Members Present: Wanda Carpenter, Colleen Harris, Diane Klein, Tammie McMillan, Mark Reagan (presiding), Donna Russell

Others Present: President Robert Bell, Marvin Barker, Sue Pogue

Service Pin Presentations

Dr. Barker presided over the presentation of service pins to clerical and support staff. Respective deans and supervisors assisted with the presentation of the pins. After the pins were awarded, everyone enjoyed refreshments until 2:00 p.m.

Remarks by President Bell

Town Hall Meetings

The Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) has initiated discussions about how TBR institutions can work more efficiently and more cooperatively to serve the State with reduced resources. This has become a statewide effort to hear the voice of the community. Following a series of regional meetings, a higher education summit will be held October 22-24, 2001, for recommendations to be finalized and prioritized. The Regional Town Hall Meeting for the Cookeville-Upper Cumberland area has been scheduled for Tuesday, September 11, 2001, at 3:00 p.m. on our campus in the OVC room. Other town hall meetings are scheduled for September 10 at Pellissippi State, September 13 at Tennessee State University and September 18 at Roane State.

A 1 percent reduction to the University’s budget has already occurred, and an additional 1 percent reduction is expected. The TBR is reviewing other options for budgetary reductions. There will be no increases in operating funds and no new fee monies for next year. Discussions relative to possible cuts have included the elimination of program duplications at TBR universities, reduction in the number of teachers for basic courses and cutting of athletic scholarships. Internet courses are being reviewed as a possible means to deliver basic courses at a cost reduction. TBR has emphasized the need to increase enrollments, and they anticipate the increases will occur at the two-year schools.

The TBR will complete the study currently in progress by early October and plans to have the final report completed for review on October 10. The report will form a major part of the agenda for the October 22-24 Summit of the TBR. The final report will be submitted to the General Assembly for review in December.

Temporary Shuttle Service

The University is currently providing a shuttle service for students through September 7. The shuttle runs from the major commuter parking areas from 7:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. The free shuttle is designed to help students avoid long walks across campus during the first few weeks of class until most people get settled into a regular schedule with parking.

Temporary Child Care

Beginning September 4 and continuing through September 7, the University will provide free childcare for first-through sixth-grade children of Tech employees and students. This service, provided in the Fitness Center, is for those who have been unable to make other arrangements for childcare due to the short notice of Putnam County Schools not opening as originally scheduled. Parents will be asked to register and show a valid Tech ID to use the free service.

Tech Ambassadors

Our congratulations to Mike Widmayer, maintenance worker in Facilities and Business Services, named August 2001 Ambassador of the Month, and to Alma Chaffin, secretary in Financial Aid, the September 2001 Ambassador of the Month.

Recent Retirement and Retirement Announcements
Dr. David Yarbrough—Chemical Engineering, July 31, 2001
Dr. Robert Martin—Biology, May 11, 2002
Dr. Elinor Ross—Curriculum and Instruction, July 31, 2002

Enrollment

The student enrollment this fall semester is the largest in the University’s history! The total headcount is 8,653, and the FTE is 7,372. The enrollment increase is an example of how faculty, staff and students have taken pride in this campus, despite budget challenges, and communicated their satisfaction to students looking for a quality university. Tech’s student base has excellent access to community colleges in the area, and that has resulted in a significant increase in transfer students who are choosing to continue their education at Tennessee Tech.

Dohto Visitors

On September 11-13, the University will host guests from Dohto University, Tech’s sister institution in Japan. The visitors will be planning for an upcoming visit by approximately 25 Dohto University students in mid October.

Salary Update

Within the week, the University will submit to the TBR requested salary increases to include administrative, faculty, and clerical and support employees. The Executive Advisory Council recently approved the Clerical and Support Staff Equity Plan as submitted. The plan will be submitted to the TBR for review and approval at the fall board meeting. In the absence of an approved equity plan for the clerical and support staff employees, the following proposed allocations have been made for clerical and support staff employees:

Across-the-board as mandated by TBR 2.5 percent
Additional across-the-board by University .5 percent
Salary compression adjustments:
Employees with less than 5 years .0 percent
Employees with 5 through 10 years 1.65 percent
Employees with over 10 years 3.15 percent

These salary increases, when approved by the TBR, will be given only to people who are actually employed and not on terminal leave as of the November payroll.

Meeting was adjourned at 2:45 p.m.

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