Eastern Ad-Hoc Budget Committee
Minutes
May 2, 2012
Connecticut Room
9 a.m.
Attendance: Patricia Banach, Maryanne Clifford, David Cummings, Matthew Hicks, James Howarth, Kristin Jacobi, Brian Lashley, Terry Lennox, Jianhua Lin, David Mariasi, Elsa Núñez, Michael Pernal, William Salka, David Stoloff, Nancy Tinker (Guest)
Absent: David Bachand, Karyl Bulmer, Karen Collins, Susanne Dowling, Drew Hyatt, Thomas Madera, Denise Matthews, Diane Moore, Dimitrios Pachis, Robert Wolf
Meeting commenced at 9:05 a.m.
1. Approval of Previous Meeting Minutes
The minutes of the March 29, 2012, meeting were approved as revised.
2. Welcome and Update – President Núñez
E. Núñez thanked everyone for making time for the committee at the end of the year. She mentioned three things are important to the work of the committee: 1. Board of Regents met Monday to talk about their Strategic Plan. They want a high-level Strategic Plan that the 17 units can fit under. This is good for Eastern because our new Strategic Plan process starts next fall. 2. The state representatives approved Remediation Bill SP 40 which eliminated remediation at all campuses. Only the highest level of remediation will be taught at campuses. She said we are thinking of running a few centers in the state – immersion centers for remediation – where students could go until they are college ready. 3. The Transfer and Articulation Agreement was approved by faculty which created five subcommittees and one macro committee. Peter Bacchiochi is the representative on the macro committee, and David Stoloff is the alternate. Finances have been put in place for the Agreement. ECSU has only two professors teaching remediation, and they will be able to teach other courses instead.
In regard to the Immersion Center, J. Lin asked if it would be open to everybody. Dr. Núñez said it will be open to anyone who has applied to one of the 17 colleges and been accepted contingent upon successful completion of Immersion.
3. Facilities Update – Nancy Tinker
- Fine Arts Building – N. Tinker said the Fine Arts schematic is finished, and she presented an overview of the proposed facility. The building will be completed by 2015. The facility includes a 400-seat theater, a 350-seat theater, the Akus Gallery, a print-making studio, costume shops, dressing rooms, green room, lighting area, faculty offices, storage space, piano lab, acting classroom, design studios, painting and drawing studios, computer labs, conference room, and two general-purpose classrooms. E. Núñez said there will be an area in the lobby for selling event items. She also said the lobby can also be converted into a sit-down dinner area for 250 people. P. Banach asked if the 1% for art was still available. N. Tinker responded yes. M. Clifford asked if the facility will include baby-changing tables. N. Tinker said that since the building includes public space, it most likely will have changing tables. N. Tinker said the total project cost is $63 million. When architect’s fees are included, the total will be about $80 million. In reply to D. Pachis’s question, N. Tinker said the roof’s pitch will be at least one-onone. In order to keep noise out of the building, a lot of the mechanical equipment is on the roof, so the pitch cannot be too steep. P. Banach asked what the next step was for funding. N. Tinker said construction funds are in the 2020 capital plan which is scheduled to be released in July 2013.
- Fuel Cell - Eastern is installing a 400 KVA fuel cell behind the Science Building which will provide electricity and heat to the building. Around Commencement, ECSU will be starting it up and getting it going. Currently, most electricity comes from High Street. If we add electricity from the fuel cell to the loop, we will reduce what we need from the transformer. This will lower the carbon footprint and add heat to the heating system.
4. FY 2013 – Jim Howarth
- FY 2013 Budget Request - J. Howarth reviewed Attachment A. He said ECSU will meet its commitment of a balanced budget for this year. For FY 13, ECSU is not able put any additional money into reserves. However, the budget does include faculty positions for which we are recruiting as well as a few more full-time positions. J. Howarth reviewed the March 27 letter from Governor Malloy and the April 23 letter from Secretary Barnes included in Attachment A.
- Current New Articles from Various Sources Regarding the State Deficit - J. Howarth reviewed the Courant and Mirror articles included in Attachment A. As of now, ECSU is unsure of what the direct impact to the University will be should a reduction occur in FY 12. J. Howarth asked that requests for any significant purchases be sent to the VPs as soon as possible.
- D. Pachis asked if the Board of Regents has a separate budget. J. Howarth explained the budget is allocated to the Board of Regents, Connecticut State University, Community Colleges, and Charter Oak College. The System Office is funded through the Community Colleges and Connecticut State University. The intent has been to keep the funding separate but the management centralized.
5. Human Resources – Mike Pernal
M. Pernal said there is nothing new to report. M. Pernal said the Request to Fill forms are being sent to the System Office for review, but we have not been receiving them back. We are proceeding with searches already in place. Faculty searches are not affected by freeze. E. Núñez said there are 17 lines – 15 replacements and two net new positions.
M. Pernal said we are still waiting to hear whether employees will be allowed to switch their retirement from ARP to Tier II. W. Salka asked if, when this is resolved, HR will hold a session to explain the options. M. Pernal said they will.
6. New Business
J. Howarth asked if there is any new business.
E. Núñez said we do not meet in the summer, unless there is an emergency. The next meeting will be in the fall.
E. Núñez said that if a 5 percent reduction is implemented, the University will send an email to let faculty and staff know about it.
The meeting adjourned at 10:23 a.m.
Submitted by,
Rebecca Davis
