1. Priorities for the new century
Strategic academic priorities
Campus infrastructure investments
Strategic school investments
Administrative effectiveness and efficiency

2. Strategic initiatives
Enhancing research
Quality teaching and digital learning
TMC relations and biosciences
Energy and environment
Arts initiative
International engagement
Entrepreneurial university ?
Second
Century

3. Working Group: Research and Graduate Studies
Increased proposal development staff to three
99% adoption rate for electronic research proposal submissions; electronic compliance process (IRB etc) to roll out this spring/summer
Funding for research equipment replacement
Discussions underway about research support
Seiichi Matsuda named Dean of Graduate and Postdoctoral studies
Developing creative approaches to strengthen recruitment
Implemented plan to make Humanities and Social Sciences graduate stipends competitive

4. Working group: Administrative review and improvement
IT Task Force report
Principles, governance, organization
Assessments of major administrative functions over the next few years
Changes underway on travel policy and procedures - Implementing Concur
Degree works software tool will be available this fall to facilitate tracking progress toward degree
Continuing to eliminate paper in payroll
Space Utilization Task Force
Space survey of 70 buildings (Feb 25-May 2)

5. Finances and the FY 2015 budget
Key revenue assumptions:
2 percent increase in endowment distribution likely; discussing additional distribution possibilities with the board
Slower growth expected in all other core revenues
Smaller entering class of undergraduates (945 fall 2014 vs. 976 fall 2013)
Slower growth in tuition rate (4.2 percent to $39,880)
Priorities (not in any order):
Salaries
Faculty recruitment
Class section size
Student retention
Improving graduate education
Library resources
Support for research
Rice’s role in digital education
Deferred maintenance
Replacing the IT network
Administrative improvements

6. Faculty salaries
Slightly larger salary pool for FY 2015
Separate pool for promotion-related raises
All promotions will receive at least 9.5 percent raise
As part of budget process, provost and deans are reviewing all TTT faculty salaries with focus on:
appropriateness in light of equity, merit and market