Minutes
of
The Purdue University Calumet
Senate Meeting
of February 6, 2002

SFLC 321

PRESENT: Senators D. Barbour, G. Barrow, E. Bouktache, M. Cahn,   K.Corey, V. Damusis, H. Daubek, T. Dougherty, A. Elmendorf, J. Hack, L. Hopp, N. Houshangi, M. Joyce, M. Longas, M. Mojtahed, D. Niedner, B.      Robinson, J. Russett, D. Underwood Gregg, E. Vockell, C.Winer, (Presiding Officer); Chancellor Cohen; Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Singer; Vice Chancellor for Student Services Bryant, Parliamentarian S. Lerner, SGA President C. Sizemore and Secretary A. Agosto-Severa.

ABSENT:  C. Barczyk, R. Bennett, S. Scachitti

GUESTS:  Mary Beth Rincon

I.          Call to Order

Chair C. Winer called the meeting to order at 3:40 pm.

II.            Approval of the Agenda

The Chair called for the approval of the agenda.
Motion to approve the agenda was made by Professor Elmendorf.  Seconded by Professor Barrow.  The agenda was approved.

III.            Approval of the Minutes

The Chair called for the approval of the February 6, 2002 minutes.
Motion to approve the minutes was made by Professor Russett.  Seconded by Professor Damusis.   The minutes were approved.

IV.            Chancellor’s Report

Chancellor Cohen made the following report:

The Chancellor reported that the campus enrollment for Spring 2002 is at 8600 in headcount and this represents a 1.7% increase over the previous spring semester.  We also experienced at 2.3% increase in billing hours. 

The Chancellor thanked the faculty for their quick response provided to the Parking Advisory Committee.  The faculty approved the parking structure proposal by a split vote. The APSAC and Student Government Association endorsed the proposal. The Clerical and Service Staff advisory committee did not endorse the proposal. After an administrative review by the senior leadership it was determined that the campus has sufficient spaces for 9,100 students, but those spaces are not conveniently located.  The expense and other likely increases in costs makes it difficult to justify a parking structure at current enrollments.  However, if the campus were to grow to 10, 500 students we would run out of spaces.  Therefore, the Chancellor reported that there will be planning for a parking structure along with plans for growth in enrollment.

The State budget outlook remains serious.  There will be less money than budgeted in this biennium and there will probably be cuts in the next biennium. Purdue Calumet is planning for shortfalls of 1.25 million this year and next.  These shortfalls will be covered from cash reserves.  Reductions for 03-05 could be anywhere from $700, 000 to $3.6 million.  These would be base budget reductions and could not be covered from cash.  The Senior Leadership is “contingency planning” for a reduction of $2.5 million.  If this money is not required to pay for budget cuts, it will be our reallocation fund for the strategic plan.  The Chancellor indicated that there would be a process to identify possible cuts and to receive campus advice on the proposals.  The timetable for those discussions will be next fall.  The campus is planning an increased strategic plan tuition fee for next year for new students and will be put aside in a strategic planning fund.  These monies will only be allocated specifically to meet some of the elements of the strategic plan.  This fund is expected to grow over time.

The Chancellor reported that Purdue University has been planning a technology incubator for Northwest Indiana on the PRF site at I-65 and 101 Avenue in Merrillville.  Representative Pete Visclosky announced that he has secured funding to begin the project and has committed to finding additional funding to complete the infrastructure development, build the building and provide operating funds for four (4) years.  He has asked that Cal Bellamy serve as chair of the advisory board that oversees the project.  Purdue has asked that we assume responsibility for the Technology incubator once it is up and running.  This fits very well with our strategic plan and provides opportunities to diversify businesses in the region.  We are still planning for the development of the South County Learning Center.

The Chancellor reported that Purdue Calumet hosted a conference with   about 60 high school students who were identified as either National Merit semi-finalists or identified as quality high school students.  Several faculty members participated in this conference.

Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Singer made the following report:

Dr. Singer reported that a faculty survey has been sent out.  The commercially developed survey from UCLA was distributed to the faculty on campus.  She encouraged the members to respond to the survey or request another copy if they have not yet received a copy.

