27 February 2012 Provost's Report to College Senate

Updates Funds for Equipment –repeated from 13 February The Cabinet has approved a one-time release of campus reserves to help academic departments catch up on deferred equipment repairs and replacement. An announcement from the Provost will be forthcoming regarding the process to request funding. The funding will be made available in the current fiscal year. Please start thinking about equipment needs in the broadest sense. New Info- Target date for release of application is 01 March.

Updates Increase in OTPS Budgets – repeated from 13 February The Provost and the VP for Finance and Administration are working on a plan to increase OTPS budgets for all academic departments. Increased funding will be made available in the current fiscal year to reflect inflationary increases since 2006 when budgets were last addressed. New Info - The Higher Education Price Index is being used to help determine the amount of the increase. Target date for distribution of funds is 09 March 2012.

Announcements Budget Model for Academic Departments – repeated from 13 Feb Beginning with the new fiscal year, 01 July 2012, it is the Provost’s intent to have a model in place to adjust budgets based on factors above and beyond inflation. New Info - Provost will seek information from department chairs to help determine components of new budget model.

Updates- repeated from 13 February 1. The Provost completed listening sessions with all academic departments in January. She will share a report at a future Senate meeting. 2. New Info- The application to request new tenure- track faculty lines was ed to department chairs on 17 February. Deadline for application is 20 April Five to ten lines will be available Requests for new lines will be due in April Advertising for new lines can start late Summer/early Fall PHED report still under review by Senate committees.

Updates Restructuring Update - repeated from 13 February The Office of the Provost has engaged a consultant to review the structure of Academic Affairs (administrative offices and divisions) and make recommendations as to appropriate staffing and reporting lines Dr. Robert Martin, former Vice President for Academic Affairs at Framingham State University in Massachusetts, visited the campus Feb 6 – 8 and Feb His CV, Overview of Consultant Services and other information is posted on the Academic Affairs home page.

Updates Restructuring Update - repeated from 13 February Dr. Martin will submit a written report which will be made available to the campus. Also, he will present the results of his report to the campus community at an open meeting. This will take place on or before 16 April Provost will present a brief summary of his report to College Senate.

Updates Restructuring Update – repeated from 13 February The process of consultation with faculty is ongoing and the consultant’s recommendations will not be final; they will be one more data point to consider. Other data points include the following. Organizational Structure Task Force Report Information from Listening Sessions Written statements submitted to Provost by department chairs. Provost is seeking more faculty input on restructuring and is requesting written comments and/or survey results by 16 April 2012.