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Update #53
CENTRAL MICHIGAN UNIVERSITYOFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
September 21, 2005
| TO: | The CMU Community |
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| FROM: | Michael Rao |
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| SUBJECT: | CMU Update 53 |
State Budget
Tentative agreement between the Governor, House of Representatives, and Senate on this year’s budget has been reported. We understand that the state has identified an additional $16.3 million for all universities over the Governor’s initial budget recommendation of February. The Governor allocated $2.5 million across the board among the state universities, giving each institution a 0.2% increase. The Senate allocated $6.9 million, which creates a funding floor level of $3650. This floor funding helps GVSU, SVSU, and Oakland because CMU has moved above the floor. The House allocated approximately $6.9 million in funding model adjustments, which provided CMU $1.4 million. However, this is believed to be one-time and not base funding. It is also anticipated that CMU may receive a “book closing restoration” of $631,500 in 2005-2006, which the Senate and the House believe will be included in base funding. It is expected that the budget will be signed into law prior to October 1.
Fall 2005 Enrollment
Slightly smaller than 20,000, CMU’s enrollment in Mount Pleasant is the largest in history. Most of the feedback on The CMU Promise was positive. Parent and student reactions have been almost universally supportive. Newspapers and government officials have praised CMU’s creative and thoughtful guaranteed tuition approach.
CMU Responds to Hurricane Katrina
The CMU community has been overwhelmed by the devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina on the Gulf Coast. CMU students, faculty, and staff are working to help in many ways. CMU has instituted a paid leave policy for faculty and staff who volunteer to help with the hurricane relief efforts. I contacted affected colleges and universities to extend offers of help to students, faculty and staff in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. CMU is offering in-state Michigan tuition to any displaced students who wish to continue their academic studies at this time. Students wishing to enroll at CMU should contact our Admissions office toll free at 888-292-5366.
In addition to offering in-state tuition, several faculty and staff members have extended offers to open their homes to students from the affected areas. The campus Volunteer Center has a web page with information about the hurricane, links to additional information, as well as links to sites where persons can find out how they can help. Additionally, the Volunteer Center has begun to organize an Alternative Breaks Program that will send students to the New Orleans area December 26 through January 2. Other CMU groups have also organized relief efforts, including CMU’s InterFraternity Council, which has opened a Hurricane Relief Fund at Independent Bank where students, faculty, staff and community members can make donations. My heart goes out to the victims of this disaster. I know that many people share my feelings. Please visit the Volunteer Center link at http://stulife.cmich.edu/volunteer/hurricane_relief.shtml to learn more about how you can help.
NCAA Approves Appeal on Chippewa Nickname
On September 2, in response to an appeal filed by the university, the NCAA issued a statement removing CMU from the list of universities subject to restrictions on the use of Native American mascots, names and imagery at NCAA championships. The NCAA press release is available here.
MAC Academic Achievement Award
For the eighth time in the last nine years (including the past four), CMU has received the MAC Academic Achievement Award. This is the result of hard work and dedication by student-athletes, coaches, faculty, and staff. Congratulations!
Athletic Director Search Begins
The search for a new athletic director has begun with the first meeting of the search committee. The committee includes Jim Fabiano (chair and community representative), Kevin Love (vice-chair and Faculty Athletic Representative), Cali Clark (human resources), Stephanie Comai (Board of Trustees), Kevin Chamberlain (Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe), coaches Christy Freese (women’s field hockey) and Brian Kelly (football), Rich Morrison (public relations & marketing), Steve Poe (SGA president), Scott Smith (Faculty Athletics Committee), Tamera Thomas (student-athlete), George Torreano (alumni), Dennis Washington (development), and Marcy Weston (athletics). I hope to appoint a director in the winter. The person who occupies this position will be key in helping lead CMU to take the next step forward as a national-caliber NCAA Division I-A institution.
Search Relaunched for College of Business Administration Dean
A search committee for a dean of the College of Business Administration has begun, chaired by HSBS Dean Gary Shapiro. We hope to hire an excellent candidate by winter.
Metro Detroit Outreach Initiatives
CMU is expanding its presence in Metro Detroit with a move to a new, more visible, and less expensive location in Troy, Michigan this fall. The move will enable the university to enroll more students in off campus programs with more classroom capacity. It will also provide a new home for the highly regarded vehicle design program, the only one of its kind in the area. Detroit area admissions, Special Olympics, and other outreach services will also be housed in the new facility. In addition to the new location, CMU continues to serve the Detroit Metro area with five other learning centers throughout the region. New academic programs coming to the area next fall include a Professional MBA degree program, the first time CMU has offered an MBA off-campus.
Timeline for New Education Building and Ronan Renovation Project
The university has developed a timeline for the education building project, one that will be slightly aggressive for a project of this scope. At present, a 42-month planning timeline is projected, which includes selection of an architectural and engineering firm this fall and projected move-in during Spring 2009. An administrative project team has also been formed, chaired by Vice Provost Ray Christie.
Annual Events Planned for Fall
Several annual events are scheduled on the Mt. Pleasant campus for fall semester. The Michigan Story Festival is October 21 and 22. More information is available at www.michiganstoryfestival.org. The next Campus Forum on Diversity is scheduled October 26, 5:00-7:00 p.m. in Plachta Auditorium. The title of the forum is “Indigenous Survival: Education for the 21st Century.” The next Griffin Forum is scheduled October 26, 7:30-9:00 p.m. in the Park Library Auditorium and is titled "Michigan's Economy: Can it be Saved?”
GEM Car in Mt. Pleasant for Test Period
Last week, I was provided a GEM car to drive to and from work for a two-week test period. GEM car is a subsidiary of DaimlerChrysler and resembles an oversized golf car. It reaches a top speed of 25 mph and may not be driven on roads with a speed limit above 35 mph. It is battery/electric powered. I am excited by the opportunity to try this environment-friendly means of transportation. While admittedly more comfortable, traditional motorcars consume considerably more energy driving at low speeds around town.
OAG Performance Audit Report Issued
Auditors from the Michigan Office of the Auditor General arrived on campus in June 2004 to conduct a routine performance audit of the university. This is the first since 1988. The auditors established the following four objectives for the audit: to assess the effectiveness of the university’s admission and monitoring practices to help students successfully complete their classes and programs; to assess the effectiveness of the university’s efforts to evaluate the quality of its educational programs; to assess the effectiveness and efficiency of the university’s use of educational and related program resources; to assess the effectiveness of the university’s administration of construction projects. The OAG issued its performance audit report of CMU last week. The report contains five recommendations and the university’s response to each. The findings are rather straightforward and, overall, not at all numerous for the scope of the audit they performed.