Faculty Senate awaits Ohio University President Roderick McDavis' budget recommendation tomorrow to see if its four-hour March 15 meeting was in vain. Senators stayed late to pass a statement slamming the possibility of a 1 percent raise pool next year.
Senators stayed until almost 11 p.m. making changes to the statement, which slams a recommendation for a 1 percent, instead of a 2 percent, raise pool.
The statement, which came from Arts and Sciences Senator Steve Hays, focused on the faculty desire to protect instructional capacity (untenured instructors), as well as a concern about spending on other areas such as Intercollegiate Athletics. It called on upper administrators to work with senate to find a solution that would protect a 2 percent raise pool and save jobs.
After much discussion about the particulars of the wording, senate decided on a much shorter version of the proposal.
The final resolution, which senate suspended its rules to pass, retained the call for collaboration.
Faculty Senate steadfastly and emphatically opposes the March 12 Budget Planning Council proposal
the resolution states. Our opposition to any such concession of faculty and staff compensation will continue unless and until the administration in concert with Faculty Senate shall produce an analysis of the university's financial and organizational structure resulting in dramatic cost reductions in non-core
non-revenue-producing functions.
Those non-core functions included athletics, spending on administration and other expenditures, according to the resolution, which passed 37 to 1.
OU's Budget Planning Council, an influential budget planning group which makes budget recommendations to McDavis, initially put forth the 2 percent option but later discussed a revised 1 percent proposal.
The senate meeting began with presentations from McDavis and Pam Benoit, OU's executive vice president and provost, including discussion of plans to cut $13.75 million from OU's budget for next year - setting the tone for the raise pool debate.
Faculty and staff have expressed concern about taking raises while some of their colleagues are losing their jobs at various budget forums.
Senate discussed two other resolutions before voting in favor of Hayes'.
The first resolution senate debated came from Executive Committee. It was worded in support of the 1 percent raise pool, but Senate Chairman Joe McLaughlin made clear neither he nor the other members of the committee were endorsing that option.
The majority of faculty in attendance - many of them not even senators - expressed an unwillingness to give up raises without knowing where the money will go, particularly because this would affect their base salaries going forward.
We are being asked to pony up our potential cost of living and to turn that money over to some individuals with good faith and trust that they'll look out for the important faculty
staff
teaching people of the university
Fine Arts Senator Duane McDiarmid said. My problem is not so much that I can't give up the 1 percent ... but my problem is I'm giving it up to whom for what.
Senate suspended its rules to vote on the resolution, and it failed 35 to 7 with 2 abstentions.
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Emily Grannis
