skip to main content Indiana State University University Faculty Senate EC#6 Approved,. October 10, Minutes Indiana State University Faculty Senate 2006-07 Time: 3:15 p.m. Place: Hulman Memorial Student Union 227 Present: Chairperson S. Lamb, Vice Chair B. Evans, Secretary C. Hoffman A. Halpern, J. Hughes, M. Miller, T. Mulkey Absent: S. Davis, B. Frank Ex-Officio: Provost J. Maynard Guests: T. O'Neill and K. Hoolehan (ISU Foundation) J. Kuhlman (Grad. School), C. MacDonald (Grad. Council) The agenda was reordered to accommodate guests. I. Foundation Update T. O'Neill (Interim President) and K. Hoolehan (Operations and Control) distributed and explained information about recent changes in the structure and operation of the ISU Foundation. O'Neill stated that the Foundation exists only to support the University and that he hoped to be able to "demystify" its operations. Until recently, the Foundation has been a low-key, relatively small operation, focusing its efforts in two areas: Constituent Development and Athletic Development, and expending most of its funds on scholarships. He indicated a need to expand the scope of operations, and observed that alumni donors' first contact with the University was the faculty and that many alumni maintain their faculty contacts long after graduation. He stressed that faculty can be a strong and positive influence in fundraising efforts, and that "we need members of the faculty" for successful fundraising. He noted that his staff is dedicated and hard working, and that staff morale has much improved since the recent reorganization. K. Hoolehan provided an analysis of funding and disbursements and answered questions. He noted the necessity to maintain a complex, difficult balance of competing interests. He stressed that, even though Foundation presidents and University presidents are compensated for their service at ISU (other board members serve without compensation), O'Neill is donating his compensation as a gift to the Foundation. A search, currently underway, will select a permanent president. Until recently, the number of donors had been declining, but this year is increasing – currently up 300. He explained specifics about the total endowment ($50 M), proceeds /income, and expenditures, noting that, for various reasons, some information must remain confidential. EC# 6, 10/10/06 Page 2 Hoolehan provided the following statement summarizing recent changes: There have been significant changes in the ISU Foundation recently. They are uniformly positive for both the foundation and the university we support. They will position us to aggressively pursue fundraising, particularly through our $85,000,000 comprehensive campaign. You may be affected by these changes, so I would like to point them out rather than have you learn from experience or the rumor mill. First, we have eliminated the 10% gift assessment on endowments. While this remains a common form perhaps the most common, of funding foundations like ourselves, we found it to be both unpopular and unproductive. Effective July 1st we ceased assessing endowed gifts with this "tax." We reduced the assessment from 10% to 5% on all other gifts. To fund the campaign, we instituted a 1.5% assessment against new endowments. This is a one-time-only assessment and will be in effect only for the duration of the campaign. It has no effect on existing endowments. The other strategy employed to fund the campaign, and the strategy that may impact you, is the reduction of the payout from endowments that happens each year. The foundation has designated 5% as its 'spending rate' for all of its history. In recent years this has become the exception, not the rule. The average spending rate for public-university-affiliated foundations is 4.4% Maintaining such a high rate made it difficult for our endowments to grow over time. So part of our goal has been to reduce our spending rate and review it regularly thereafter. Simultaneously, we have the need to fund the campaign, to the tune of almost $500,000 annually. The additional costs are a result of staffing requirements, communication costs, and campaign-related travel and events. In trying to develop a least-pain approach to funding the campaign, we will probably make adjustments to our spending policies which . will direct a portion of the income from endowments toward the campaign. We are working with the controller's office to get this done. When the campaign is done, this funding strategy is done. The spending rate will be reviewed each year and adjusted based on investment performance. The campaign will transform our university. It will transform the foundation. An investment is required, but it is one which will be returned perhaps 50 times over. It is literally an investment we cannot afford not to make. And we are off to a great start. EC# 