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Update #52
CENTRAL MICHIGAN UNIVERSITYOFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
June 24, 2005
| TO: | The CMU Community |
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| FROM: | Michael Rao |
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| SUBJECT: | CMU Update 52 |
The information in the sections below is offered in an attempt to be useful and informative. As most of you know, this is one of many periodic updates that will be posted on the web to help share information and engage members of the university community in topics of interest and concern.
The CMU Promise
At its July 14 meeting, the CMU Board of Trustees approved The CMU Promise, an initiative that guarantees tuition rates for a fixed period of time depending on class standing and also endeavors to protect academic quality—student to faculty ratios and services provided by staff to students. While CMU is the first public university in Michigan to adopt a guaranteed tuition plan, it has been successfully implemented at both public and private universities in other states. In light of student and parent feedback that I had received for years, the time seemed right to offer CMU students and their families a plan that enables them to plan finances knowing exactly what the educational costs will be for up to five years. Students will undoubtedly appreciate a hedge against inflation; the consolidation of all tuition and mandatory fees into one cost, providing a clearer cost of attendance; incentives promoting retention and encouraging graduation in a timely manner; and a two-year room and board cost guarantee.
The CMU Promise also enables the university to raise academic standards with a financial base that protects investments designed to offer students maximum contact with professors—enabling professors to hold individual students to increasingly high academic standards. Strong academic performance by students and professors will serve graduates and our communities best. This vision is widely shared, but has been challenged following budget cuts of $30 million over the past four years—largely the result of a statewide deficit. Though not at ideal levels, revenues from The CMU Promise will provide students additional scholarships and financial aid, enhance academic support services, and sustain services and programs that would be at-risk without additional revenue. CMU’s educational costs remain among the lowest of all Michigan public universities.
Budget Expenditures and Priorities for 2005-2006
The Board of Trustees also approved the university’s 2005-2006 operating and capital budgets. The operating budget included aggregate line items for various categories of revenues and expenses and included an assumption that there would be neither an increase nor decrease in the appropriation from the state. As development of the detailed financial plan and operating budget for this fiscal year continues, a very complex process, uncertainties remain. The university may not know the amount of its state appropriation until September. CMU does not yet know its official fall enrollment.
While its exact revenues cannot yet be determined, the budget development process for more detailed expenditures will include discussion among budget center managers and review by the Budget Review Advisory Committee (BRAC), which will make comments and recommendations to the vice presidents and me.
It appears likely that a portion of revenues realized in this fiscal year will have to be used to address university priorities and unresolved issues, such as:
- enhancements consistent with the vision planning. An overall amount is likely to be included in the recommendations of the BRAC, with the specific allocations recommended by the committee established for that purpose in the vision planning;
- additional need-based scholarships;
- contractual and other increases in faculty and staff salaries and benefits;
- increases in utility costs;
- yet-to-be-funded opening and operating costs for the Health Professions Building;
- matching funds for faculty endowment contributions, as discussed by BRAC earlier this year; and
- enhanced funding for library acquisitions.
State Budget and Advocacy
Freshman tuition has increased to a more competitive level, but CMU’s appropriation per student continues to be among the very lowest in the state. The university still needs your help and strong advocacy as those in state government negotiate a budget for fiscal year 2005-2006. Thank you to those who have written to legislators to advocate for equitable per-student funding for all universities. If you have not written, please consider doing so. Your support is critical. Talking points that you may wish to include in letters, sample letters, addresses for government officials, and other information can be accessed at http://www.cmich.edu/govrelations.
Important Meetings this Week
An all-staff meeting (Monday, August 22) and all-faculty meeting (Wednesday, August 24) have been scheduled this week to help us all focus forward with open discussion. Some information will be shared in these meetings, but I am trying to focus mostly on responding to questions, ideas, and concerns. In addition to the staff and faculty meetings, an open forum for students, faculty, staff and community members has been scheduled on October 18 at 5:30 p.m. in the Bovee University Center Lake Michigan Room. Meetings with the SGA and RHA also have been or will be scheduled during fall semester.
