MUW - Administrative Council


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8/4/06 Administrative Council Meeting Minutes

In attendance: Dr. Sheila Adams, Stephanie Brady, Dr. Eric Daffron, Dr. Pat Donat, Melanie Freeman, Gail Gunter, Andrea Holcombe, Dr. Hal Jenkins, Dr. Dorothy Kerzel, Dr. Claudia Limbert, Cay Lollar, Frank McClinton, Nora Miller, Dr. Barbara Moore, Anika Perkins, Dr. Bridget Pieschel, Dr. Tom Richardson, Perry Sansing, Calvin Sellers, Wahnee Sherman, Amy Swingle, Stephen Taylor, Dr. Tom Velek, Dr. Bucky Wesley, and Sam Wise.

Absent: Angie Atkins, Dr. Anne Balazs, Dr. Suzanne Bean, Nicole Dilg, Dr. James Fitzgerald, Dr. Barbara Garrett, Dave Haffly, Chris Holland, Larry Jones, Dr. Martha Jo Mims, Tonya Moak, and Mary Margaret Roberts.

Dr. Claudia Limbert called the meeting to order.

1. The minutes from the June 2006 meeting were approved, and the minutes from the July 2006 meeting were approved with one change.

2. Dr. Limbert thanked the group for their work in helping attract good students to the university, and she thanked the faculty for allowing extra students in their classes or making new sessions to accommodate students. She also thanked everyone for taking part in the interview process for the vice president for institutional advancement and director of alumni relations positions. Dr. Gary Bouse, newly hired for the VPIA position, will begin August 28. A decision about the director of alumni relations position should be made soon. The search firm assisting with the search for a new provost and vice president for academic affairs says there is a strong pool of candidates. She said this is a day in which she is feeling grateful for all that the university is accomplishing.

3. Budget - Ms. Nora Miller reported that MUW had to do a budget escalation for the increase in utilities. She said that all state agencies are under greater scrutiny. There have been many requests for information, including salary information. She reminded the group that the money we work with is state funds and that we should make sure that every purchase can be justified and defended.

4. Statewide legislative meetings - Mr. Perry Sansing said that for several years IHL has talked about going around the state to talk to legislators and business people about higher education and why it should be funded at a higher level. The series of meetings will begin August 23. MUW will host one in Columbus October 10 and will co-host one in Tupelo November 14. Items that will be discussed at these meetings include the economic impact of the universities, the importance of IHL, and the need for salary increases for faculty and staff. This series of meetings will be IHL’s major initiative in advance of the 2007 legislative session.

5. Enrollment - Dr. Bucky Wesley announced that enrollment looks good for the fall. We are 8.57 percent above where we were last year with new freshmen up 13.36 percent and transfer students up 12.9 percent. He expects enrollment to level out to an increase of three percent at the end of the registration period. Also, housing is up seven percent. He encouraged everyone to continue to work hard to help the university recruit and retain students.

6. Academic update - Dr. Tom Richardson welcomed Dr. Dorothy Kerzel as interim dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and Dr. Barbara Moore as director of graduate studies. A preliminary proposal for a masters in educational leadership is being prepared for IHL’s October meeting. A director is being sought for the new Women’s Center for Entrepreneurship. Dr. Joyce Hunt has done a lot of preliminary work on this project. The Center will be implemented in the fall and fully operational in the spring. The university is working on reactivating the business administration degree offered at Columbus Air Force Base. The university is continuing its dual credit arrangement with Columbus High School. They have looked at other dual programs in North Carolina - one for at-risk students and one for exceptional students. The university is looking at how it wants to shape our program since dual enrollment seems to be a nationwide trend. He announced upcoming dates: New Faculty Orientation on August 14, Adjunct Faculty Orientation on August 15, registration on August 16, and classes begin August 17. It was agreed that all university offices will remain open until 6:00 p.m. on August 16 to accommodate students registering for classes.

7. Work study - Dr. Richardson noted that there is a problem with some returning federal work study students in critical positions not being awarded federal work study funds. Mr. Frank McClinton explained that the Financial Aid Office used a different process this year in an effort to try to use up all the university’s available work study funds which has not happened in the past. If a university does not use all of its funds, then the university could receive less in future years. MUW receives $164,000 in federal work study funds and awards approximately $3,000 to each student who is awarded federal work study funds. All students were notified of the deadline to apply for financial aid. This year the form included a section to apply for federal work study funds. A lot of students applied this year. Many students, including some returning federal work study students, applied after all the funds had been awarded. Several in the group noted that they understood the need to be more efficient with the money MUW is allotted. However, the change in the process was not communicated to campus offices. The Financial Aid Office will begin the process of checking on each award to see if the student is still coming to MUW and does plan to use their work study funds. Once some of the money is freed up, returning work study students can be awarded work study funds. Next year a plan will be in place to make sure this process runs smoother.