Faculty issues may not always be at the forefront of the student body’s concerns, but with more than 1,260 faculty members, their voice is strong.
On Tuesday, the Saint Louis University Faculty Senate held its monthly meeting and discussed a wide variety of issues, including the upcoming budget process, medical insurance and strategic planning.
During his report, Faculty Senate President John Slosar explained that the University budgeting process would begin early next week.
Slosar, who sits on the President’s Coordinating Council, explained that the PCC will meet without the President on Oct. 31, Nov. 7, and Nov. 20, to determine the first draft for the Fiscal Year 2002 budget. The budget will be presented to University President Lawrence Biondi, S.J. for input and approval.
“Father Biondi has said he may tweak the budget more this year than in the past,” Slosar said.
Following Biondi’s revisions, the budget will be presented by Provost Sandra Johnson and Vice President of Business and Finance Rob Altholz and to the Executive Committee of the Faculty Senate.
The final budget must be approved by the Board of Trustees.
Throughout the budget process, Slosar will represent faculty concerns. “I am there to represent faculty first and what is best for the University,” Slosar said. “My position is sort of a strange one-sometimes I feel like a lone ranger out there working with the administration.”
Following Slosar’s explanation of the process, Rick Breslin inquired about a motion passed last year that recommended the Faculty Senate create a list of priorities for University budgeting.
Slosar explained that the Executive Committee decided it would not present priorities to the PCC.
Faculty Senate President-elect Randy Sprague explained that it would be difficult to come to a consensus among all faculty on what the priorities are. He also expressed concern that faculty has no knowledge on such expenses as facilities and other various aspects of university life. He added, “What we should be doing is standing up for what we need.”
During new business, Breslin proposed that they start now and work towards some priorities for next year. Any faculty members with budgetary concerns were encouraged to speak with Slosar and Sprague after the meeting.
In other business, Robert Heaney gave a report of the Medical Insurance Ad Hoc Committee. He presented the concern that medical costs were expected to raise 16 percent or more in the next year, primarily a result of high pharmaceutical costs.
His committee looked at external studies of other University medical plans, as well as national trends. He also explained that several options are underutilized in the current plans: medical savings accounts and wellness accounts.
In its recommendations to Human Resources, the committee recommended instituting a three-tiered prescription drug co-payment plan, ranging from $10 to $30, increasing Healthlink physician co-payment from $5 to $10, increasing the individual deductible $50 and the family deductible to $100 and reducing or maintaining family premiums for Primary Plan participants.
“It seemed to be a balanced approach to a rapid run-up of medical costs,” Heaney explained.
When questioned about how these changes compare to other universities, Heaney said, “This isn’t going to make us stand out in any good fashion but, also, not in a bad fashion.”
Also during the meeting, Provost Sandra Johnson discussed the current strategic-planning initiative.
“It’s time again to answer some strategic questions of where we’re going,” Johnson said. She explained that a key component will be looking at the environment of higher education and the fields of study. She encouraged the faculty to submit their input via the web site survey. The process of developing a strategic plan will be completed in May with objectives and goal development beginning in Fall 2001.