6, 10/10/06 Page 3 Committee members suggested: 1) better follow up with donors (thank-you letters, personal contacts), and 2) that a structured means of regular communication and feedback between the Foundation and various constituencies, including the ISU faculty, should be established and maintained. S. Lamb thanked the guests for their presentation. He noted that this had been a very positive meeting and is an important "first step" in mutually-beneficial contact between faculty and the Foundation. II. Graduate Faculty Membership J. Kuhlman and C. MacDonald were invited to the table and explained the proposed revision in procedures for granting graduate faculty status, noting that this revision was "more efficient" than existing policy. Opening paragraph of proposed Handbook language: All tenure-track faculty with terminal degrees are granted graduate faculty status at the time of appointment (effective for all faculty appointed Fall 2006 or after). Faculty appointed prior to Fall 2006 who are not members of the graduate faculty must apply no later than January 2008 using the standards in place prior to Fall 2006. …. Considerable discussion addressed: 1) Procedures and grounds for revocation of status – reasons for revocation of status lack specificity 2) Qualifications for chairing dissertations too vague – each department sets its own 3) No requirement for "currency" in the field – each department would determine criteria 4) Faculty annoyance at having to reapply at intervals – many do not renew; some continue teaching 5) No "gatekeeper" oversight by Graduate School – decisions made at department level MOTION FAILED (Hughes, Miller 2-4-0): Concerns will be forwarded to Graduate Council III. Chair Report – S. Lamb: "I need to inform you that Blanche Evans and I will be meeting with President Benjamin, Board Chairperson Trustee Mike Alley, and Trustee Ron Carpenter on October 19th, at 1:00 pm in Condit House. The Provost will also be in attendance. Any direction that you would like to give to Blanche or me would be appreciated. I have enjoyed reading responses to my request for senators to complete the sentences: 'A leader should -----------' 'A leader should not --------' The following response is from one thoughtful senator: 'A leader should ---- value input from all organizational stakeholders by expanding and opening lines of communication throughout the organizational system; constantly update his/her knowledge about the organization by communicating with individuals, groups, units (not simply with his/her immediate subordinate); show compassion by listening to and understanding (with empathy) the lives of others; show integrity by making the organizational system matter more than his/her own interests. 'A leader should not ----- insulate him/herself from others; narrow lines of communication; act only in his/her own interests; mandate policies and procedures without adequate collaboration with those who will have to implement and enact the policies; ignore critical issues in the lives of others; compromise his/her integrity through arrogance and denial of responsibility.' EC# 6, 10/10/06 Page 4 [Chair Report – continued] "On another matter: The chair of the Arts and Sciences Faculty Council is asking for help in finding an Arts and Sciences senator who would be willing to serve as the liaison between the Faculty Council and the University Faculty Senate. This position is specified in the Handbook. "TAFFY and the Provost are investigating the possibility of forming a University College. This domain would apparently bring together several areas that function for the welfare of students under one house. Also, TAFFY wants to investigate the reform of first-year advising. I have asked Dr. Guell to form substantive charges associated with these concepts and bring them forward to the Exec. Committee so that we may place them with the proper standing committee. That will be occurring." IV. Faculty Awards – Proposed Revision Sent to FAC for consideration (Hoffman, Hughes 6-0-0) V. Minutes # 5 (9-26-06) – APPROVED (Mulkey, Lamb 6-0-0) VI. Other Discussion: 1) Prioritization – Report currently is with the Provost, will go next to the Exec. Comm. and then to the appropriate standing committee(s). 2) Distribution of $1.5M in one-time compensation – T. Mulkey and L. Maule (Chair FEBC) attended the meeting of the Support Staff Council which discussed three options and apparently forwarded its input. Lamb stated that he would forward all portions of Exec. Comm. and Senate minutes which concerned the $1.5M to G. Floyd and J. Maynard. VII. Old Business – none VIII. New Business – none The meeting adjourned at 5:38 p.m. (Halpern, Evans 6-0-0). Respectfully submitted, C. Hoffman, Secretary Last modified: September 09, 2008  Copyright © 2009 by Indiana State University.