Inside Iowa State: Iowa State University

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.