While the current efficiency study is focused on academic programs, procurement, IT and human resources, among other areas, there are many aspects of the University which perhaps should be examined with regards to expenditures from the General Fund. Some form of cost-benefit analysis should be perfomed on non academic units outside the scope of the current efficiency study. Faculty have questions about how, and how much, money is spent on non-academic pursuits from the General Fund, Examination of such expenditures will increase transparency and shed light on the impacts such expenditures have on the University as a whole. This study should include the impact on the budget of the General Education fund, costs incurred to students via fees, and how these expenses affect student outcomes.
Most areas of the University have been impacted by the cuts to state appropriations funding over the past 15 years. However, academics appears to have been impacted more than most. Overall spending on instruction category salaries has declined (as a percentage of total salary spending). The number of tenured and tenure track faculty has fallen by about 10%, almost entirely due to a drop off in the number of assistant professors (down 30%). Given these isues, it seems that during this time in which the University has been underfunded as a whole, academics has taken on more than its share of cost cutting and it would be appropriate for the University to re-examine its budgeting priorities.
Therefore, be it resolved that the Senate shall ask the President's Office to form a joint ad hoc committee including members chosen by the Senate, the President's Office and Student Government to examine which areas of the University would benefit from a cost-benefit analysis and/or examine budget priorities and processes. The committee should be composed of nine individuals, with three chosen by the Senate, three by Student Government, and three members chosen by the President's Office. The committee will be formed by February 1st. The committee will choose which areas of the University should be examined with regards to their expenditures of the General Education Fund and make recomendations for which areas not currently under review by the efficiency study would benefit from a change in their expenditure levels to improve student outcomes and/or reduce their allotment from the General Education Fund. The committee will draft a report to the Senate of their suggestions by April 1st, 2015. At this time it will be decided whether further action is warranted in examining the budget priorities of the University as a whole with respect to the General Education Fund.