Senate Highlights, December Meeting

Faculty Senate met on December 15, 2011.

The President and Provost reported on a number of initiatives to move the institution forward. President Nivine Megahed reported that the Enrollment group is working very hard to increase enrollment for Winter. They are using improved metrics and data reporting to assess and manage their work. While enrollment is behind last year, they are experiencing some traction in undergraduate enrollment. The 125th Celebration/Campagign for National Recognition are moving forward and have 100 percent support from the Board of Trustees, as well as support from important donors. Alumni Relations is working very hard to rebuild relations with alumni. They hope that improved relationships will lead to increased giving. Marketing is working on the new Marketing campaign, and is also revamping the way undergraduate programs are marketed.

Interim Provost Kathy Walsh reported that there will be a different role for faculty in regard to student recruitment. There will be less involvement by faculty so that faculty can use their energy elsewhere. Results from the Noel-Levitz Student Satisfaction survey will be shared with Senate at its January meeting.

Vice-President for Finance and Operations Kent Kay reported that that revenue through the first five months of the fiscal year is less than budgeted and less than last year at this time. NLU has continued to hold the line on expenses, which are less that budgeted. Nevertheless, NLU continues to anticipate net losses for both the first six months and the rest of the year. Budget heads are already working to create a budget for next year that reflects lower tuition and fee revenue as NLU continues to work to recover from the enrollment decline we have experienced since Summer 2010. (Information on faculty's involvement in building next year's budget is in the report from the Faculty Welfare and Compensation Committee later in this report.)

Senate elected Dr. Gerry Becker (CAS) to University Leadership Council to fill a vacancy created by a resignation from the Council.

The Senate Task Force on Academic Planning presented an interim report. So far, the Task Force has reviewed and re-affirmed constitutional charges to Senate Academic Planning Committee and Senate Curriculum Committees, identified processes in support of these charges, and developed a proposed subcommittee structure for SCC (a Program Review Subcommittee, a Curriculum Review Subcommittee, and an Assessment Subcommittee). SAPC will focus on creation of new programs, with a strong emphasis on creating a collaborative strategy for developing new programs that are mission-driven, outstanding academically, and in sync with student needs and workplace demands. The Task Force's final report is due in January 2011. Remaining tasks to be completed in January include finalization of the process design and creating an integrated academic planning manual.

Senate heard a report from the Faculty Welfare and Compensation Committee. The Committee is working to gather input from faculty about next year's budget, including ways the university can reduce expenses. All university cost centers have submitted ideas to cut 10% from their costs. All cost centers are required to cut their spending except for Marketing and Enrollment as the President views these being necessary to maintain and build enrollment.

Senate received a report and a draft of the new Promotion and Tenure Policy from the the Senate Promotion and Tenure Task Force. Senate will meet in a special executive session on January 5, 2011 to discuss the draft. At this meeting, Senators will discuss plans for moving forward with the draft. Senate has committed to faculty that a new policy will be in force by May 1, 2011. Senate has also committed to ensuring that there is a fair and equitable transition plan for faculty who are currently on the tenure track or prospective candidates for promotion. Members of the Institutional Promotion and Tenure Committee and the Chair of the Task Force have been invited to attend this meeting as guests of the Senate.

At this meeting, Senate will also discuss plans for sharing the draft with faculty and obtaining input from faculty and all stakeholders.

Senate's next regular meeting will take place on January 19, 2011 at 11:00 AM on the Chicago Campus. Senate will meet in executive session at 9:30 AM primarily to organize the agenda of the 11 AM meeting.

These meeting highlights are provided to inform faculty. They do not replace the minutes. The approved minutes of the November meeting were forwarded to all faculty by email.