Open Forum on RPD 20-24

Friday, September 15, 2017

DUC 374

Our Situation

• We will almost certainly be cutting some majors/options and other programs and services within Academic Affairs.

• These reductions are intended both to reduce spending and allow investment in strategic areas.

• Uncertainties remain, including VSIPs, but…• These cuts will almost certainly result in the loss

of currently-filled positions, including tenure-track faculty.

• It remains a possibility that program discontinuation will result in the elimination of tenured faculty positions.

The Opportunity

• We will not make our budget reductions or investments across the board.

• If we do this strategically, as difficult as the decisions will be, the programs we maintain and the new programs we build will eventually have enough resources to thrive.

• Imagine what it would mean for key programs to have enough resources….

• UW-Stevens Point will emerge a stronger university.

Enrollment Update

• Entering First-Years:– Approx. 1570, down from 1582 last year

• Entering Transfers:– Approx. 560, down from 617 last year

• Overall Fall Enrollment:– Approx. 8190, down from 8626

• Higher graduation rate and declining demographics are the two principal factors continuing to drive this decline.– One is a terrific achievement and good for students– The other is largely beyond our control– Retention, rising competition in recruiting, and availability

of scholarship dollars are other related factors

Demographics & Enrollment

Demographics & Enrollment

“FTE enrollment has dropped in six straight years after continually increasing between 2007 and 2010. In fall 2016, the UW System enrolled 148,327 FTE students, 7,712 fewer FTE students than fall 2010. “

Budget Update($4,381,424) Base budget deficit

($1,828,400) Enrollment decline 8700 to 8300 {Likely 8190}

($6,209,824) Projected total deficit as of last January

$2,000,000 FY18 spending reduction

$1,341,900 FY 18 budget addition from UWS

($550,000) Cost of 2%-2% proposed pay plan

($3,417,924) Ongoing deficit entering this year

$2,500,000 FY19 spending reduction

($917,924) Ongoing deficit after FY19 reduction

Toward a Process ofContinuous Improvement

• Past budget reductions have too often been across-the-board, and treated as one-time moments to endure.– Creates institutional anemia for all programs– Prevents strategic change

• This year will be different:– Reductions will take place in the context of a

longer-term effort to position the university strategically to succeed in this smaller market.

– This means we will be investing as well as cutting.

Toward a Process ofContinuous Improvement

• Role of Integrated Planning Advisory Council (IPAC)– Focus will be on creating long-term structure and

process of continuous improvement: metrics, budget models, realignment of open positions, etc.

– IPAC is not equipped yet to manage current budget reduction, but decisions cannot wait.

• Decision making within Academic Affairs– Utilize available information to create an

academic plan that implements recommendations from last spring.

Budget Strategies…UniversityStarting Point: Across the Board by Division

DivisionFY18 GPR/Tuition

Budget% of Total

BudgetFY19 Reduction

Amount

Executive $1,238,601 2.50% $ (62,623)

Advancement $728,471 1.47% $ (36,831)

Student Affairs $1,198,305 2.42% $ (60,586)

Business Affairs $6,689,891 13.53% $ (338,238)

Academic Affairs $39,591,375 80.07% $ (2,001,722)

University College $3,640,901 7.36% $ (184,082)

Academic Affairs $4,244,159 8.58% $ (214,583)

IT $3,575,315 7.23% $ (180,766)

COLS $12,253,033 24.78% $ (619,508)

CPS $7,048,814 14.26% $ (356,385)

COFAC $4,513,166 9.13% $ (228,184)

CNR $4,315,987 8.73% $ (218,214)

Totals $49,446,643 100.00% $ (2,500,000)

Colleges and Units• Each college

has been impacted differently by enrollment declines.

• Each college is structured differently.

• Consequently, strategies for handling budget will differ.

