Notes of the

CAMPUS WELFARE COMMITTEE

Meeting of November 6, 2001

The Campus Welfare Committee met on November 6, 2001 at 2:00 pm in room 481 McHenry Library.

Present: Leslie Sunell (chair), Julian Fernald (staff), Mark Traugott, Marty Chemers, Janelle Marines, Christina Valentino, Line Mikkelsen, Bill Ladusaw, Ed Titus.

Absent: Jean Marie Scott, Barry McLaughlin, Frank Talamantes.

Guests: Willeen McQuitta, Meredith Michaels.

1. Budget Update (Michaels)

Vice Chancellor Michaels updated the committee on the current budget situation. According to Michaels the university’s budget is “not as robust” as had been initially anticipated. In response to what is expected to be a 9-14 billion dollar problem statewide, the governor issued executive orders that all state departments freeze all new hiring and to limit non-salary budget expenditures. UC has been asked to comply with the spirit of the order. Michaels anticipates that the Provost will ask that all campus units cut back on travel and entertainment spending and freeze new hiring. However she expected that academic recruitments would be excepted and that principal officers would have the authority to make exceptions for filling positions that were necessary to the academic mission of the institution. It remains uncertain whether there will be a mid-year budget cut and what will happen in 2002-2003. Michael indicated that the university would be able to better anticipate how the university will faire in the “budget crisis” after the January Governor’s budget and May revision process. In the meantime UCOP is negotiating with the Department of Finance and is leaving open such options as cutting back outreach programs, Cal ISI research programs, and student financial aid, as well as freezing enrollments and increasing fees.

The committee discussed how the CWC might inform the planning priorities in light of the budget situation. The members agreed that the campus would have to make difficult choices that would certainly impact on the welfare of virtually all sectors of the community, particularly with regard to workload. The need to understand the implications of the decisions that are made now was emphasized. Various members stressed the need for the decision making process to operate according to clearly stated principles, enacted fairly, openly and quickly communicated, and justified after the fact. There was agreement that morale would best be maintained by regular communication from the campus leaders.

2) Update on Health Care Facilitator (Traugott)

Traugott reported that the new health care facilitator, Frank Puva, was on campus and ready to take “customers.” He is responsible for acting as a go-between employees and providers in any aspect of health care, including referral issues and issues related to living out-of-area.

3) Other updates, announcements, and discussion

¨ There was discussion about the scheduling overlap of CWC meetings with meetings of the ACF. Administrative Committee staff will be advised of the conflict and asked to resolve it for next year, if possible, but CWC will not be rescheduled.

¨ The question of whether the committee had been officially asked to make a recommendation on the faculty/staff housing priority system was raised. Sunell indicated that CWC had not yet been requested to do so.

¨ The committee decided that the agenda for the next meeting on November 20 would include a discussion of how the CWC’s priorities might be affected by the budget situation.