June 11, 2009 Provost/Vice Chancellor Meeting minutes

              Jackie Overton noted the scheduled Thursday night football game for October 25 and asked how the University would handle the traffic in and out of campus that evening.  Associate Vice Chancellor Brenda Malone said that she would suggest to employees that they use their 2 hours of flex time or comp time to leave campus earlier that day.  Associate Vice Chancellor Carolyn Elfland said that the University must have a game that evening.  She said that the University might pursue options like closing at 3 p.m. for all but essential employees. 

              Vice Chancellor Dick Mann, Malone, Overton, Elfland, Marc ter Horst, Bonni Baird, Chuck Kaylor, Todd Hux, Ashley Fogle, Associate Provost Ron Strauss, Aluoch Ooro, James Holman, Tommy Griffin, Danny Nguyen, and Brenda Denzler introduced themselves.  Denzler noted that an employee had earned some comp time and had planned to use it, but had need to take a sick day a few weeks later.  That employee’s supervisor had said that the employee needed to take comp time rather than sick time.  Denzler thought that the University had an obligation to recognize their interest in taking this time during their healthy hours.  Elfland said that if the employee does not take their comp time in twelve months the University must pay them overtime for the hours earned.  Malone did not see this requirement as being unfair.  Denzler thought that the employee had given the University healthy hours and deserved to have healthy hours returned as comp time.  Elfland said that some employees might try to build up comp time, leading some departments to institute a rule against doing so.  Other departments have a rule against using comp time and so in fact try to pay overtime whenever necessary. 

              Dick Mann and others talked about the repercussions of the recent developments at NC State University during which the chancellor and board of trustees chair had departed.  Strauss said that those involved had to realize that the rules involved apply to all.  Mann said that one can be asked to do something that one does not realize is illegal or inappropriate.  Todd Hux felt aggrieved that traditional hiring processes seemed to have been waived and that the chancellor will still continue to receive pay for up to one year.  Mann said that these salary clauses are typically allowed for people of the chancellor’s rank during negotiations. 

              It was asked how the University would handle an 11% cut in funding.  Mann said that academic areas would not be removed from the University unless there were a finding of financial exigency declared by the State.  This is a very unusual action.  Mann said that the University is fighting to remove some centers and institutes listed by the House as targets for dissolution in the legislative conference process. 

              Mann said that the University is planning for a 5% cut but is ready for worse.  The University expects some revisions also.  He said that the University last year had a 5% cut plus frozen non-recurring dollars equaling approximately 10-11%.  This year the University is waiting to see the final numbers.  He believed that non-recurring cuts would occur this year also.  Mann said that the University would have to make permanent cuts in different places to avoid having another year without hiring faculty.  He said that mid-year cuts are harder to take than end of the year cuts.  Strauss said that enrollment growth funds are not discretionary and must be used to increase faculty if the number of students increase.  Mann said that capping student enrollment is not desirable as it affects funding for years afterward.  Strauss stressed the importance of maintaining an intimate and personal campus.  He noted opportunities for growth in the fields of dentistry, nursing, education, and business, among others.  Increasing the size of the graduate programs depends on increasing the size of the undergraduate student body.  Strauss said that community college transferees can do well at UNC given the right support structure.   Regarding Carolina North, Strauss said that he wanted the satellite campus to feel like the main campus. 

              Tommy Griffin brought up the collaborative effort surrounding the academic plan.  Dick Mann said that the plan should drive support areas and budget decisions.  Marc ter Horst asked about the UNC focus of activities.  Strauss said that UNC and NCSU are quite well aligned and that the campuses do not want more competitive programs than which there is a need.  Ter Horst said that many people think that science is not done at UNC.  Strauss said that all universities need English, comparative literature, chemistry, and other basic areas of study before moving to areas of emphasis.  Brenda Malone said that as UNC-Chapel Hill engages in academic planning, it talks regularly with NCSU and Duke.  The Provosts of Duke, UNC and NCSU meet monthly.  Mann said that UNC intends to do its ERP system jointly with NCSU in an effort to cut costs.

                                                                          Respectfully submitted,

                                                                          Matt Banks, Recording Secretary