Latest entries in Live Blog: June 2011 Board of Curators meeting
Follow The Maneater's coverage as the UM System Board of Curators meets at MU on Thursday and Friday. The board is the governing body of the four-campus university system, which includes MU, UM-Kansas City, UM-St. Louis and Missouri University of Science and Technology.
June 17, 2011
Curators adjorn end-of-year meeting
After approving raises in the faculty's salary pool and changes to the retirement plan, the Board of Curators have entered executive session.
This consequently ends The Maneater's coverage of the two-day meeting. Check back with us when the board meets July 22 via Teleconference.
Board bids Russell farewell as he takes office as commissioner of higher education
David Russell
After serving as Coordinating Board of Higher Education interim commissioner since July 1, David Russell was named the new commissioner of higher education in December.
“Higher education is the foundation for a prosperous state and enlightened society,” Russell said in a press release at the time.
Prior to this, Russell served as senior associated vice president and Chief of Staff for the UM System. The Board of Curators took a moment to recognize Russell as he prepares to leave the System for the new job.
Russell has been working with the UM System since 1991. He is credited with influencing the development and growth of UM–St. Louis over a 20-year span.
“David was a great listener, a trusted confidante and a valuable sounding-board and interpreter for his colleagues,” the resolution stated. “He often provided reliable advice and could readily return a stormy work environment to a sea of calm.”
The board said it has no doubt Russell will excel in his new position.
“David will remain highly regarded by the many individuals whose lives he touched in UM System departments, on the four campuses, within the health system and throughout the Columbia and higher education communities, for his professionalism, collegiality and camaraderie,” the resolution stated.
Retiring Missouri S&T chancellor honored by board
John Carney
The Board of Curators took a moment to recognize the "fun-loving" Missouri University of Science and Technology Chancellor John Carney as he enters his retirement.
Carney has served in his position since September 2005. He is credited with changing the university’s name from the University of Missouri – Rolla to what it is now. This was in an effort to strengthen the university’s national reputation.
During his time at the university, enrollment increased by 30 percent. He is also responsible for presiding over the university’s Advancing Excellence fundraising campaign, bringing in $211.8 million.
“Chancellor Carney was a tireless advocate for Missouri S&T’s technological prowess, which led to remarkable achievements in student success, fundraising, research productivity and economic impact, and sharing the national stage with America’s finest technological institutions,” a board resolution to honor Carney stated.
The resolution had a touch of humor in its description of Carney, calling attention to his affinity for the Boston Red Sox.
“Jack has a distinctive accent and can ‘double-pock his caw’ and enjoy ‘chowdah’ with the best of Bostonians,” it stated.
The board wished Carney a good retirement.
MU Health Care obtains funding to update patient scheduling and billing products
MU Health Care’s request for approval on the sole-source contract with GE Healthcare, IIT to purchase an upgrade of its GE Centricity System was approved.
The $555,369 contract will purchase updated patient scheduling and billing products.
“These are critical business systems that ensure financial livelihood and success,” the project stated. “A bidding process could only be considered if we were funded and desiring a complete revenue cycle information system replacement.”
MU Health Care’s ITS equipment and operating funds budget will cover the costs.
The board also unanimously approved the Animal Resources Center at MU.
Faculty salary pool to increase by 2 percent
Despite some initial skeptism as to whether the UM System would be able to afford raising the faculty salary pool by 2 percent, the Board of Curators voted to in favor.
This can be seen as a victory for Chancellor Brady Deaton, as he and Budget Director Tim Rooney told faculty in April that increasing salaries was one of the university’s biggest goals.
“We must address salaries,” Rooney said. “That is our No. 1 priority.”
The vote doesn’t increase every faculty members’ salaries, however. Increases will come from a merit-based pool and will be based on performance.
The item passed unanimously.
Retirement plan benefits to change after curator vote
After brief discussion Thursday concerning changing the retirement benefits plan, the Board of Curators began preparing to make a final decision Friday.
Board chairman Warren Erdman noted the UM System has been studying whether to implement a new policy for two years. The results of these studies showed that it is in the System’s best interests to implement the new policy.
The majority of the board agreed, passing the proposal in a 7-2 vote. Curators Wayne Goode and Don Downing voted against the proposal.
What the vote means is that a new policy will eventually be adopted, likely around October. The committee in charge of the retirement plan will begin looking at new options throughout the summer, and will present a new plan design sometime in September.
Goode said he hopes to provide input on the plan before it is brought to the board for the final vote, and Interim UM System President Steve Owens assured him this will happen.
Curators vote to make grievance policy official
The Board of Curators voted unanimously to make the grievance policy which has been in place as a pilot program since 2008 official.
Because of previous unsatisfactory results when the grievance policy was utilized, the System saw it necessary to attempt to adopt a new process. The grievance policy is in place to protect faculty from rule infractions by other faculty members or administrators.
“It took too long,” Faculty Council chairwoman Leona Rubin told The Maneater in April. Sometimes cases took over a year and there was no Oversight Committee to see if recommendations by the committee were actually followed through.”
Now, when a faculty member files a grievance, the Grievance Resolution Panel will oversee the case. It will investigate the case and talk to all involved parties before making its final decision. The Oversight Committee will oversee this whole process. Chancellor Brady Deaton has the final say however, and may override any decision if he sees fit.
This whole process should take about three months.
Erdman focuses on Advancing Missouri campaign in report
Warren Erdman
Chairman Warren Erdman began Friday's Board of Curators meeting with his board report, which mainly focused on the Advancing Missouri campaign.
He said the campaign shows the state the importance of the UM System's work.
"At a time of declining state support, we need people of Missouri to understand how university advances the entire state," he said.
Highlighted in the accompanying video is recent MU graduate Nelson DeSouza, who graduated with five minors.
June 16, 2011
Audit Committee reviews the College of Education
The Audit Committee shared its assessment of the College of Education.
“The purpose of this audit was to evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of the College’s processes and controls and assess the College’s role in managing its distance education programs,” the report stated.
There was improvement to be made in the college’s distance education offerings, the committee found. It said the college would benefit from a more structured business plan by working more closely with MU Direct. This was seen as a medium risk, which means that the impact is moderate to the university.
“Management should coordinate with MU Direct to ensure the market opportunities are understood and a defined business plan is created that reflects the values of the College and University,” the report stated.
Jesse Auditorium to receive a facelift
Within the Finance Committee’s Physical Facilities Quarterly Report, a construction project renovating Jesse Auditorium was discussed.
The project, whose contract was signed Feb. 10, will renovate the seating and flooring in Jesse Auditorium.
“The work will replace all aisle seat standards and all moving seat parts including new seat upholstery, refinished of seat backs and seat pans, repainting the concrete floors under the seat and replacement of all carpet in the auditorium and lobby,” the report stated.
The project is slated for completion before the beginning of the fall semester, and will cost $694,588.