Minutes of the University Budget Committee

CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, FRESNO
5241 N. Maple, M/S TA 43
Fresno, California 93740-8027
Office of the Academic Senate
Ext. 8-2743

Members Present: J. Constable, A. Parham, D. Nef, J. Parks, R. Sanchez; P. Newell

Members Absent: P. Amaral

Visitors: None

The meeting was called to order by Chair Constable at 3:36 p.m. in Thomas 117.

  1. Minutes. MSC to approve the Minutes of 26 October 2011.

  2. Agenda. MSC to approve the Agenda as distributed.

  3. Communications and Announcements.

    None.

  4. New Business

    None presented to the Committee.

  5. Discussion of the report from the AABATF

    Discussion within the UBC addressed further thoughts on the findings of the AABATF and informal conversations with colleagues on the proposals positive and negative points. Points discussed by the committee were wide-ranging and touched on both the financial realities of the University and the philosophical ideals behind a University. Points presented during the discussion included Is the dissolution of an effective college in both graduate and undergraduate instruction (CSM) for a relatively minor cost savings really in the best interests of the University? How will the closure of CSM, and indirectly the commitment of the University to science and mathematics in the Valley, be viewed by those outside the University? Concern was also voiced regarding the removal of GE courses from the CSM that might negatively impact the College’s ability to provide the more expensive lab courses at the undergraduate and graduate level, as well as, support the equipment needs required to provide a first rate education to our students and remain competitive for federal funding. The question was also raised regarding the lack of direct faculty consultation in the recommendations of the AABATF.

    The UBC intellectually recognized that the merging of Colleges could provide a long-term savings to the University, but at the same time highlighted that Colleges of different cultures, funding bases, and sources of donations could be difficult to merge successfully without upsetting their current level of success. It was noted that other campuses within the CSU system that have undergone within campus college mergers sought a much greater level of faculty support and that there should be a greater degree of college level participation in identifying a suitable partner with whom to merge and clarifying the key sticking points in making a merger successful.

    The members of the UBC noted, as did many with whom they spoke, that the majority of the savings identified by the AABATF report was associated with more effective management of class enrollment and not the merging of colleges.

    The committee agrees with the AABATF finding that the many centers and institutes on campus need to become more self-supporting, but were further wondering if these entities could in some way play a more active role in the University’s primary mission – the education of students.

  6. Discussion of the additions to the UBC Budget Analysis Guidelines

    The discussion centered on adding language to the Budget Analysis Guidelines that would ensure that potential additional costs to the library due to the addition of new programs would not just be reviewed by library personnel, but that the Dean of the Library would be required sign-off on the proposal ensuring that these costs were recognized.

The meeting was adjourned at 5:00 p.m.

Agenda for Wednesday 9 November 2011

  1. Discussion with Provost Covino regarding the report from the AABATF.

  2. Approval of minutes of 2 November 2011.

  3. Approval of agenda for 9 November 2011.

  4. Communications and Announcements.

  5. New Business.

Download the PDF

This PDF is provided as a print-only reference document and may not be fully accessible to users of assistive technology. For more information, please visit Title II Rule on Digital Accessibility page.