February 13-14, 1992
02-13-1992
Pages 110-115
BOARD OF REGENTS
UNIVERSITY AND COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM OF NEVADA
February 13, 1992
The Board of Regents met on the above date in the Computing
Center Video rooms at the University of Nevada, Reno and the
University of Nevada, Las Vegas, for an special video meeting.
Members present:
Las Vegas: Mrs. Carolyn M. Sparks, Chairman
Dr. Lonnie Hammargren
Mrs. June F. Whitley
Reno: Dr. Jill Derby
Dr. James Eardley
Mrs. Dorothy S. Gallagher
Mr. Daniel Klaich
Members absent: Mrs. Shelley Berkley
Mr. Joseph M. Foley
Others present: Chancellor Mark H Dawson, Reno
President Anthony Calabro, WNCC, Reno
President Joseph Crowley, UNR, Reno
President John Gwaltney, TMCC, Reno
President Paul Meacham, CCSN, Las Vegas
President Robert Maxson, UNLV, Las Vegas
President Ronald Remington, NNCC, Reno
President James Taranik, DRI, Reno
Mr. Donald Klasic, General Counsel, Reno
Mr. Ron Sparks, Vice Chancellor, Reno
Mrs. Karen Steinberg, Acting Vice Chancellor,
Reno
Ms. Mary Lou Moser, Secretary, Reno
Also present were Faculty Senate Chairmen Bill Baines (TMCC),
Richard Egami (DRI), Larry Goodnight (WNCC), Candace Kant (CCSN),
Elizabeth Raymond (UNR), Lori Temple (UNLV), and ASUN President
Derek Beenfeldt.
Chairman Sparks called the meeting to order at 1:40 P.M. stating
the purpose of the meeting was to provide members of the Board
with information on the proposed plans for reductions to the
UCCSN 1991-93 budget as requested by the Governor due to a
revenue shortfall in State government. The meeting opened with-
out a quorum, with Regents Sparks, Gallagher, Derby and Eardley
present.
Chancellor Dawson referred to two handouts, distributed at the
meeting, and filed in the Regents' Office: UCCSN Summary Sched-
ules 1991-93 Biennium, and UCCSN 8% Budget Reduction Plans,
1991-93 Biennium.
Chancellor Dawson announced that a workshop on tuition and fees
will be held during the February 27-28, 1992 Board meeting in
Las Vegas, where the UCCSN current policies will be reviewed. A
consultant will also be present to review national tuition and
fee trends and policies from other states.
Chancellor Dawson stated that the Campus plans under discussion
with the exception of UNLV, implemented the current Board policy
on fees which call for the following fee increases in addition
to the increases already in the 1991-93 budgets as approved by
the State Legislature:
Universities: Undergraduate $ 3.50 per credit
Graduate 1.00 per credit
Non-Resident 75.00 per semester
Good Neighbor 400.00 per semester
Community Colleges: $ 1.00 per credit
UNLV: Undergraduate $ 5.00 per credit
Graduate 5.00 per credit
Chancellor Dawson stated he is recommending that merit pay to
faculty not be granted until January 1, 1993, thus saving half
the merit pool dollars. He stated that if merit pay is not
granted, the UCCSN employees would be the only State employees
who would not receive a raise above the cost of living amounts.
Chairman Sparks questioned whether the merit funds would be
available to UCCSN next biennium if the decision was made to not
give merit this next year. Chancellor Dawson replied that it
would be up to the Legislature; however, it might be easier for
them to not approve those funds once given up. He reminded the
group that it has been a long, hard fight to get the merit funds
and cautioned about giving them up all together at this time.
Mr. Klaich entered the meeting. A quorum was present.
Vice Chancellor Ron Sparks began a review of the System Summary
Schedule, and referred to the footnote on page 1 which relates
that UNLV has been forced to reduce its 1991-93 budget by $1.7
million because of a loss of revenues caused by less enrollment
than was projected.
