April 22, 2011
University Planning Council
Minutes for April 22, 2011
Present: Jane Fernandes, Eric Gant, Archer Gravely, Bill Haggard, Julie Heinitsh, Jim Kuhlman, Erica Abrams Locklear, Ted Meigs, Chris Miller, Patrice Mitchell, Kevin Moorhead, Linda Nelms, Dave Peifer, John Pierce, Anne Ponder, Christine Riley, Lorena Russell
Absent: Buffy Bagwell, Vic Foster, Gabriela Lemus, Gary Nallan, Rachel Whaley
UPC met on April 22 from 8:55 to 9:30 in HU 223.
1. Ms. Nelms convened the final regularly scheduled UPC meeting of the year and reported that once the new membership has been finalized, Ms. Riley will announce the 2011-12 schedule. Chancellor Ponder acknowledged the loss of our valued staff member, Jill Yarnall, and asked for a moment of silence. She reported that the legislature maneuvering on the budget crisis has been ugly and is expected to be more positive as we move forward. It’s still early in the process and based on early tax returns, the shortfall is not getting any worse. The Senate budget is expected to be ready in May and the legislative conference is expected to produce a budget that will be considered by the Governor. Our goal is to have the least of the worst options for next year. We are well positioned for this year, but the cuts made so far may not be sufficient for next year. Chancellor Ponder reported that UNC Asheville’s former SGA President and UPC member, Courtney Galatioto, has been named UNC Association of Student Government delegate of the year. In response to a question about the proposed 15% budget cut, Chancellor Ponder noted that we could lose as many as 13 faculty positions. She announced that the new UNC-GA VP for Human Resources, William Fleming, will visit campus next Tuesday to attend Chancellor Ponder’s meetings with staff and faculty, where they will discuss the proposal to move responsibility for managing staff from the Office of State Personnel to UNC-GA. Mr. Fleming will be here to answer questions from the UNC-GA perspective. She also reported that despite the negative budget situation, she was able to report to the UNC Asheville Board of Trustees many positive UNC Asheville accomplishments this year. Dr. Russell suggested that there was considerable campus support for across-the-board salary cuts in lieu of additional position cuts. Chancellor Ponder noted that the path to that option was in gaining maximum management flexibility, and this would be a good question for William Fleming next week.
2. Ms. Nelms acknowledged outgoing members, Dr. Russell, Mr. Foster, and Ms. Whaley, and thanked them for their service.
3. In her final meeting as UPC Vice-Chair, Ms. Nelms spoke on the need for shared responsibility for communication. She charged continuing members to make UPC as effective as possible. In reflecting on some of our accomplishments such as the Resource Allocation document and the Strategic Planning Benchmarks, she noted that our strength was in shared conversations among faculty, EPA non-faculty, staff, and students. UPC members have a responsibility to listen and carry forward information to our constituencies. She urged UPC members to contact either the chair or vice chair to add agenda items that impact the whole campus.
4. Chancellor Ponder spoke about the possible need for summer meetings and noted that we might need UPC advice to help untangle an emergency or crisis budget situation. Any summer meetings will have at least a 48 hour advance notice and will include outgoing, continuing, and incoming members. Members were requested to monitor email during the summer.