Gage Johnson
Editor-in-Chief
[email protected]
At the Faculty Senate meeting on Wednesday, April 6, President Bob Jackson announced a special Board of Regents meeting which will look at enrollment and the fall semester. Senators discussed spring graduation ceremonies and voted to pass a tiered cost-of-living adjustment (COLA).
Jackson said the Board of Regents meeting will be at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, April 23. The board will discuss tuition and fees for the next fiscal year, as well as housing and dining rates.
Jackson said building the next budget is a top priority and there will also be items that clarify pensions. He also said 71% of the 2021-2022 budget comes from enrollment.
Jackson said the goal is to make the 2021 fall semester much more reminiscent of the 2019 fall semester while still offering hybrid and online courses for those who may not feel comfortable attending or teaching in person.
In regards to incoming students, Jackson stated that there will be plans in place for students arriving on campus that may not have been able to be vaccinated because of availability.
Provost Tim Todd also spoke to the faculty senate, discussing upcoming graduation dates. There are still four planned ceremonies, but because of sign up, there is a chance that a fifth ceremony could be added for 5 p.m. on May 7.
“Within about 35 minutes of going live on the signup sheet, we had 435 students register for commencement and we had already reached capacity at 11 o’clock and two o’clock within just an hour,” Todd said.
Jackson will not shake any hands at graduation ceremonies.
The senate voted unanimously in favor of the Faculty Caregivers’ Accommodations proposal. The proposal will next go to Provost Tim Todd.
The senate discussed the tiered cost-of-living (COLA) adjustment to the University Budget Advisory Committee. Faculty senator Jan Super said the COLA adjustment attempts to provide some relief for lower-paid faculty but not exacerbate the pay compression.
The Faculty Senate voted unanimously in favor of the recommendation.