1991-93 Operating Budget Reductions are as follows:
Operating Budget Reductions $14,824,701*
Defer Merits to January 1993 1,474,180
Vacancy Savings 4,337,931
Sub Total Operating Budget $20,636,812
Increased Fees from Increased Enrollments
at CCSN 812,921
Tuition and Fee Increases 2,982,538
Minor Repairs and Improvements 8,772,000
"One-Shot" Appropriations 474,375
UCCSN Total $33,678,646*
*The UNLV shortfall explained above
Vice Chancellor Sparks then reviewed the specific General Fund
Special Appropriations to be reduced:
Minor Repairs and Improvements
UNSCS $ 500,000
UNLV 2,000,000
UNR 4,800,000
CCSN 475,000
TMCC 475,000
WNCC 217,000
NNCC 250,000
DRI 55,000
Sub Total $ 8,772,000
Management Information System 274,375
System Administration - Staff Assistance 100,000
UNLV-Law School Study 100,000
Total $ 9,246,375
A review of proposed individual Campus budget reductions was
held.
Mr. Klaich asked whether any enrollment caps had been included
in the budgets. Vice Chancellor Sparks stated they had not.
However, in 1992-93 UNLV was to receive 53 new faculty posi-
tions, which will now not be filled.
At TMCC, 75% of the new dollars authorized for 1992-93 will be
lost. WNCC will lose virtually all of the new 1992-93 dollars
authorized, which was planned to take care of the growth of the
College. Delay of merit to January 1, 1993 is recommended for
DRI, System Administration, Press and Computing System.
If fee increases which have been included in these plans are not
approved, an additional cut of $2,982,538 will be necessary.
Mrs. Whitley and Dr. Hammargren entered the meeting.
During a discussion on fee increases, Vice Chancellor Sparks re-
lated that the Western states' average of fees, which is one of
the measurements used in the current Board policy, increased
this year because nearly all states have had to raise fees to
meet budget problems in those states. It was explained that the
System would be facing possible fee increases with or without
budget reductions because of this rise in the average of Western
states.
Vice Chancellor Sparks briefly explained the current Board policy
on fees, stating that when it was developed many different ways
of setting fees were reviewed. He explained that the national
average for fees is much higher than those at UCCSN. He added
that the UCCSN policy is a very conservative one.
Dr. Eardley stated he did not feel the Community Colleges should
reduce faculties. President Maxson stated that without an in-
crease in fees, they would lose up to 110 positions, which would
include 50-60 vacant positions this year and the 53 new positions
allocated for next year. The increase would allow them to re-
cover about 50% of these positions which would then assure stu-
dents of classes for the coming year. He added that most of the
State funds go into faculty and their support, which does not
leave the Campuses much flexibility in making budget cuts. He
assured the Regents that all catagories have been reviewed and
have been "hit" by the cuts.
President Crowley stated the objective of the cuts made on his
Campus was an attempt to reduce as far as possible the burden on
the students, to provide as many courses as possible, and to as-
sure that students will be able to graduate on time. He also
explained that the market for hiring superior quality faculty
is at a peak now, inasmuch as some 32 states are in budget re-
ductions, and that UNR is trying to retain 2/3 of the positions
in this year's budget. President Crowley stated he felt the
merit pool should be protected and added that it has had a
tremendous impact on the System and is a valuable hiring tool.
In the area of repairs and renovations, the President related
that UNR is attempting to preserve funds for the priorities of
classrooms and laboratories.
Mrs. Gallagher related that her concern with budget cuts was
what was being sacrificed in quality, and questioned whether
UCCSN would be educating more students with less dollars. Pres-
ident Crowley stated that his administration had discussed en-
rollment caps, but dropped that avenue because they felt it was
dangerous for a long-term effect, although, it may come to that.
The decision has been that there probably will be increased en-
rollment and more students would be serviced with less funds
available; classrooms will have more students, there will be
more LOAs teaching classes (which is not the best way to go),
priority areas will be closely watched and funds will be held
for these priorities. There is a possibility of running out of
classroom space, which would then limit enrollment.
President Maxson stated that discussions have been held with
most of the administrative units on the Campus: Faculty Senate,
Student Government, Graduate Council, a second meeting with stu-
dents. The Faculty Senate voted to forgo merit increases alto-
gether, the students agreed with a fee increase and only argued
over what the fee would be, and the Graduate Council suggested
an increase of $10 per credit. UNLV will be losing $1.7 million
in the authorized budget because of the lost revenue from less
than projected enrollments, and the projected fee increase of
$5, which is $1.50 more than at other institutions, would offset
that loss. Approximately 600 course sections would be gained
from the fee increase.
