UH System Chancellor Renu Khator outlined the University’s plans to secure federal funding in the face of a possible drop in state funding at Wednesday’s Faculty Senate meeting.
Khator and several representatives of UH System recently returned from Washington, D.C., where they presented projects for consideration in the allocation of the $787 billion stimulus package signed into law by President Obama on Tuesday.
‘We wanted to make sure that our delegation knows about our projects,’ Khator said.
The federal government is looking for construction projects that are ready to go and waiting for funding, Faculty Senate president Dan Wells said.’
Executive vice president of Administration and Finance Carl Carlucci said UH is pursuing funding for all University programs that qualify.
‘We have a list of items that we put in, mainly research, and some other projects that may fall under transportation,’ Carlucci said. ‘Once we know where those will be routed, we will begin lobbying for them.’
Concurrently, a ‘budget reduction exercise’ by the Legislative Budget Board could mean cuts to state funding in 2010. On Feb. 3, the LBB asked Texas colleges and universities to submit proposals for a 2.5 percent reduction in general revenue appropriations.
With the exercise coming halfway through fiscal year 2009, Provost John Antel said a 5 percent cut could be in the works for 2010.
‘They told us this might happen,’ Antel said.
Although no budget cuts have been announced, the possibility brings up grim prospects for the University, Antel said.
‘We’ve got to be ready for it,’ he said.’ ‘We might have to freeze some staff hirings. We might look again at our summer school budget.’
Tuition is a hot topic in the state legislature, and nine bills have been proposed that affect the changing of tuition rates, exemptions and rebates.’ Khator said some of these bills could be harmful to UH, but she will continue her commitment to bring UH to flagship status.
‘We need at least $100 million for the next five years, maybe 10,’ Khator said. ‘I cannot settle on a deal that sets us back or hurts us.’
The Faculty Senate also discussed Gov. Rick Perry’s measures for higher education reform in terms of their effects on faculty at UH.
‘ ‘There are a lot of elements of the higher education reform that would impose costs on us,’ Antel said. ‘I want to assure you we’re working on this to impose a minimum of burden on faculty.’
Perry’s plan includes measures to change qualifications for tenure and to evaluate and reward extraordinary teachers.
‘(Perry) wants Texas to be a showcase for higher education reform,’ Antel said.’ ‘He wants to leave his mark.’
The Faculty Senate also heard reports from each of its committees on their projects for the spring semester. The Educational Policies and Student Affairs Committee is working on a proposal for a study of financial aid’s effects on students and plans for a Center for Teaching Excellence to provide support for UH teachers.
Suzanne Ferimer, chairwoman of UH Libraries and the Scholarship and Community Committee, proposed a speaker series to allow professors an opportunity to discuss their research with students.’
The SCC is also interested in creating an Outstanding Faculty Service Award, which will be reviewed at the next faculty senate meeting March 25.
