Periodic Updates -Update #71
OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
January 24, 2008
| TO: | CMU Community |
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| FROM: | Michael Rao |
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| SUBJECT: | CMU Update 71 |
If you did not have a chance last month, please briefly review Update 70. Many have indicated interest in some of the topics that were covered, including:
- Diversity Charges
- Board Chair and Vice Chairs Elected
- Michigan Professor of the Year
- Medical School
- Revised Budget Model
- Emergency Notifications Update
- Rose Center Expansion and Renovation
President Emeritus Leonard Plachta
We have all been saddened by the passing of President Emeritus Plachta earlier this week and join many others in honoring his exceptional contributions to the advancement of Central Michigan University. His dedication led to a string of important accomplishments at CMU, including international accreditation for business programs, the stunning library that we all use, and many other important campus improvements. On behalf of the university community, Monica, Miguel and I extend our heartfelt condolences to Louise and the rest of Leonard’s family.
State Budget Update
There appeared to be good news from Lansing when the state ended its 2006-2007 fiscal year with a $350 million surplus. However, a revenue estimating conference earlier this month suggests that decreased tax revenue collections in the current year will more than exceed that surplus. We will continue to watch closely state revenue projections for the current fiscal year. The university remains interested in gaining equitable per-student funding and increasing the state’s overall investment in higher education. Though CMU is the state’s fourth largest university, it receives the fourth lowest appropriation per student. Please visit http://www.cmich.edu/govrelations/ for the most current information and to learn how you can help advocate for higher education funding.
I welcomed the opportunity to be with several president colleagues in a meeting with Governor Granholm and Lt. Governor Cherry last week to discuss higher education funding. I will also attend the Governor’s State of the State address on January 29 as a guest of our local State Representative Bill Caul. The Governor is expected to release her proposed budget for 2008-2009 on February 7, which is the first step in the state budget process. I will testify on behalf of CMU to the Senate Higher Education Subcommittee, chaired by Senator Tony Stamas, on February 22.
I am pleased that the Legislative Black Caucus has graciously accepted my invitation to visit with students, staff, and members of the faculty on February 6 at CMU. I very much appreciate the obvious support that we have received through a series of challenging issues from Representative Brenda Clack, the Caucus’ chairperson.
Forum Regarding Revised Budget Model Planned
As referenced in Update 70, revisions to the university’s budget model will take effect July 1, 2008. The revisions are intended to restore and improve important aspects of the university’s responsibility centered budgeting system. For additional general information about the version of responsibility centered management implemented at CMU, please refer to Update 57. The UBAC Responsibility Centered Management Subcommittee has scheduled an open forum on January 30, 2:00-3:30, in the University Center Auditorium to explain the budget model revisions in more detail. University budget directors are especially encouraged to attend.
Medical School Feasibility Update
At its last meeting, the Board of Trustees voted unanimously to continue to explore the feasibility of establishing a medical school at CMU and directed me to proceed to the next phase of the planning process. This phase of the planning process involves bringing together a group of my faculty colleagues - a group of CMU’s basic scientists, ethicists, health scientists, members of the faculty who are physicians, the academic senate chair, and chief research and academic officers - to advise me in the development of a vision for the proposed medical school’s academic program. The group’s work will be facilitated by the university’s key consultant and medical education leader, Michael Whitcomb, M.D. Dr. Whitcomb is currently a senior executive at the Association of American Medical Colleges and former dean of medicine at both the Universities of Washington and Missouri.
Dean Gary Shapiro has agreed to chair the CMU Medical Education Vision Committee, a group that is expected to have a limited term. Others invited to serve on the Vision Committee are David Ash, Ph.D., Roger Coles, Ph.D., Gary Dunbar, Ph.D., Ahmad Hakemi, M.D., Tim Hartshorne, Ph.D., Jeff Inungu, M.D., Janine Janosky, Ph.D., Robert Noggle, Ph.D., Roger Rehm, and Jennifer Schisa, Ph.D. I thank them for their willingness to engage in the possible creation of a medical school at CMU.
