Members present: Dennis Benson, Jeff Bewsey, Cory Causby, Joab Cotton, Chris Dahlquist, Edward Johnson, Debbie Justice, Heather List, Dianne Lynch, Jeanine Newman, Judy Revere, Newton Smith, Keith Stiles, Robert Vartabedian, Kathy Wong.

Members Absent: Debbie Beck, Debie Connelly, Jamie Edwards, Fred Hinson, Karen Lunnen, Dixie McGinty, Gayle Miller, Wilma Nations, Alvin Proffit, Rachel Reilly, Lauren Riggan, Kasie Setzer, Austin Spencer.

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The regularly scheduled meeting of the University Advisory Council was called to order on January 13, 2004 , at 3:30 p.m.

Discussion on Banner Implementation, Dr. Tom Franke, CIO

• Dr. Franke provided a hand-out which described Banner as enterprise business software that will be a major upgrade to the current business software system in use at WCU. Dr. Franke also discussed the reasons for moving to this system and the timeline for implementation. He explained that although the costs for implementation of this new system are high, the costs of maintaining our current systems make the move to the new system necessary. The new system will provide the ability to, among other things, discontinue the use of the social security number for identification and move towards a new identification numbering process for students.

 Pay Raises for Lowest Paid Employees, Kathy Wong

• Kathy reported that the Governor's initiative to raise the lowest paid state employees' pay to a minimum of $18,312 annually or 120% of the federal poverty level had been implemented at WCU. At Western there were 34 employees affected. Raises ranging from 1.33% to 3.5% will appear in those employees' January paycheck.

• Due to this action concerns are now being voiced about the possibility that salaries may have been compressed at other levels. Because of this concern an analysis of pay grades at other levels will be conducted to look at equity issues.

Faculty Salary Adjustment Task Force, Newt Smith

•  Newt reported that the task force had completed their work and adjustments to faculty salaries would be reflected in the January paychecks . Dollars for this adjustment were allocated from local tuition monies. CORRECTION: Funds for this adjustment were from vacant faculty positions in Academic Affairs .

Local Tuition Approved by Trustees, Keith Stiles

• A local tuition charge for WCU students was approved by the Board of Trustees. The Board of Governors will be meeting in February to approve a two-year local tuition proposal. The focus of the local tuition proposal is to bring Administrators and staff salaries in the UNC system in line with the national average.

Proposal for Finding Dedicated Training Space, Chris Dahlquist

• Chris distributed a proposal developed by the UAC Committee for Training and Professional Development that included recommendations for identifying dedicated space on campus to be used for training and professional development activities. The current lack of dedicated space makes it very difficult to plan for the activities described above. Chris asked that the UAC approve the recommendations The recommendations are as follows:

• The University should locate dedicated training space for the benefit of faculty and staff in all divisions and departments. The recommendation asked that locations within HFR Administration Bldg. be strongly considered.

• Since employees from all departments and divisions benefit from development activities, it was recommended that the University underwrite the costs for retrofitting, equipping, and furnishing dedicated training space.

• Until dedicated space is established, it is requested that all departments consider providing available training space without charge when space is otherwise not being utilized.

• Discussion of the proposal followed with Dr. Bardo indicating that he just made aware that a University department was charging other University departments to use space. He indicated that this would no longer be the case and that University departments would not charge other University departments for use of non-utilized space.

• It was recommended that the dedicated space be large enough to accommodate 30 persons at round tables.

• The proposal and recommendations will be forwarded to Administration.

Administrative Update, Dr. Bardo

• Enrollment for Spring 2004 was projected for an increase of 65 students and the University experienced an increase of 100 students.

• Enrollment funding number for Fall 2004 is 8,260. This would include a freshman class of 1,700. If numbers are met then we would realize a $4.2 million increase in funding which equates to 35 to 40 faculty positions. Expectations are for a lot of growth in the Distance Learning area.

• State income looks ok for this year. Not expecting any cuts this year.

• The Chancellor will be presenting a State of the University Address on January 29 th at 2:00 PM in the Ramsey Center .

• Chancellor Bardo provided information on a restructuring plan for the Administration of the University. Dr. Bardo said that he is now gone from the University quite often on University business and there is really no structure in place presently that allows an individual here at the university to make major decisions in his absence. With that said, Dr. Bardo said that he is creating a position of Provost that will serve as the Chief Operating Officer as well as the Chief Academic Officer for the University. This individual would also be able to make decisions in the absence of the Chancellor.

Faculty Senate Update, Newt Smith

• Task force has been formed to look at instructional computing needs across campus.

• Working on clarification on intellectual property issues.

• The Faculty Senate Curriculum Instruction committee will be looking at a proposed Engineering program.

Student Government Update, Heather List

• The SGA will be kicking off Clean Campus and Recycling campaigns in the spring semester.

• During the 1 st week of April the SGA will be joining in with the Association of Student Governments in conducting Service Projects.

• SGA is planning a number if fund raising projects to help purchase a Blue Light Box. They will sponsor a Miss WCU Pageant in March and a President Auction on President's Day.

• They are working on a system that would allow faculty to include their teaching styles in the class descriptions so that students can look at the instructors teaching style before signing up for their classes. This would allow students to match learning styles and teaching styles .

Staff Forum Update, Dennis Benson

• Chairs of the 16 UNC system Staff Forums met with Molly Broad on January 12 th . Dennis reports that there were common problems voiced by all the institutions. The major concerns all boiled down to financial resources.

Open Comments

• Keith encouraged everyone to respond to the e-mail from Mary Adams, representative to the Faculty Assembly, requesting feedback from the WCU community concerning the issue of using tuition increases to fund faculty & staff salaries.

The meeting was adjourned at 5:05 p.m.

The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, February 10, 2004 at 3:30 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Jeff Bewsey