President Maxson stated he felt the Campuses should be allowed
autonomy in the manner of handling the budget cuts, that not
all institutions should have to make those cuts in the same
areas.
President Meacham stated they had developed a 32 step plan last
Fall when cuts were first encountered and urged that CCSN be
allowed to continue. They have been on a "slow hiring mode"
since August. He stated that reductions could be handled with-
out the loss of merit pay for faculty. He related that sacri-
fices by faculty are being made on a short-term basis only and
that people are putting in extra time voluntarily. A Campus
decision has been made to raise the part-time salaries. He
mentioned that with the cutbacks already in place, CCSN is
operating at a 27:1 ratio. Mrs. Gallagher questioned whether
this wasn't a dangerous practice, with the President replying
that it was an emergency response to an emergency situation.
He, too, encouraged the Regents to allow Campus autonomy in
handling the situation.
President Gwaltney stated TMCC is utilizing faculty vacancies,
although some of the particular positions being vacated would
have been filled under different circumstances. Fee increases
will also give TMCC an opportunity to expand class offerings.
He related that TMCC is enjoying the largest Spring enrollment
in its history and they are preparing for an increase of 3% in
growth. They will use part-time instructors to fill a number of
positions, although it would make quality control more difficult.
The President agreed with the deferment of merit until January 1,
1993, and cautioned against losing the merit pool altogether
inasmuch as the Community College salary scale includes merit
pay.
President Calabro stated WNCC will be able to make the cutbacks
with a minimum of impact upon the students. They will plan to
reduce all of the new support formula funds. The President
stated that they must replace one Nursing instructor and one
Computer Techology person. He agreed with delaying the merit
until January 1, 1993, but added that the faculty had suggested
it be delayed all year.
President Remington stated NNCC has had a 50% increase in enroll-
ment and had received funding for this increase. Some 20 posi-
tions have been hired, although some positions have been held in
reserve. He cautioned that repairs and improvements, although
being cut now, just cannot be held off forever. Part-time in-
structors will also be used at NNCC to handle the projected
growth. President Remington expressed his hope that the Com-
munity Colleges would handle merit similarly and agreed with the
half-year plan.
President Taranik stated they were not eliminating all Library
funds at DRI, inasmuch as they have a new Library in their new
Southern Nevada Science Center which must be established. Also,
DRI has fought since 1987 for these funds; therefore, could not
give them all back.
In answer to a question concerning how these reduced funds would
be obtained in the future, Chancellor Dawson stated that it will
be "very tough", and cited the $132 million State revenue short-
fall.
Mrs. Gallagher cautioned that this is the beginning of a dire
financial situation which may last awhile and again expressed
concern over CCSN's 27:1 statement. Mr. Klaich agreed and stat-
ed he hoped the Presidents were also looking at this long-term,
which could lead to some fundamental changes in the method used
for budgeting.
Chairman Sparks stated she would personally prefer Campus
autonomy in handling the cutbacks.
Chancellor Dawson again stated his recommendations: 1) delay
merit to January 1, 1993; and, 2) Board attend a workshop dis-
cussion on fees and tuition before making a decision. Mrs.
Whitley expressed her displeasure with raising fees, citing ac-
cess problems which would be caused. Dr. Jim Richardson, UNR,
urged the Board to retain some kind of merit pool, and reminded
the Board that UCCSN has been asked for cuts twice that of K-12.
UNLV Faculty Senate Chairman Lori Temple outlined the discussions
held on the Campus, the decisions reached as reported above, and
added that some of the Colleges don't agree with the decisions.
Dr. Candace Kant, CCSN Faculty Senate Chairman, urged the allow-
ance of Campus autonomy and emphasized that their plans were
developed by the faculty and Administration and all had been
making sacrifices since last August. Faculty Senate Chairmen
Bill Baines, TMCC, Elizabeth Raymond, UNR, and Larry Goodnight,
WNCC, each expressed support of Campus autonomy and expressed
thanks for the amount of Campus involvement in developing the
plans.
The Chairman expressed appreciation for the beneficial workshop
and asked that if there were questions, the Regents should call
the President prior to the February meeting.
The meeting adjourned at 4:20 P.M.
Mary Lou Moser
Secretary of the Board
02-13-1992