University President John T. Casteen III told members of the Faculty Senate yesterday about the repercussions of recent budget cuts for the University.
"The budget situation was not unmanageable, and will likely not be as severe a problem as it was in 1992 and 1993," Casteen said. "But don't underestimate the problem. The worst of it is, state support for faculty salaries is slipping."
Because of budget constraints, the possibility of the University offering more competitive salaries to compete with peer universities is now "dismal," Casteen said. The administration plans to compensate for this situation by paying a 5 percent increase to faculty members promoted this year.
The budget crisis also forces the College to leave 23 personnel positions vacant and 20 teaching assistant positions unfilled. Casteen said he also expects a reduction in first-year seminars.
The University's overall reduction in funds is $25 million, comprised of $16 million from the academic units and $9 million from administrative and other components of the budget.
Later in his address to Faculty Senate members yesterday, Casteen said he anticipates the University to receive $210 million for the capital campaign this year.
Following Casteen's appearance, Astronomy Prof. Robert O'Connell, the subcommittee chairman for graduate student funding, described ways to ameliorate graduate students' financial troubles.
"Our initial goal for the first five years is to see that our best graduate students are fully supported for tuition and living expenses by central funds," O'Connell said. "We propose full tuition coverage, except when they are covered by grant funds."
"A rough cost figure is about 10 million a year, which is only 3 percent of the academic University budget, so it seems entirely feasible to us," he said.
Finally, the Faculty Senate nominated new leadership.
Environmental Sciences Assoc. Prof.Robert E. Davis, chairman of the academic affairs committee, was nominated for chairman-elect, the position held for a year before becoming chairman. Anthropology Dept. Chairwoman Ellen Contini-Morava was nominated for secretary.
Eight professors also were nominated to the Executive Council, the steering committee for the Senate. There are four openings on Council. Elections will be held later this month after nominations are distributed to all Faculty Senate members.
During the meeting, Outgoing Faculty Senate Chairman Robert M. Grainger passed the gavel to Chairman-Elect, Michael J. Smith.
"I'm very daunted to have to follow this act, and I thank you for all your work," Smith said.
The current Faculty Senate term officially ends June 1.
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