Faculty Senate Steering Committee Meeting
September 8, 2020 3:00 P.M.
Zoom
Attendance: Barb Dahlbach, Rona Donahoe, Chapman Greer, Mirit Eyal-Cohen, Ignacio Rodeno, John Vincent, Andre Denham, Rainer Schad, Mary Stone, Patricia Kung, Ajay Agrawal, Kelly Shannon-Henderson, Jennifer Dempsey, Ruth Ann Hall, Joy Burnham, Steven Yates, Susan Appel, Christopher Lynn, Ibrahim Cemen, Jeri Zemke, Past President Donna Meester, Parliamentarian Robert Riter.
Absent: Matthew Hudnall
The Faculty Senate Steering Committee meeting minutes of August 11, 2020 were approved.
Vice President for Financial Affairs, Matt Fajack, was the speaker for today’s meeting. He began his remarks with a reminder about Census Day. There has been a strong response from UA students. UA’s total fall enrollment is 37,840 which is a less than one percent decline from last year. Undergraduate in-state enrollment is 14,003, out-of-state is 17,671 for a total of 31,674. Graduate student enrollment increased with 2,300 in-state, out-of-state 3,900 for a total of 6,200. In-state increased 1.2%, out-of-state decreased to 6.8% with total graduate enrollment decreasing 3.4%. Out-of-state students account for 60% of the head count and 77% of tuition. UA is down 255 first year students. The number of drops today is 198. Overall, administration is pleased with enrollment considering the Covid19 projection and impact beginning in March. Presently tuition billing and collections are $215.5 million. This was $226.4 last year decreasing about $10 million dollars. UA is $12 million dollars in the black from the budget that was made. Fajack does not see proration unless something drastic occurs. Covid19 related expenses are at $12 ½ million dollars with $4.5 million dollars received from the governor. Funding from the Federal government was $12.3 million dollars with half going to student housing, dining and parking refunds and half to UA. Covid19 expenses included testing, call center, food, isolation and quarantine spaces, medical and academic contacts for quarantined students and any other need or supplies. A cushion of $8 million dollars is in place for unseen or additional expenses.
Questions from Steering Committee members included tuition revenue, financial health of all three campuses, more people needed at test sites, quarantine area monitors, academic and medical touches for those students in isolation, additional call center staff and other needs. There are 8,200 beds reserved for quarantine space. About thirty to forty students have chosen to go home following a positive test result. Housing and dining are in pretty good financial condition as long as there is not a depopulation of campus. If the decision was made to go totally online instruction and students remained on campus, the impact would be relatively small. If campus is depopulated, it would mean a $2 million dollar loss per week. A twelve week loss would be between $24 and $25 million dollars. Additional funds would have to go to housing and dining for renovations and repairs. Some of the budget cuts put in place were meant to be temporary depending on students remaining on campus. Some funds from the ordered five percent budget cut will be returned to colleges at the discretion of the President and Provost. President Donahoe will recommend the reinstatement of the Resources and Priorities Committee and the participation and input of faculty in the distribution of discretionary funds.
President’s Report – (Rona Donahoe) The process of Covid19 sentinel testing was to begin with an email from GuideSafe to fill out online consent forms and an email would follow with instructions on how to select an appointment time. Sentinel testing will be at the East Campus Storm Shelter. The health check operated out of UAB is having technical issues. A check will be done through OIT.
President Donahoe has received the Faculty Handbook changes for promotion to professor from associate professor allowing a three year period. The changes have been reviewed and approved by the Council of Deans, Graduate School and the Faculty Senate.
A resolution/letter was presented by the Faculty Senate Research and Service Committee, the Faculty Senate Family Life Committee and Preethi Nair titled “Resolution for Publicization of Covid19 Statistics for the University of Alabama”. The resolution requesting clear daily information related to health risks, notification of contact with infected person, online weekly access to Covid19 statistics, details about contact tracing operations and clear action guidelines for different thresholds of Covid19 spread. It appears the lack of communication is the issue. The University has been very responsive to any problems such as air circulation, installation of plexiglass and any other reported situation needing attention. President Donahoe will request more specific information be provided on Dashboard. UA System Office releases all Covid19 statistics. The Steering Committee voted for the group to rewrite the resolution/letter.
Following discussion the decision was made to organize town hall meetings to give all faculty members access to information and to ask questions from UA administration.
The Diversity and Inclusion Committee will submit a written report to go with the agenda.
The Student Life Committee will present the resolution commending Dr. Kathleen Cramer and Dr.Tim Henson for their service to The University of Alabama. This will be done with the suspension of rules in the Faculty Senate meeting on September 15, 2020.
The Research and Service Committee will consider a review and resolution concerning contract and grant accounting to directly distribute overhead reimbursements to the colleges and departments.
It was suggested to have Beth Howard speak to the Faculty Senate concerning changes in Title IX at the November meeting.
Meeting adjourned 5:45 P.M.
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Contact: Sarah Miesse, semiesse@culverhouse.ua.edu