Salem Chapter MSCA Meeting
Executive Board Meeting
24 February 2004
03-04: 4

Approved 24 February 2004

ATTENDANCE:
Members: Aiyeku, Buchanan, Burchsted, Everitt, Farahbakhsh, George, Gould, Jacobson, Marsella, McAndrews, McGee (President), Sweeney, Vaughan.
Guest: President Nancy Harrington

1. Meeting Called to Order
The meeting was called to order by Paul McGee, the President, at 2:00 p.m. in the Salem Room, Alumni House, South Campus.

2. Guest Speaker, President Nancy Harrington
Backfill Project:
The Reconfiguration Committee, comprised of faculty and administrators, was formed/charged to come up with suggestions on what to do with space vacated by the moves by the School of Business, Music Department and Information Technology moving into Central Campus. Please contact Jan Napora for copies of the plan the committee came up with (note: please pay careful attention to pages 15 and 16, which give step-by-step details of the plan). Unfortunately, the plans produced by the committee can not be fully instituted at this time due to a lack of money to rehabilitate the space vacated.

With the opening of Central Campus last fall, expectations of faculty/staff/administrators have been raised regarding the quality of their work environments. Everyone would like to have as attractive a work space as those employees at Central Campus do.

This summer the Harrington Building (HB) will be focused on. Criminal Justice will move into the HB, the School of Nursing will be given more space, Occupational Therapy will get some space including a much need lab. This project will be completed by September, 2004.

This in turn will free up space in Mieir Hall (MH). The space vacated by the Music Department will be used to house Economics faculty (note: The Economics House is literally ready to fall down. $50,000 for it's demolition. Thus, these faculty will move this summer.), some English faculty, and one geologist. One of the vacated band/choir/keyboard rooms will house a new geology lab (taken care of by the geologist in a nearby office). On the third floor of MH, the Sociology Department will be given space. Computer Science will be moved into space vacated by IT. The MH space shouldn't stay empty for even a year; however, nothing but basic cosmetic changes (painting) can be done to the space due to a lack of money.

Business Education will move to the School of Business.

Sullivan Building is continuing to have problems (elevator, flooring). Unfortunately, not much can be done regarding the Sullivan Building at this time.

There is no capital money for any state-wide projects. We got the money 10 years ago for Central Campus. Central Campus will include: The School of Business, Information Technology, Music, Center for the Performing Arts, residence halls, and playing fields. Other spaces will be vacated over time. Horace Mann School will be in the future. Upper South Campus is in terrible shape, physically. However, this is prime real estate and needs to be built up and utilized fully.

We have a 200 million dollar need. Many buildings need to be torn down. The Library is in terrible physical shape and and the college is trying to get state, library rehabilitation money for its renovation.

Attempts are being made at fund raising, specifically, naming schools, buildings, and other parts of campus. You can talk to Cynthia McGurren about this if you're interested. Everything can be named. Letters are out to potential donors.

Again, there is NO capital funding money at all. If there becomes money available, partial funding is given. The rest of the money for building an academic building must be acquired through fundraising or a state loan, paid over time with student fees.

Romney said no money would be available on the operating side - and in fact he took away money. However, he did say that we would see money on the capital side. However this has not been the case. And, any spending of capital money has to be approved by the governor. We were promised capital money if we raised a particular amount of money (Center for Performing Arts). However, no money has been appropriated and it's difficult to speak to donors with a situation like this going on.

Board of Higher Education:
The staff of the BHE have not been supportive of state colleges. Steve Tocco stated that the BHE's role is as a "policeman role", not an "advocate role". Everyone has reached a frustration with the BHE and (NH) thinks that the BHE is outright attacking the state colleges.

The staff of the BHE have been trying to put in performance measures for the state colleges. This is fairly standard nationwide. However, the COP has been voicing concern over how the measures would be used. Each state college president received a report around Christmas. Graduation rates and retention rates for SSC were not favorable. At that time I did not see the complete report. The BHE stated that this was just a pilot run. And that these figures would not be used negatively.

On the Friday before Washington's Birthday, Fred Clark (COP director) and Jan Motta asked for copies of the Performance Measures Report from Judy Gill (BHE Chancellor). She stated it was not to be released until Tuesday. However, it was released to Jenna Russell (Boston Globe reporter). Helen Heineman (Framingham State College president) was asked by Jenna that weekend to comment on the report. However, she had not seen it.

Immediately after reading the article in the Boston Globe by Jenna Russell, I attended the BHE meeting. Fred Clark asked me to speak at the meeting. Judy Gill first spoke on the Performance Measures and the article in the Boston Globe. Fred had given me a scripted speech, but I quickly spoke without the scripted speech about how they didn't use performance measures based on the real strengths of the colleges. Judy Gill stated that state colleges should not be offering graduate programs, only undergraduate programs; SSC has been offering graduate programs since the 1950s. The COP is very upset.

When speaking to the BHE I did see some receptiveness from members of the BHE. In particular: Richard Taylor, Kathy Kelly, Aaron Spencer, Peter Alcott, Jean Marie Boyland, and the university student. The student was particularly supportive.

Discussion:
It was noted that the BHE has never been supportive of state colleges. At this time they seem to want to get rid of state colleges or even public education (ie. Eric Kriss).

Use the Programatic Reviews very carefully. Highlight strengths. Be careful and cautious when doing reviews. (comment: guidelines would be useful).

Change within the BHE can only be accomplished legislatively. Also, going to the college board of trustees might be helpful.

Bargaining:
Day bargaining will be a problem. There is no money at the table. DGCE money is locally controlled so that should be easier.

3. Approval of the Minutes
It was moved and seconded to approve the minutes of 03-04:3. The motion carried.

4. President's Report
Nominations: Search Committee Dean, Schools of Human Services:
Motion: The Executive Board supports a national search for the School of Human Services dean position. The motion was seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

Paul will ask D. Lapkin how many administrators must be on the search committee. Then he can find out how many MSCA members may be on the committee.

Nominations: Advisory Committee to Review Core Curriculum:
MacLachlan, Jean OCT

5. Grievance Report:
The Grievance Officer submitted her report to the Executive Board.

6. Treasurer's Report:
The Treasurer submitted her report to the Executive Board.

The meeting was adjourned at 3:55 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,

Nancy George