The town hall meeting Tuesday was originally called to discuss the general education program. Instead, President Pat Long used the time to address faculty and announce several plans regarding realignment and reallocation.
PROVOST RANDY PEMBROOK<strong> PROVOST RANDY PEMBROOK</strong><br/>Long announced that effective July 1, the provost position, currently filled by Randy Pembrook, will be eliminated.Long announced that effective July 1, the provost position, currently filled by Randy Pembrook, will be eliminated. PROVOST RANDY PEMBROOK
Long announced that effective July 1, the provost position, currently filled by Randy Pembrook, will be eliminated.
“Over the next few months our provost will be taking on accountabilities in enrollment management in helping us get ready for HLC (Higher Learning Commission) … and come July 1, we will no longer have a provost position,” she said.
Long told the faculty from the School of Education and the College of Arts and Sciences that Pembrook came to her a few months ago and expressed his concern that Baker could no longer afford a provost.
“He’s been an incredible person throughout this process,” she said. “And over the next few weeks, you’ll hear other administrative changes that we’ll be making in administration.”
Long said she thought Pembrook’s next step would be to look into becoming a president at another institution, and that he was ready for that type of position.
“He’s done an incredible job at Baker University,” she said. “He’s such a man of integrity. An absolutely fabulous man.”
BAKER DEFICIT<strong>BAKER DEFICIT</strong><br/>The rolling forecast for the end of the fiscal year, which ends June 30, predicts Baker's deficit to equal $406,171. Long announced this number could increase, however, if January enrollment projections are not met.The rolling forecast for the end of the fiscal year, which ends June 30, predicts Baker's deficit to equal $406,171. Long announced this number could increase, however, if January enrollment projections are not met. BAKER DEFICIT
The rolling forecast for the end of the fiscal year, which ends June 30, predicts Baker’s deficit to equal $406,171. Long announced this number could increase, however, if January enrollment projections are not met.
While this number seems large, Long was quick to point out that if the university had rolling forecast predictions available last year, and significant cutbacks were not made during the last 12 months, the deficit would have been estimated to be around $4.7 million by the same June 30 deadline.
“When you think of how far we’ve come in a year, thanks to your hard work, we’re making huge progress,” Long said. “But whatever that is, we’ll be able to resolve that.”
The Baker University Board of Trustees met Friday and Saturday and decided on two resolutions in order to deliver a balanced budget for the school year.
The first resolution stated the BOT is resolved to take the actions necessary to accomplish and deliver a balanced budget for 2009-10.
“This is not going to be easy because we have already cut and cut and cut,” Long said. “When we think about cutting more on operations it is going to be hard, but we have to do it.”
There will also be a continued reduction of the workforce by continuing the hiring freeze and by leaving three current positions vacant.
“There is one position on this campus and two at (the School of Professional and Graduate Studies),” Long said of the openings.
The BOT decided to reduce some additional positions by asking those that are 59 1/2 or older and have worked at Baker for more than 10 years to consider early retirement by Dec. 31. If those faculty members retire at that time, they will receive an unspecified retirement incentive.
“We know of one person that has decided to do that,” Long said, although she declined to say who it was. She also said she knows of others who are considering this option. Faculty members who meet these criteria have a Nov. 15 deadline for response.
The upper level administration also has voluntarily taken a second consecutive salary reduction to help bring the university out of the red.
“We took one last year for six months,” Long said. “And we’re going to continue that this year.”
All of these reductions total around $700,000 for this year.
“That’s essential, and that must happen,” she said. “It’s important for Baker.”
The second resolution the BOT has prepared is to reposition the university by building future budgets that include a contingency fund, short-term debt control – which Baker has accumulated too much of for the past few years – and capital-planning teaching initiatives.
“This is where we say by (2011-2012) we can be at a place where we don’t need to talk about a place where we suspend retirement or that salaries can’t be raised or professional development can’t happen,” Long said. “For us to move forward, and be ‘one Baker’ that we want to be, we don’t want to just string along. This is the change we need to make. “
EXPANDED JOINT COMMITTEE<strong>EXPANDED JOINT COMMITTEE</strong><br/>A joint committee of faculty and staff is in the process of evaluating programs to help determine which programs are cost effective to the university as a whole. Long set a deadline of Dec. 15 for the committee to review the programs and provide feedback. With the information provided from this community, administration will then be better able to determine which positions will be eliminated.A joint committee of faculty and staff is in the process of evaluating programs to help determine which programs are cost effective to the university as a whole. Long set a deadline of Dec. 15 for the committee to review the programs and provide feedback. With the information provided from this community, administration will then be better able to determine which positions will be eliminated.EXPANDED JOINT COMMITTEE
A joint committee of faculty and staff is in the process of evaluating programs to help determine which programs are cost effective to the university as a whole. Long set a deadline of Dec. 15 for the committee to review the programs and provide feedback. With the information provided from this community, administration will then be better able to determine which positions will be eliminated.