical Leave Act, please refer to http://www.hrs.cmich.edu/policy/spg-family-medical-leave.htm.

CITIZENS RESEARCH COUNCIL PANEL

On October 10, approximately 250 people who are important to shaping public policy in Michigan attended the 87th annual meeting of the Citizens Research Council in Michigan, which included a panel presentation about the future of higher education in Michigan. It was an honor to join University of Michigan President Mary Sue Coleman and Marygrove College President Glenda Price on a panel moderated by former state senator Joe Schwarz. Please see www.crcmich.org for more information about the Citizens Research Council.

ANNUAL UNIVERSITY CAMPAIGN

Faculty, staff, and retirees may support CMU departments, programs or scholarships of their choice when they give to the Annual University Campaign. The campaign, formerly called the Campus Campaign, begins October 13 and continues through November 21. From academic departments across campus to scholarship programs, the faculty, staff and retiree gifts significantly impact CMU's ability to help our students and strengthen programs. The university will match donations on a 1-to-2 ratio - the university matches $1 for every $2 given. I thank campaign Co-Chairpersons John Fisher and Jim Hornak for their leadership and support. For more information, please see http://www.giving.cmich.edu/campaign.asp.