2006-2007 FACULTY SENATE
California State University, Sacramento

AGENDA
Thursday, November 16, 2006
Redwood Room, University Union
3:00 - 5:00 p.m.

OPEN FORUM

REGULAR AGENDA

SECOND READING

The Faculty Senate recommends adoption of the proposed 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 academic calendars as shown at the October 26, 2006 Faculty Senate Agenda Attachment B (2008-2009) and at the October 26, 2006 Faculty Senate Agenda Attachment B-1 (2009-2010).

Note: The attachments are Excel spreadsheets - please refer to the tabs at the bottom of the screen to access the proposed summer, fall and spring calendars.

DISCUSSION: UNIVERSITY BUDGET AND IMPACTS ON ACADEMIC PROGRAMS

This is the second of a series of discussions on the budget.

On October 26, 2006, the Faculty Senate approved the following motion:

FS 06-135/Flr.

BUDGET DISCUSSION

The Faculty Senate directs the Senate's Executive Committee to set a date for a formal discussion on the scope, effects and impact of the budget situation on academic programs.

Carried unanimously.

The information provided at the October 18, 2006 Town Hall Budget Briefing can be found at the following link:

http://www.csus.edu/aba/budget/briefings.htm

The following questions were forwarded to Joseph Sheley, Interim Provost and Vice President, Academic Affairs, November 1, 2006 by Chair Fitzgerald:

1. The structural deficit referenced seems to have grown over three years. But isn't the university budget required to balance annually? If it is required to balance, how could the university have a $6 million-plus deficit? And, how, if that deficit exists, can the university be allowed to take three years to scale back its operations (as the President has announced) in order to put expenditures and revenues in balance?
    
2. The Faculty Senate August 30 was audience to a budget presentation of nearly an hour by several members of the administration without a single mention of a suspected deficit. On September 11, in a one-hour meeting, the President's Budget Advisory Group was presented with the $6 million-plus deficit and asked to recommend whether to scale back expenses in one year, two years, or three years. Why wasn't the deficit - and its reduction plan - revealed at the Faculty Senate meeting?
    
3. The 2006/07 allocations for divisions (slide 15 of the October Town Hall meeting) indicate that several divisions received increases in their budgets this year. The single largest is University Advancement - which received an additional allocation of slightly more than $1.3 million. The note indicates that the funding was requested - and granted - "in order to meet goals set by the Chancellor." What are those goals (both philosophical and in budget dollars)?
    
4. The $1,642,727 permanent reduction in the Academic Affairs Budget is the first of three years of similar permanent budget reductions. Are the second and third year budget reductions firm, or is there a possibility that, pending rosier finances, colleges and departments might be spared some - or all - of the budget cuts proposed?

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:

November 30, 2006 - Senate meets December 7, 2006 - tentative December 14, 2006 - tentative December 21, 2006 - tentative