The Board of Trustees of the CSU met at the Office of the
Chancellor on November 8 and 9, 2000. Following are some of the major
agenda items and presentations to the Board.
In his report Chair Larry Gould drew attention to several new
projects that will improve the quality of education in the CSU
including the new music center at Sonoma State, and the San Jose
joint library project between the university and the city. The
searches for the Presidents of the Maritime Academy and CSU Channel
Islands are under way, and it is expected that the Board will make
those appointments as early as March 2001. Chair Gould also announced
another extraordinary gift from the family of Stanley Wang, a CSU
Trustee who has already supported the Wang Family Excellence Awards.
The Wang Family Scholarships have been established at a level of $1.2
million over 10 years to support each year 20 students and four
faculty members for study and research in Taiwan and mainland China.
In response Mr. Wang said that he has benefited greatly from
international study, and wanted to give CSU students and faculty the
same kind of opportunity.
In his report Chancellor Reed first mentioned the budget request
for 2001-2002 that the Board adopted on October 26. The quality of
education in the CSU depends critically on this budget which supports
among other things continued access to the CSU for all eligible
students; renewed emphasis on closing the salary gap which, if the
CSU request is fully funded, should be down to 0.6%; and workforce
preparation in areas critical to the State including engineering,
agriculture, computer science, and nursing. The Partnership between
CSU and the Governor provides stability in funding, and our
accountability process is a key element in ensuring continuing
confidence of the work of CSU in Sacramento. The Chancellor has
established a Commission under the Chairmanship of President Welty to
prepare a report by Spring 2001 on policies on the use of alcohol in
the CSU; alcohol abuse by students is a leading problem for the
nation's colleges and universities.
In Committee actions reported to or endorsed by the Board a
Sub-Committee of the Committee on Finance gave an update on the
progress of discussions about a national sports complex at CSU
Dominguez Hills. The sub-committee will hold a more extended meeting
in early December 2000. The Committee on Educational Policies heard a
report by Warren Fox, Executive Director of the California
Post-Secondary Education Committee on Tidal Wave II and Resources for
California Higher Education to 2010. He gave the background for his
Commission's predictions for greatly increased enrollments in all
segments, but especially in the Community Colleges and CSU. The
Commission's estimate of resource needs for all segments to 2010 for
capital outlay is $1.5 billion and he expects the State, even in
fairly prosperous times, to fund only between 60 and 75% of need. He
congratulated CSU on its planning for the decade ahead. Executive
Vice Chancellor Spence then gave a short account of those plans upon
which I have reported earlier.
The Committee on Finance received the annual student fee report.
Total academic year fees in the CSU average $1839 (range is from $
1706 to $2138) and are by far the lowest in our comparison group of
institutions, which average $3946 (excluding CSU) with a range from
$2340 to $6333. CSU's average fee rose by 0.2% from last year to
this, by contrast with an average raise of 4.1% in comparable
universities.
The Committee on Campus Planning, Buildings and Grounds approved
technical changes in the Trustees' approval process. In future
campuses will be asked to submit two proposals a year (up from one
currently) one in each category of existing facilities/infrastructure
(60% of funding) and new facilities/infrastructure (40% of funding).
Exceptions to the number of projects may be granted. The Board will
consider 5-year projections each year beginning in March 2001, as
required by new legislation.
The Committee on Governmental Relations heard the final status of
the Trustees' 2000 legislative program, and an analysis of the
results of the November 7 elections (where there are results!) and
the possible effects on higher education in general, and the CSU in
particular. In the California legislature the Democrats gained in
both houses. The passage of proposition 39 should make it easier to
pass local school bonds which could have two positive effects on the
CSU. First it will ease pressure on State funds, thus possibly
freeing up more for higher education. Second it may be possible to
seek local bonding for joint use projects between CSU and community
colleges or school districts.
The Committee on Organization and Rules approved the granting of
Cesar Chavez Day, March 31, as a paid holiday on the actual date for
all non-represented employees, and said it will ask the Collective
Bargaining Committee to include that in all contracts.
The Committee on University Advancement heard reports on two
successful events, the CSU Advancement Academy Conference, and the
Alumni Leadership Institute.
In public comments members of the CFA Bargaining Team, led by
Susan Meisenhelder, CFA President, criticized the existing FMI
program and asked for a moratorium and extensive modifications of the
program. Each member of the Board received an information packet
from CFA. |
