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Kansas State University

 

Faculty Senante
211 Fairchild Hall
Kansas State University
Manhattan, KS 66506
785-532-6053
785-532-5944 (fax)
facsen@k-state.edu

Effects of Financial Crisis on Unclassified Professionals
(E-mail distributed to General Administration in November, 2002)

 

Dear Unclassified Professionals,

As we all know too well, the recent election and the State's grim revenue estimate has created much anxiety and stress at the university. Please know that your General University Caucus (Senators) have been involved in several special Faculty Senate and Faculty Senate Executive Committee meetings and will continue to be involved as solutions are crafted to address our University's fiscal problems. We will keep you informed as best we can and ask for your input or questions at any time. The following highlights some of the recent Caucus activity and issues that have been discussed.

The Provost asked our Caucus to propose a structure for representation on the College Council on Planning (CCOP). Currently, the General University or Administration does not have a CCOP, whereby each academic college has a CCOP. The University Handbook suggests that a CCOP be formed for the General University or Administration. The charge of a CCOP is more advisory than for decision-making. The representation will include unclassified professionals within each administrative area (Provost/President, Administration and Finance, and Institutional Advancement) who are full or part-time (0.5 FTE or more) and who are not on term appointments.

The administration is confident that the newly elected Governor, Kathleen Sebelius, will support higher education as budget decisions are being made. How to deal with the revised shortfall of $310M for FY03 has caused much debate between the new and old governor. It is believed, however, that cuts are inevitable, but the impact can't be known until the severity of cuts is announced.

Kansas State University has never faced a financial crisis as extreme as the one we are facing and therefore there are many unknowns. The policies in the University Handbook are vague for unclassified professionals without faculty rank and tenure. We believe, however, the following points might provide a clearer idea for how unclassified professionals might be affected because of the financial problems.

  1. Unless mandated by the state, the Administration will issue furloughs only as a last resort. The University Handbook states for notices of non-reappointment:

    For those unclassified professionals who are not on a tenure-track position or have rank of instructor or above, the criteria of non-reappointment is not based on the contract date but based on the date the notice is given. In other words, if an employee who has been here for longer than two years was given a notice today for non-reappointment, then the appointment ends one year from today. This differs from ranked faculty whereby their non-reappointment is based on the contract date. However, there are rules based upon how long you have been employed at K-State (University Handbook C170). {Basically, this is the last in/first out rule.}

    • During the first year of service, the individual must be notified by March 1 if he/she will not be reappointed for the next fiscal year.

    • During the second year of service, non-reappointment for the next fiscal year must be made by December 15.

    • Over three years of service, the individual must be provided 12 months' notice if he/she will not be reappointed.

  2. A 1% budget cut equates to a $1.6M cut from the K-State budget. Therefore, the 6% cut that is being talked about to cover the State's $255M revenue shortfall would amount to a $9.6M cut for K-State. A cut of this magnitude would have devastating effects if not assigned strategically and with the best interest of the University in mind.

  3. A 10% tuition increase will generate $6 million, 20% of which is designated for financial aid.

  4. Currently 140 positions have been discontinued or left vacant. More should be expected.

  5. By March 1, the administration believes they will know how the state legislature is reacting to the shortfall in revenue and what the outcome of the legislative session might be.

The General University Caucus proposed to Faculty Senate that two task forces be formed. One task force would be charged with investigating strategies for rewarding faculty and staff in addition to salary increases (e.g. tuition assistance for dependents). The second task force would focus on how to use existing resources more efficiently.

We don't intend for this communication to be gloom and doom news but the fiscal problems are real. It is necessary that we all work together on solutions that keep the University strong. If you have concerns, questions or issues that need to be answered, please contact one of the Senators listed below. The Caucus meets the third Tuesday of every month at 3:30 p.m., K-State Union Room 208. Anyone wishing to attend is invited

Gretchen Holden
Kelli Cox
Barbara Newhouse
Jennifer Gehrt
Kathleen Greene
Derek A Jackson
Sue Maes
David Stewart
Scott Jones
Cheryl May
Mary Molt

Two things to leave you with:

"There are no hopeless situations - only people who are hopeless about them." Dinah Shore (1917-1994)

There may be a lot of "gloom and doom" circling overhead at K-State, but we must not give up hope. We must work together to get through this time of uncertainty. Therefore, "hope makes today possible and tomorrow attractive, or at least less threatening. Hope makes death bearable...hope is the mainstay of our energy. We go forward - because we hope." Arthur Jones

Kelli Cox