MEMBERS PRESENT:

Remy Heng	Student Representative
Garrett Palmer	Student Representative
David Wight	Student Representative
Armand Sanchez	Student Representative
Sue Foley	Staff Representative
Rick Luttmann	Faculty Representative
Michael Litle	Faculty Representative

MEMBERS ABSENT:

Cindy Chong	Student Representative
Bernie Goldstein	Chair, Provost & Chief Academic Officer

STAFF PRESENT:

Larry Furukawa-Schlereth	Committee Staff, Chief Financial Officer
Katie Pierce	Committee Staff, Academic Affairs Budget Officer

GUESTS PRESENT (during relevant portions of the meeting):

Jane Wright	Administrative Manager, School of Social Sciences
Bill Fusco	Director of Athletics
Rand Link	Vice President for Student Academic Affairs

MEETING AGENDA

I. Approval of the Agenda

II. Approval of Minutes of November 8, 2001

III. Lifelong Learning Institute Fees (added at meeting)

IV. Request for Fee Adjustment-Counseling Dept.

V. Request for Supplemental IRA Funding-Athletics

VI. IRA Program

• Review Applications for Eligibility
• Review Draft of Application for Funding

VII. Adjourn

MATERIALS DISTRIBUTED

Precirculated:

1. Agenda for 12/06/01
2. Minutes of 11/8/01
3. Agreement to Establish Funds-Counseling Dept;
4. IRA Application for Eligibility-Belize Valley Project
5. IRA Application for Eligibility-Geology Class Field Trips
6. Draft of Application for Funding

At the meeting:

1. Proposal for Funding NCAA/CCAA Post-season championship travel-Athletics

Remy Heng, chairing in absence of Dr. Goldstein, brought the meeting to order at 5:07 p.m. Pizza and beverages were served.

I. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA - Agenda was modified to include a follow-up report regarding Lifelong Institute fees.

II.APPROVALS OF MINUTES OF November 8, 2001-Sue Foley asked that the spelling of her last name be corrected. It was MSP to approve minutes as corrected.

III. Lifelong Learning Institute Fees- Following-up on a question from last meeting, Katie Pierce reported on the fee structure of the Extended Education Life Long Learning (LLI). LLI students may pay either a $150 membership fee per session or a $400 yearlong membership fee that allows participation in all three sessions (Fall, Winter, & Spring). In addition, each student pays a $ 40 campus services fee each session.

IV. Request for Fee Adjustment-Counseling Dept.-Counseling department has requested that committee review an increase of the application fee for the Master's in Counseling Program to $25. The increase will cover dues to accreditation organizations, and cost of processing applications including duplicating materials. Jane Wright presented the Counseling Programs request and responded to questions. Following discussion it was Moved Seconded and Passed to recommend approval of the $25 fee.

Michael Litle, Garrett Palmer and Sue Foley-abstained.

V. Request for Supplemental IRA Funding-Athletics- Heng welcomed Bill Fusco and Rand Link who attended to present a request for supplemental IRA funding for post season championship travel. The request for year 2001-2002 totals $32,143. In addition it is requested that the expense of post season travel be covered annually in addition to the regular annual funding.

In recent years past Athletics funded post season travel from savings generated through the year, but now the budget is so tight, there are no surpluses to accommodate this expense. SSU is one of the smallest universities in our conferences and has the smallest budget.

Rick Luttmann asked how much funding athletics currently receives and where the requested funds would come from? Schlereth said Athletics receives $1.07 million in IRA funds and further explained that IRA funds are available in the current reserve but to fund this proposal would exhaust the IRA reserve.

Foley suggested separating the request for current funds from the request to continue a permanent supplement for the post-season play.

In response to David Wight's question about fundraising efforts Fusco explained that scholarships are the top priority. The total of awards for last year was $122,000, but even so SSU was 11th of 12 universities in terms of scholarships for students. Furthermore, department funds and fundraising is used to maintain sport facilities.

Larry Furukawa-Schlereth wondered if Link would request funding from the University reserve or could Student Affairs pick it up. Link indicated that he prefers not to approach the reserve and that Student Affairs cannot manage the expense.

Citing the benefits to student athletes as well as spectators, Wight spoke in favor of making allocation this year and insisting that Athletics plan for this expense next year.

Foley expressed concern about prospects for Athletics, and the IRA fund next year in light of budget cuts.

Following the discussion it was moved seconded and passed to table action on this matter until February or March. In the intervening months the committee requested Furukawa-Schlereth to conduct an independent mid-year review of Athletics finances, and to identify any potential for funding post season travel from resources within the department.

VI. IRA Program

Review Applications for Eligibility

The committee turned attention to the two applications for IRA Eligibility Status. In reviewing application for Belize Valley Archaeological Reconnaissance Project (BVAR) and Geology Department Class Field Trips.

BVAR is a field school designed to introduce undergraduate students to archaeological fieldwork in the Maya lowlands of Belize. The project operates under the auspices of the Department of Archaeology of Belize, with academic credit offered through Anth.424. Whereas the program offers the opportunity to learn research design and archaeological techniques through field experience for which state support is not allocated, and whereas the program appears to be related but not a direct component of the Anthropology major. It was moved seconded and passed to recommend IRA eligibility for this program.

The Department of Geology requested eligibility in order to apply for funding to defray some of the expenses incurred to conduct class field trips. Field trips are integral to the geology major; 12 units of field geology are required for the major. The committee noted that field trip programs should have an on-going stable funding source and appropriately for the geology program, general funds are allocated and augmented by reasonable course fees. It was moved seconded and passed (Luttmann abstaining) to deny IRA eligibility.

Review Draft of Application for Funding

Pierce presented a draft IRA Application Packet. Committee members offered suggestions and it was Moved seconded and passed to adopt the materials with suggested improvements. Pierce informed the committee that she expected to be able to have the application packet ready for distribution by December 17 as expected. Applications will be due March 15, 2002.

Before moving to adjournment, Pierce polled members on their preference to begin the meeting later than 5:00 since several FAC members also attend Academic Senate meetings which conclude at 5:00 on alternate Thursdays. Members indicated their preference to move the meeting time to 5:15.

Remy Heng adjourned the meeting at 7:00

Minutes respectfully submitted by
Katie Pierce, Academic Affairs Budget Officer