April 17, 2003

 

TO:       Larry Draper, Chair

            SenEx

 

FROM: George E. Gibbs, Chair

            Planning & Resources

 

RE:       Final Report for FY03

 

Here is a report on action in regard to the charges given to the Planning and Resources Committee for FY03:

 

  1. Hold monthly meetings with the Provost …

And

  1. Monitor and provide feedback on the use of funds derived from student tuition …

 

Planning and Resources spent the majority of its effort on these two charges.  The committee met with the Provost 5 times.   At his request the first meeting was held on July 22, a much earlier start for the Committee than usual.  Most of the meetings were spent discussing the allocation of student tuition funds.  The Provost presented proposals of how he planned to allocate the funds.  Committee members asked questions, sought clarifications, and gave him input and suggestions.  The committee found the Provost to be forthcoming and receptive to questions and suggestions.

 

In August the Chair corresponded with Jonathan Ng, student body president, about a student subcommittee to participate in the meetings with the Provost that involved discussions about student tuition funds.  He did appoint such a committee and its members met with P & R and the Provost from September on.   Also, SenEx named a representative from both the Classified Senate and UPSA to the committee on a temporary basis in October.  In March P & R recommended making the membership of these representatives permanent.

 

Action Item:  There are two more meetings scheduled with the Provost on April 25 and May 16.  (The latter will be cancelled if not needed.)  Given that the university’s budget will likely be late this year, it may be necessary for P & R to meet with the Provost in late June or early July to review any necessary modifications in the current budget plan.  It will be important to empower the present committee to meet with him over the summer or have the new chair and members of the Committee in place by then.

 

  1. Participate in the university’s budget formulation …

 

The Provost did not request budget documents from academic units this year and consequently did not hold budget hearings.

 

  1. Inform SenEx promptly …

 

Copies of correspondence from the Committee to the Provost have been sent to SenEx.

 

  1. Utilize the technical support of the office of Institutional Research and Planning …

 

OIRP has supplied some information to the Committee to assist with Charge #14.  See below.

 

  1. Submit to SenEx … minutes …

 

Minutes have been prepared for all meetings.  Some have previously been sent to SenEx.  A complete file is included with this report.  Also, in those cases in which the Committee sent written comments to the Provost, they are included as well.

 

  1. Monitor and provide feedback on the SmartCard …

 

The Committee did not address this charge this year.  However, with the switch to a new card vendor that is currently under way, next year’s committee should address this charge.

 

  1. Keep abreast … Campus Master Plan.

 

The Committee took no action on this charge this year.

 

  1. Stay informed about building … Edwards Campus.

 

One committee member interviewed Vice Chancellor Clark about developments at the Edwards Campus.  He reported what he had learned back to the Committee.  The handout he provided is included with this report.  The Committee did not learn of any situation that required further action at this time.  Given the rapid growth of the programs and physical plant on that campus, it would be useful to have such an update annually.

 

  1. Continue to study the impact … in the tuition and fee systems.

 

The Committee discussed how to we might address this issue but no progress was made on this charge.

 

  1. Stay informed about …Initiative 2001 …

 

The Committee took no action on this charge this year.

 

  1. In coordination with the Library Committee …

 

The balancing charge did not appear on the Library Committee’s list of charges for the year.  The Chair inquired about the status of this charge and was told to give it lower priority.

 

  1. Review the process of raising private funds …

 

The Committee took no action on this charge this year.

 

  1. Determine the extent and impact … faculty retirements …

 

OIRP supplied the Committee with some information from departments on this topic and the Committee discussed how to address this topic, but it did not delve into the charge at any depth.

 

Respectfully submitted.