CENTRAL MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY
OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

April 21, 2004
 

TO:	CMU Colleagues and Students
FROM:	Mike Rao
SUBJECT:	CMU Update #40

As the academic year draws to a close, I offer warm congratulations to students who will be graduating on May 8 and wish you success.

GOALS POSTED FOR 2004-2005

A general statement reflecting my goals for 2004-2005 are posted online at http://www.cmich.edu/president/vision-goals/goals.html.

BUDGET PLAN WILL ELIMINATE POSITIONS, CURTAIL PROGRAMS

There is little new information relative to the budget as we await further action by the state as it determines revenues for the universities. If Governor Granholm’s executive budget proposal prevails, which limits mandatory tuition and fee increases and restores 3% of last December’s 5% cut, CMU will reduce another $10 million in expenditures by July 1, 2004. This $10 million reduction combines the anticipated $7.3 million 2004-2005 budget deficit with the net effect of the Governor's callback from last December, which we have funded thus far using one-time money and carry-forward funds. At this point, most of this reduction must involve the elimination of positions. Information about reductions proposed by various areas is being reviewed and made final and will be announced later this spring, after the university can properly inform affected employees of the reductions. The anticipated 2004-2005 budget cuts increase the total amount of the university’s expenditure reductions since December 2002 to more than $21 million.

Reductions not related to positions will likely be released for review by the budget review advisory council (BRAC) and soon after to the public. Formal notices of position eliminations and reductions are planned for mid-May. While most of the announcements of reductions will come after the end of the semester, it is important that CMU ensure that its reductions are appropriate and honor the notification provisions in employee contracts as well as its pledge to inform affected individuals first before discussing positions in public. Our goal is to provide at least 30 days notice to everybody affected by these budget cuts. In addition, the university will provide essentially the same transition services as were provided last year.

UNIVERSITY ACCREDITATION EFFORTS CONTINUE

The criteria for CMU’s 2005-2006 accreditation review are new, leaving some uncertainty on the part of self-study preparers, visiting teams, and the Higher Learning Commission staff on exactly how this will work. Nonetheless, there is clearly a change in emphasis away from a focus on inputs to a focus on results. CMU will need to make clear how it evaluates what it does, and how what we do relates to our distinctiveness as an institution. The steering committee is contacting and meeting with offices and units around campus to identify how they function, plan, and evaluate. Accreditation is very important. We appreciate your full cooperation and support of this critical endeavor.

SHOWCASES FOR STUDENT RESEARCH ACTIVITIES

The Student Research and Creative Endeavors Exhibition was held last week and included participation by 535 students and 250 faculty sponsors. Projects were represented in posters, displays, and performances by both undergraduate and graduate students and included a diverse range of topics and interests.

More than 20 research projects shown at SRCEE were also displayed at the fourth annual Central Michigan University Posters at the Capitol exhibition April 20 in the State Capitol Building rotunda area. Legislators, alumni, and parents attended the exhibit and joined me at a reception to honor our students.

MAY COMMENCEMENT CEREMONIES

CMU’s spring semester concludes with three commencement ceremonies on May 8 in Rose Arena. A total of 3422 graduates will receive their degrees. Each ceremony will feature a guest speaker. The 9:30 a.m. speaker is Dr. Marilyn French Hubbard, a corporate vice president with the Henry Ford Health System; the 1:30 p.m. speaker is Ms. Ella Bully-Cummings, chief of the Detroit Police Department; and the 4:30 p.m. speaker is Mr. Tom Celani, president and sole shareholder of Luna Entertainment, a Detroit-based company. I am honored that these leaders have agreed to be with us during these momentous ceremonies.

LEM TUCKER SPEAKER SERIES AND SCHOLARSHIP DINNER

CMU is pleased to sponsor the Eighth Annual Lem Tucker Speaker Series and Scholarship Dinner this week in Detroit. The keynote speaker is well-known actor James Earl Jones. This year’s event will attract approximately 500 business and community leaders, alumni, editors, and reporters from the metro Detroit area. The Journalism scholarship recipient this year, who will be honored at the dinner, is Saginaw Arthur Hill senior Sara Martinez. I sincerely thank the organizations that help sponsor this event and those who attend.

RECENT MEDIA VISIBILITY

The work of CMU professors, in collaboration with the public relations and marketing staff, has provided the university with welcome positive and noteworthy exposure in the national media. These media success stories include:

• Chronicle of Higher Education, February 27, 2004, "The Next-Generation Classroom," a three-page cover story spread, amply illustrated, about CMU’s new Health Professions Building.
  
  
• Chronicle of Higher Education, March 26, 2004, "Central Michigan U. Has IRS Agents Teach Accounting Students How to Root Out Fraud," a story about an innovative class designed and taught by accounting professor Thomas Weirich.
  
  
• Newsweek, March 15, 2004, an article about geologist Kathy Benison and her research about the possible origins of water and acid lakes on Mars.
  
  
• New York Times, March 4, 2004, quotes Mario Vassallo, a CMU graduate student studying under physical education professor Tracy Olrich, conducting research on the addictive effects of steroids.
  
  
• Social psychologist Bryan Gibson’s research on the benefits of pessimism ran in a number of national and international publications and on the electronic media in February.
  
  
• The Baltimore Sun, Toronto Star and Business Report, February 28, quoted economics professor Jason Taylor about the effects of February 29 (leap year) on the economy.
  
  
• John Robertson, history, was interviewed on Radio Jamaica regarding U.S. involvement in Iraq.
  
  
• Washington Post, March 16, quoted math professor Ken Smith about how classrooms can use chess to instill life lessons.
  
  
• Voice of America, March 18, interviewed broadcasting professor Rick Sykes about news media and changes in how the media covers news.
  
  
• The Detroit Free Press, April 9, ran an op-ed piece by journalism assistant professor Tim Boudreau on the impact of the U.S. closing of an Iraqi newspaper.
  
  
• A column April 15 by Detroit News editor Luther Keith focused on James Earl Jones and the Lem Tucker Speaker Series in Detroit.
  
  
• The Detroit News, April 20, ran an op-ed piece by Mark Minelli, School of Health Sciences faculty member, on steroid use in professional sports.