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Faculty Assembly

Faculty Council Meeting (3/9/2000) Report by: Tom Zwirlein

I. Leonard Dinegar gave a brief update of legislative activity. CU is doing well with the legislature. General funding may be up by 4.1 % which is higher than the governor recommended and lower than CCHE recommended. With other additions for scholarship, tuition enhancement (which was approved for (UCCS) the increase could go as high as 6% (the 6% figure is not official yet - so don't quote me on it).

Money for capital projects is looking favorable. The legislators are waiting for new revenues projections.

The sophomore exam has temporarily been eliminated from the governor's education reform bill. But it isn't dead yet. Hold on for more details.

HB 1289, the study of higher ed. The hearing are moving quickly.

HB 1215, state increase in health benefits. Don't know yet whether there will be any money earmarked for this bill.

II. Administrative Report

The latest and greatest CCHE battle is over the proposed financial aid policies. The question is whether they are trying to fix something that's not broken.

The teacher education policy sailed through. The policy eliminated the requirement for an approved undergraduate degree (the good news). Now students must demonstrate proficiency.   All CU Schools of Ed should be able to comply with the new rules. Schools of Ed have 10 months to get programs approved (the bad news). Free coffee and doughnuts for all School of Ed faculty and staff for the next 1 0 months.

III. Boulder Faculty

Looking at a scholarship endowment for faculty dependents from vending machine proceeds.

They are revising the Boulder Administrative Performance Appraisal.

They are looking to focus more narrowly on faculty benefits in the future.

IV. Health Sciences

They are working through problems caused by the FEDS pulling research funds.

V. Denver Faculty

They are also discussing unit merit and will recommend withholding 8 percent of salary pool for unit merit.

VI. EPUS

FCQ Update - Vice President Groth commented on the EPUS report regarding the FCQ made to the regents. They held a discussion with the regents to determine more precisely the goals of the FCQ, develop some principles for the FCQ, and get feedback from the regents so a policy could be developed. Unfortunately, Sievers took over the discussion and put VP Groth and EPUS on the defensive. EPUS is now trying to come up with a strategy to get some goals and principles regarding the FCQ into the rules of the regents.

VII. UBAB

Communications to UBAB are failing. They are not finding out about issues as they arise.

UBAB is proposing an increase in the contribution for health benefits. (See the proposed policy).

VIII. Personnel and Benefits

Vice President Bliss accepted the recommendation to add funds to the 403(b) plan.

Vice President Bliss accepted the recommendation to add all Fidelity and Vanguard funds to the 401(a) plan.

Plans are being made to get CU Dental plan back into Delta.

IX. P and T

Will discuss the dismissal of Professor Uberoi in April.

X. New Business

The personnel and benefits committee reviewed the original unit merit that was approved at the (UCCS) Faculty Assembly last month. The committee responded with an alternative recommendation which was unanimously accepted with one amendment. Unit merit seems to be on the minds of everyone and few faculty support the concept.