2006-2007 FACULTY SENATE
California State University, Sacramento

AGENDA
Thursday, December 7, 2006
Foothill Suite, University Union
3:00 - 5:00 p.m.

OPEN FORUM

CONSENT ACTION

University Committee on Information Technology Accessibility (UCITA)
Bob Buckley, Academic Information Technology Committee Chair, 2009
Mark Stoner, Communication Studies, CTL Representative, 2009
Bin Zhang, Librarian, Library representative, 2009

The Faculty Senate recommends approval of the following program change proposals:

• Kinesiology and Health Science, New Option: Sports Psychology
• College of Education, Certificate in Adult Learning Disabilities Program
• College of Health and Human Services: Criminal Justice On Line Degree Completion

Copies of the proposals can be found at Attachment A.

REGULAR AGENDA

SECOND READING

Resolved: The Faculty Senate urges the President to not only permanently restore the proposed 1,642,000 reduction to the 2006-2007 academic program budget, but also to ensure that the academic program budget is protected against future reductions to the extent necessary to preserve the quality of the instructional program and ability to adequately serve enrolled students.

And, be it further

Resolved: the Faculty Senate urges the President to develop strategies for increasing the academic program budget over the next two years to levels which restore the number of faculty positions, operational expenses, course offerings, and SFR’s to at least the 2003-2004 levels.

Rationale: Budget allocations should reflect the fact that the academic program is the preeminent purpose of the University. In addition, funding provided by the legislature for increased student enrollments should be used primarily for academic support and instruction of the students who are matriculated, and not diverted to University Advancement, Public Affairs, and other ancillary functions. Although the President indicates in his November 28, 2006 Memorandum responding to FS 06-142 that he has reversed the decision to cut the 2006-2007 academic program budget by $1,642,000, the explanation which follows expressly states that a decision regarding the implementation of the proposed budget adjustments is merely delayed. Concern about the effects of past cuts and the possibility of academic cuts in the current year and in future years is heightened by the President’s comments on additional permanent reductions to the Academic Affairs Budget in 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 (see Part D of President Gonzalez’ memorandum). In light of the centrality of the academic program to the University, the short-term solution to delay cuts fails to address the effect of past cuts during President Gonzalez’ tenure, which have already resulted in a deterioration of the quality of the academic program, reduction in the total number of faculty positions, including a substantial loss of tenure track faculty positions, reductions in the number of classes offered, increased class sizes, increased SFR’s, and high levels of dissatisfaction among the faculty, most especially the junior faculty, with regard to inequities in salaries, working conditions, and opportunities for professional development.

 

FIRST READING

The Faculty Senate of California State University, Sacramento recommends the following in regard to the composition and charge of the University Budget Task Force as specified in (FS 06-142 and FS 06-145)

1. Faculty Membership to the Task Force

Chris Castaneda, History
Karen Davis-O’Hara, Child Development (Senator)
Scott Farrand, Mathematics/Statistics
Tom Krabacher, Geography (Senate Executive Committee, ex officio non-voting member)
Laureen O’Hanlon, Speech Pathology and Audiology (Senator)
Steve Perez, Economics
James Sobredo, Ethnic Studies (Senate Vice Chair, Senate Executive Committee)

2. Task Force Charge

The Faculty Senate expects the Budget Task Force to operate in a transparent and open manner with full disclosure of budgetary and accounting information necessary to provide accurate budget information to the Faculty and the University Community. Meetings should be open, and times and locations of meetings should be posted in advance.

The role of the University Budget Task should primarily be that of fact finding with the charge, at a minimum, including the following:

1. Provide the University Community with a full, detailed and complete accounting of revenues and expenditures (e.g. administration and business affairs, all university expenses, mandatory benefit costs, etc.) over the past four academic years (2002-03, 2003-04, 2004-05, and 2005-06) and the projected budget for the current 2006-07 academic year. This should include an accounting of reserves and carry-over funds for the years noted above.
    
2. Provide an assessment of whether a structural deficit exists in the University budget, and if so, of what magnitude.
    
3. Identify the reasons for significant increases and decreases in line item allocations over the period specified above.
    
4. Identify additional questions that need to addressed.
    
5. Provide interim reports to the Senate Executive Committee as appropriate.
    
6. Provide a final report to the Senate by early in the Spring Semester 2007.

INFORMATION

1. Faculty Senate's home page:  www.csus.edu/acse, or, from the CSUS home page, click on Faculty and Staff, then Faculty Senate.
2. For new Senators:  "TOP TEN THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW AS A FACULTY SENATOR".
3. Meeting procedures

4. Schedule of Faculty Senate meetings:

December 14, 2006 - tentative December 21, 2006 - tentative