The charge to the committee is to collectively set forth what they hope will be the impact of a new CMU medical school on the university, community, and region 20 years after the school is established—in other words, a 20-year vision for the medical school—and to set forth the kind of medical education program that the committee would like to see established at the time the school opens to help achieve certain aspects of the 20-year vision.
Based on the outcome of the visioning exercise, Dr. Whitcomb will develop a strategic planning document that will outline in some detail the steps that the university should pursue in order to achieve our vision. We anticipate completion of Dr. Whitcomb’s roadmap document by the end of March and that it will then be possible to make a decision as to how to proceed in the planning process, including the engagement of external partners.
CMU 2010 Update
The latest CMU 2010 update is available. This update includes a preview of the new Key Performance Indicators web pages, and the CMU 2010 presentations/workshops taking place this semester, such as the first open forum of the semester on January 29. January's update also spotlights Leveraging Institutional Resources: A Matching Fund for Competitive External Funding, a Priority III project led by Craig Reynolds.
Procedures for Closing the University
Knowing how unpredictable the weather can be, please remember the university policy called Procedures for Closing the University or Delaying Operations Due to Weather or Other Adverse Conditions. Under this policy, decisions will be made as to whether the campus is closed for the morning or for the entire day no later than two hours prior to the start of classes/events, e.g., 6 a.m. for 8 a.m. classes/events and 2 p.m. for evening classes/events that start at 4 p.m. or later. The university also operates a CMU information line that contains the most updated information at 989.774.7500.
Revision to the Affirmative Action Protocol
Consistent with CMU’s core value of creating a climate that embraces diversity, I have approved an amendment to Article II of the Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Protocol. In addition to coverage that currently exists in the Protocol, coverage has been extended to prohibit conduct by a member of the university community that maliciously and with specific intent intimidates or harasses another person because of that person’s gender identity and gender expression.
With respect to the Board of Trustees non-discrimination policy, additional information is being provided to support a recommendation to the Board that would extend protection on the basis of gender identity and gender expression. Therefore, I have charged the Affirmative Action Officer with the responsibility of researching this matter and reporting the findings to me.
AACSB Accreditation Maintained
The university received notification in December from the AACSB International Board of Directors that the peer review team's recommendation to extend accreditation of the accounting degree programs offered by CMU has been concurred with by the Accounting Accreditation Committee and ratified by the Board of Directors. This was the final remaining step in the process to have CMU’s AACSB accreditation maintained. The university’s next full review by AASCB will be in 2009–2010. Congratulations to all of my talented colleagues who contributed to this important accomplishment.
Campus Sustainability
The United Nations General Assembly has declared 2005-2014 a "Decade of Education for Sustainable Development." There is no doubt that society is facing serious global challenges with respect to environmental, social, and economic health. To help coordinate CMU’s efforts, I will appoint people to serve on a Campus Sustainability Advisory Committee chaired by Vice President David Burdette.
As part of "Focus the Nation Day" on January 31, my office has funded a visit to campus by Dr. Debra Rowe, president of the U.S. Partnership for Education for Sustainable Development and professor of energy management, renewable energy technology and psychology at Oakland Community College. Part of Dr. Rowe’s day will include a presentation to the university community titled “Creating a Greener Planet and Better Future: Opportunities and Resources for You”. The presentation takes place from 3:30-5:00 in Park Library Auditorium. In this session, Dr. Rowe will share stories illustrating what students, faculty, and industry leaders are doing right now to create a better future for all of us. Find out what is possible at CMU, become better educated on issues of sustainability, and get resources to help you (and others) in both your career and personal life.
College Dean Positions
Thank you to Rich St. Andre, who is serving as interim dean of the College of Science and Technology while the search for a new dean continues. The search committee is in the process of reviewing applications and selecting semi-finalists. Finalists are expected to interview on campus in March.
For The Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow College of Health Professions dean position, three finalists have been selected and are visiting next week.
Annual University Campaign
The 2007 Annual University Campaign raised $680,528 (a 21% increase over the previous campaign), set a record for dollars raised, and surpassed the goal of $600,000. 960 faculty, staff and retirees contributed to the campaign (a 9% increase over the previous year) and is the highest number of participants on record. Thank you to Tony Voisin and John Nichol for their enthusiasm, hard work and dedication as this year’s campaign co-chairs.