Chippewa Nickname
Earlier this month, the NCAA announced a new policy effective February 1, 2006 that prohibits member institutions “from displaying hostile or abusive racial/ethnic/national origin mascots, nicknames, or imagery at any of the NCAA’s national or regional championship competitions.” CMU was one of 18 institutions cited. We were particularly disappointed that CMU was included in a list describing institutions as using native mascots in abusive and hostile ways. Since 1989, CMU has not had a mascot and has respectfully honored the Chippewa name in conjunction with its partnership with the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe. The chair of the CMU committee who prepared the nickname report for the NCAA this past spring does not believe that the NCAA carefully reviewed CMU’s report. CMU will appeal the NCAA’s inclusion of CMU on its list.
Implementing CMU 2010, the University’s Vision Plan
The 2005-2006 academic year is the first under CMU 2010, the vision plan formally adopted in March 2005. Much of the substance of the university’s vision is made possible by the incredibly strong foundation laid by the faculty. CMU 2010 emphasizes teaching and learning, diversity and global perspectives, research and creative activity, public service, and institutional integrity. Please monitor the vision web site, http://www.provost.cmich.edu/viceprovost/visionplanning.htm, for opportunities for feedback and participation. Please take a few minutes to review the Year One Initiatives at http://www.planning.cmich.edu/Year 1 Initiatives Table June 23.pdf. Participation in the university community is critical to the success of the plan and its implementation.
Accreditation Visits This Fall
Scheduled this fall are two important institution-wide evaluation visits. CMU is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of the North Central Association. A review team from HLC will conduct a three-day site visit beginning October 31. The team will verify conclusions included in the university’s self-study by examining data and interviewing representatives from various sectors of campus, ask for rationale for selected practices and policies, and provide advice, if requested, on issues of importance to CMU’s future.
An NCAA Certification team will be on campus for a three-day visit beginning September 11. An institutional self-study report has already been submitted to the review team.
ProfEd
As we had expected largely due to aggressive competition, last year’s enrollment in off-campus programs was significantly below those of prior years. The reorganization of the past year helped in maintaining the financial contribution to the university, and ProfEd was indeed able to provide the $4.2 million dollars expected for 2004-2005. However, projections indicate that the ability to continue to meet revenue expectations will be in jeopardy, and we are challenged with understanding and addressing the changes that are needed to maintain profitability or accepting a shrinking presence in the extended learning field. We continue to review this serious challenge, its implications, and possible bold actions that would help improve enrollments and academic quality.
Planning Continues for Broomfield Road Safety Enhancement Project
I continue to be concerned about the safety of Broomfield Road where it runs through the middle of the university’s property in Mount Pleasant. Please encourage students and others to use extreme caution before walking or running across Broomfield, ensuring that vehicles are far enough away and that they use crosswalks. I am often surprised with how difficult it is to determine visually how rapidly cars drive through this stretch of Broomfield. As I have indicated to officials since my arrival, I continue to believe that with pedestrian crossing on a four-lane street that allows speeds of 40 miles per hour, an accident is inevitable.
Meanwhile, design plans for the Broomfield Road Safety Enhancement project were recently reviewed with the Isabella County Road Commission and an engineer from the design firm for the project. Input on the project was provided by representatives from Facilities Management and CMU Police. The project is scheduled to begin construction following commencement in May 2006 and be complete by the end of July 2006.
Reminder of Energy Efficiency and Other Cost Saving Ideas
We continue to be dependent on your help in conserving energy on the main campus. In addition to being personally concerned about human dependency on traditional energy sources, the university faces utility costs that continue to increase significantly, taking away resources that could otherwise be spent to enhance learning and the learning environment. Though seemingly repetitive and simplistic, please work diligently to turn off lights when not in use and adjust thermostats to 68 degrees in the winter and 76 degrees in the summer. Update 28 has a more complete list of suggested actions. Please also consider volunteering for the University Energy Committee (please see http://fmgt.cmich.edu/energy_econ_commit.html for more information).
CMU License Plates
Remember that you can show pride in CMU and its successful graduates by purchasing a CMU license plate, which features an official CMU logo and is available throughout Michigan. Please visit local Secretary of State offices to learn more about the CMU license plate. As of May, more than 5900 CMU license plates have been sold, thanks in large part to the promotional efforts of staff in the Alumni Relations office.
Research Laboratory to Locate in Mt. Pleasant
The CMU Research Corporation is finalizing contracts with Artificial Cell Technologies (ACT) to locate a research laboratory in Mt. Pleasant and conduct collaborative research with CMU. ACT sent a PhD student to CMU for the summer to work with Minghui Chai, Chemistry, on various collaborative research projects.