Report to the YSU Academic Senate, March 7, 2001, on the Ohio Faculty Council The Ohio Faculty Council, which consists of two faculty representatives from each of Ohio’s public four-year universities, met at the Ohio Board of Regents office in the Rhodes Tower in Columbus on Friday, February 9, from noon until 3:00 p.m. 1. Mr. Michael Brown from the Chancellor’s staff briefed the OFC on the fate of the OBOR budget proposal. Based on Mr. Brown’s presentation and an extended question and answer period, I reached the following conclusions: The mood in the Chancellor’s office is one of disappointment and frustration following submission by the Governor of his budget recommendations. The OBOR budget proposal sought to elevate spending for Ohio’s public colleges and universities dramatically to raise the percentage of Ohioans attending and graduating from college, to make Ohio more competitive in the information-age economy by expanding the college-educated labor pool, and to raise per capita income. The Chancellor had drafted the ambitious higher education budget with three assumptions—the Governor would be receptive, if not enthusiastic; the economy would remain strong; and many constituencies in Ohio, including the media, would understand and applaud the laudable goals behind the budget proposal. All three assumptions turned out to be unfounded, with the result that K–12 garnered far more of the Governor’s attention and support than did higher education.  The Chancellor’s staff is now working in the Ohio General Assembly to win support for restoring portions of the OBOR budget proposal that the Governor cut, but the prospects for a turnaround in the legislature are not bright. 2. Members of the OFC raised objections to the tuition caps or other restraints established in previous budgets and reflected in the Governor’s budget proposal. Several members observed that the State of Ohio provides less than half the operating support for their institutions and that Ohio public universities are really "state-assisted" rather that "public" universities. They said that it is hypocritical of the State to fund at the comparatively modest level which it does but then turn around and impose restraints on the legal right of universities to generate the resources that they need. Representatives from two universities gave examples in which belt tightening on their campuses made it impossible to retain some of their best faculty who had accepted far more attractive salaries, teaching loads, and research support budgets at out-of-state universities. 3. In response to the apparent failure of the Chancellor to garner support in the Governor’s office, OFC members suggested to the Chancellor’s representative that more should be done to educate business and professional members of Boards of Trustees at public universities and to enlist them individually for help in the political arena. 4. The OFC is compiling information about terms and conditions of employment of part-time faculty at the public universities. The Ohio AAUP is also conducting a study of Ohio part-time faculty that it has agreed to make available to the OFC. Information from both organizations will be studied and discussed at a future meeting. 5. The Chancellor’s office requested help from the OFC in defining the skills that Ohio college graduates should have in information technology, and the OFC agreed to provide a statement to the Chancellor in the next month. 6. The OFC also learned at our meeting that OBOR has launched a new outreach program to attract more high school graduates to colleges in Ohio. The program is built around a specially equipped bus called "Success Express," which is visiting high schools and other community sites throughout the state. "Success Express," with a slogan of "higher learning = higher earning," offers students information about the economic impact of a college education, programs and degrees offered in Ohio colleges and universities, including private institutions, and financial aid. "Success Express" is staffed by OBOR personnel and local volunteers.  You can learn more about "Success Express" (http://www.ohiosuccessexpress.com/flash_index.html) at the Regents web site. The YSU Academic Senate web site has a link to the Regents web site. The Regents web site is www.regents.state.oh.us. It is important, I think, that YSU personnel learn about "Success Express" and attempt to use it to our advantage. For starters, admissions staff, financial aid staff, and academic advisors should investigate to determine whether the information about YSU in the "Success Express" program is accurate and complete. YSU faculty and staff should also get involved, in conjunction with schools in our service area, in scheduling visits of "Success Express" in our area during which YSU volunteers are present to counsel prospective students. The next meeting of the OFC is March 9. Respectfully submitted: Tom Shipka cc: President Sweet, Mr. Deeb