0

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150000

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300000

2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

SCH

Fiscal Year

SCH Production by College

COFAC

CPS

COLS

CNR

Total

Colleges and Units

0

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4000

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2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

Nu

mb

er (

du

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Fiscal Year (Fall)

Number of Majors by College

CNR

CPS

COLS

Total

COFAC

Possible RestructuringCurriculum/Department Structure• “Options” to Majors

– Common terminology across university– Consider market potential

• Consolidation of Units– Programmatic/strategic considerations, not just

budget

• Elimination of “Options”/Majors– What activities are we prepared to let go because we

are unable to resource them appropriately?

• Potential Investment Areas– Where can we generate growth?– Where are we obligated to provide service?

Notes Regarding VSIPs

• Every VSIP separation provides some flexibility to spread out necessary reductions.

• Reminder being sent to those currently eligible– Applications will be reviewed with fewer

restrictions

• Current deadline for applying is March 1, 2018 with separation by June 30, 2018.

Layoff Policy for Faculty

• Wisconsin State Statue 36.22 was changed to allow layoff of faculty for financial emergency or program discontinuance.

• Board of Regent Policy 20-24 outlines procedures for both in response to 36.22

• In the case of faculty layoffs, UWSP would be implementing the process outlined for program discontinuance.

Program definition per RPD 20-24:

• A related cluster of credit-bearing courses that constitute a coherent body of study within a discipline or set of related disciplines.

• When feasible, the term shall designate a department or similar administrative unit that offers majors and has been officially recognized by the UW institution.

• Programs cannot be defined ad hoc, at any size, but should be recognized academic units.

• Programs shall not be defined to single out individual faculty members for layoff.

Process

• Proposal for discontinuance can be initiated by faculty, administration or governance.

• Written proposal goes to

– University governance body (all employee classifications)

– Affected department

– Chancellor

Review by Faculty Committee

• Faculty Committee reviews and makes recommendation to the chancellor

– Reviews written proposal

– Reviews comments and recommendations from faculty staff and students

– Must provide written report to the chancellor within 3 months.

– Report also goes to department, governance and administration

Criteria for Review by Faculty Committee

– The centrality of the program to the institution’s mission;– The academic strength and quality of the program, and of

its faculty in terms of national ratings if applicable;– Whether the work done in the program complements that

done in another essential program;– Whether the work done in the program duplicates

academic instruction and course content delivered in other programs at the institution;

– Student and market demand and projected enrollment in the subject matter taught in the program;

– Current and predicted comparative cost analysis/effectiveness of the program; and

– Other relevant factors that the committee deems appropriate.

Chancellor Action

• Upon receipt of report, Chancellor consults with faculty committee and governance.

• If proceeding with discontinuance, Chancellor must submit recommendation to the Board of Regents and System president within 4 months of original written proposal.

Board of Regents Action

• The Board of Regents consults with the system president

• Final decision for discontinuance rests with the board.

Layoff of Faculty

• If Board approves discontinuance, the tenured faculty of the institution are responsible for recommending which faculty are laid off.

– Recommendations should typically follow seniority

– Unless program or budget needs dictate other considerations such as the need to maintain diversity of specializations.

Seniority

• Faculty shall determine form of seniority to be considered

• Must be consistent across the institution• Some possible options (Wis. Stat. 36.22)

– Without regard to rank, with seniority established by total years of service in the institution.

– By rank, and within rank according to total years of service in the institution.

– By rank, and within rank, according to length of service in the institution at that rank.

Faculty Layoff Rights

• Faculty are notified in writing

• Notice period for layoff is 12 months

• Faculty have rights to a hearing

– Budget and program decisions are not considered

– Only consideration of appropriateness of decision to lay off individual faculty member.

• Laid off faculty have reappointment rights

Impact on Students• Students will be held harmless in completing

degrees.• UW System institutions will make every

effort to accommodate students adversely affected by discontinuance of an academic program for reasons of financial emergency or because of educational considerations.

• Discontinuance of a program should be phased in over a reasonable time period to provide students with the opportunity to complete the program or transfer to another program.

References

• Wisconsin State Statute 36.22

• Board of Regent Policy 20-24

• UWS 5 (has not been amended by legislature to comply with Wisc. Stat. 36.22

Discussion/Q&A