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October 16, 2002
Geoffroy "cautiously optimistic" about FY04
President Gregory Geoffroy said he doesn't expect mid-year budget reversions
this year and is "cautiously optimistic" about the university's budget for
the next fiscal year.
Speaking to the Faculty Senate Oct. 15, Geoffroy said the state had $100
million more than had been anticipated at the end of last fiscal year (June
30). In addition, tax revenues are coming in about 2.5 percent ahead of what
had been predicted.
"If the revenues are coming in ahead of what has been budgeted, that
suggests that it is unlikely that we will have to endure any mid-year budget
reductions this year," Geoffroy said. "I believe as far as FY03 goes, our
budget is stable; we'll keep what we have."
Geoffroy added that the FY04 budget situation is still "very uncertain"
partly because the Legislature used a number of one-time funds to create
this year's state budget.
"But I'm cautiously optimistic for FY04," he said.
FY02 budget cuts have reduced faculty numbers to an "intolerable" situation,
Geoffroy said.
The university must create new faculty positions every time there are
resources available, he said. And, he added, all new faculty members who are
recruited must show promise to become leaders in their fields if the
university is going to progress toward its goal of excellence.
Greenlee report
Senate president-elect Jack Girton presented a report from a senate task
force that examined administrative actions at the Greenlee School of
Journalism and Communication last spring.
On May 3, former provost Rollin Richmond removed the school's chair, John
Eighmey, and associate chair, Joel Geske, and took a series of other actions
that included suspending faculty shared governance at the school, blocking
faculty control of school funds and removing faculty and school control over
new positions.
Geoffroy reinstated Eighmey and Geske, while calling for an assessment of
the school's leadership needs, direction and climate.
The senate task force indicated that it found a "climate of hostility" in
the school, indicated by comments of faculty and administrators and by
statements in the chair's annual review. However, the task force added its
investigation did not support Richmond's "contention that racism and
racially hostile attitudes and/or statements by the faculty were a major
focus of the present climate of hostility."
The report takes Richmond to task for not conducting an investigation before
acting.
"Based on our investigation, we suggest that had Provost Richmond undertaken
a full investigation, he would not have made this charge (of racism)," the
report says.
The task force also said Richmond acted improperly in sanctioning the
faculty. "His actions were arbitrary and capricious, and did not follow the
proper procedures or observe due process safeguards. In addition, his
actions did not resolve the problem. The ensuing publicity, which an
experienced administrator should have anticipated, made the situation
worse," the report says.
The task force recommends that the administration acknowledge that Richmond
took improper actions and "make all necessary steps to restore the
reputations of the faculty and Greenlee School."
Task force
complete report.
Next senate meeting
The next senate meeting will be at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 12, at the
Prairie Room, The Hotel at Gateway.
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Ames, Iowa 50011, (515) 294-4111
Published by: University Relations,
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