Courtney Hessenauer • For The Post • ch416406@ohiou.edu
Ohio University's president and provost presented to Faculty Senate together yesterday, taking questions from faculty and discussing the university budget and program reviews.
Last night's meeting was President Roderick McDavis' first time at senate since January and the first time he has presented with a sitting provost.
Faculty questioned the president and Pam Benoit, executive vice president and provost, on budget priorities and academic restructuring, expressing concern that administrators have a list of programs they're looking to cut, as well as a list of protected programs they will not cut.
McDavis assured faculty that administrators are not focused on specific programs at this point, emphasizing that they're still figuring out the process for reviewing programs.
Once we get to a decision point on the process
then we're probably a quarter or so away from those types of decisions if in fact were going to make them he said, adding that OU is on a tight deadline because of the state budget.
The university is anticipating at least $10 million less in state funding next year, although the number could be higher depending on decisions the legislature makes in the next few months.
Faculty also asked the provost about budget cuts in terms of academic program reviews. Benoit has asked a committee to look at all programs to determine whether they can become more efficient, but she resisted calling the review a direct cost-benefit analysis.
What I mean is that are there ways to cut expenses and become more efficient by cutting expenses Benoit explained. Are there ways to re-engineer the ways that they're doing things? ... Are there ways to accomplish the same goals but do them in different ways?
The president and provost left immediately after their presentation, when Senate Chairman Joe McLaughlin ended the questioning. College of Communication Senator Joe Bernt later said he was upset that faculty had not had the opportunity to ask more questions.
This is the first meeting the president has attended since January
and I'd like to know why
when there were several faculty members who had questions for the president
you cut off questions
Bernt asked McLaughlin.
Other senators suggested that it was fine to end the questioning when McLaughlin did to keep the meeting short, but that they would like to make sure the president knew they wanted him to attend meetings to address their concerns.
McDavis does not typically stay for the whole meeting because he worries his presence might stifle discussion, said Becky Watts, the president's chief of staff. Faculty can always e-mail the president or see him during office hours if they have questions.
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Emily Grannis