Vice Chancellor for Student Services Bryant made the following report:

Dr. Bryant reported that the Chancellor has approved the acquisition for the equipment to produce student id cards.  The start up date for the student id cards will be April 1, 2002.

Purdue Calumet has been working with a consulting firm to help us with a feasibility study of campus housing.  We have conducted focus groups.  Dr. Bryant reported that he would be visiting the University of Houston to look at their campus housing.  Also, the senior leadership team may be visiting Buffalo, New York to look at campus housing.
Professor Hack indicated that, as the committee begins to explore the issue of housing that the committee might wish to visit Chicago State University, located on the south side of Chicago.  This university is very similar to our campus and is on an urban setting.  She also suggested that the Hospitality Management program be included in the planning process.

The new director for Upward Bound will be Mr. Joseph Flores.  He will begin his tenure on March 1, 2002.  He has served as school principal for many schools in the area and comes to us with a great deal of experience in budget planning and grant writing.

Dr. Bryant reported that the work of two new campus committees on Orientation and Enrollment is continuing.  The New Student Orientation committee is busy working on gathering baseline information of current campus orientation activities.  This committee will also be evaluating best practices among other institutions to help shape our development of an Orientation program for Purdue Calumet.  The Enrollment Management committee is also working on developing a comprehensive enrollment plan for the campus. 

V.        Report of the Chair of the Senate

Chair of the Senate Winer made the following report:

The Chair reported that Kathy Pucalik from University Relations was present to take photos of different events on campus including the Senate meeting.

Professor Winer stated that he was a member of the University Forum as well as The Enrollment Management Committee.  He also indicated that it would be helpful to have more information about the work of the committees he would invite the chairs of those groups to provide a report at future Senate meetings.

The Chair introduced Mary Beth Rincon who presented information related to benefits.

Summary of the presentation made by Mary Beth Rincon:
She reviewed changes in benefits as a result of the implementation of the new university (HRIS) Human Resources system.  The changes, which go into effect January 1, 2003 and include the following, 1) elimination of the 1 year waiting period for long-term disability for new faculty and staff, 2) the term life insurance age will be determined by your age, and 3) the TIAA-CREF contributions will be based on 11% from January & February, and then take 15% beginning March and remainder of the year.

VI.       Special Business of the Day
Report of the Curriculum & Educational Policy Committee
The following report on curriculum documents was submitted for Senate approval.
J. Russett introduced the documents listed below and indicated that the following documents need to be deleted from the list:  EMS 02-02 & EMS 02-03 EMS 02-08, EMS 02-09.  These documents will need more information in order to proceed with the approval.

Motion to approve the report was made by Professor Dougherty. Seconded by Professor Longas.   Report PASSED.

VII.            Unfinished Business

None.

VIII.            Reports of the Committees

Agenda Committee

T. Elmendorf reported that the Agenda Committee met and approved today’s agenda. 

Academic Support Services Committee

N. Houshangi no report

Student Affairs Committee

T. Dougherty reported that the Student Government would coordinate administering the survey on prayer at Commencement with the election of the new officers next month.

Curriculum & Educational Policy Committee

J. Russett reported that the committee prepared the documents for today’s meeting. 

            Faculty Affairs Committee

T. Elmendorf reported that the committee met and passed the document on the Promotions criteria.  The document will be presented, for discussion, at next month’s Senate meeting.  The committee also discussed conducting a senate sponsored faculty survey similar to the survey completed by Purdue Lafayette faculty.  Professor Damusis has agreed to look at the instrument and determine how to adapt the survey to meet our campus needs.

Nominating Committee

D. Niedner – No report

Student Government

C. Sizemore, President of Student Government reported that the university would host Homecoming activities next week.  The elections for SGA officers will be done on-line and hopefully this will encourage students to vote and to respond to question regarding prayer at Commencement.

IX.       Other New Business
Professor Mojtahed reported on the Food Service Advisory Council.  This council has developed a performance management team who will be responsible for assessing the quality of the food service on campus.  Professor requested that comments or suggestions regarding Chartwells be made to any member of this advisory council.

X.            Adjournment.
The meeting was adjourned at 4:30 pm.