Western News
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WESTERN NEWS Volume 2, Number 19 WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY January 29, 1976 Report on Budget, Rehires, Bargaining WMU President John T. Bernhard and Western's chief administrative officer slipped from 19th place in 196(Hj7to 34th bers, including one person with 25years of Vice Presidents Stephen R. Mitchell and used Slide No. 3 to point out that place in 1975-76. service there; 'it also has closed down its Robert B. Wetnight held their second open Michigan's ranking of states by state His "snapshot statements" about sister Montieth College, will phase out its meeting for the campus community appropriations per capita for higher institutions included: 'Weekend College,' and it has made severe Tuesday (Jan. 27) in Shaw Theatre to education operations has dropped from "Despite a substantial tuition increase, cuts in utilities, supplies and travel. There provide more information about seventh place in 196(Hj7to 26th place in Michigan State University has reduced its is still a great deal of uncertainty about University budgeting, personnel actions 1975-76.Bernhard also noted on Slide No.4 academic budget by 1.8 per cent and its whether or not all the bills will be met; and collective bargaining. that Michigan's ranking of states by state nonacademic budget by two per cent; "Eastern Michigan University has laid Dr. Bernhard provided a general appropriations per $1,000 of personal in- "Wayne State has laid off 35 off seven tenured faculty and 29 non- overview of Western's current financial come for higher education operations has professionaVadministrative staff mem- tenured faculty, and has cut its Health plight and "snapshot statements" on sister Center operations in half; institutions to demonstrate that the misery "Central Michigan University has is being shared. Dr. Mitchell reported on Answer Queries About Administrative eliminated 41 nonacademic positions and, the rehiring process to date; the due to a record enrollment increase, University's 1975-76faculty salary offer; Salaries, Faculty Research Funds faculty workloads have been increased by not adding additional faculty positions; and collective bargaining. Wetnight In the question and answer period at presidents and president, have been below discussed current budget conditions. (The "Oakland University has eliminated 64 Tuesday afternoon's general campus that of the faculty and, in many instances, academic and nonacademic positions and complete text of Mitchell's statement meeting, Vice President. Mitchell said that below that of custodial and maintenance begins on page 2.) has made extensive cuts in supplies, any further rehire decisions will be made employees," he said. "This year, the travel, telephone and in other areas; and Bernhard presented four slides to stress as soon as possible, but that they hinge on Board of Trustees approved a ·three per how Michigan's support of higher "University of Detroit, a private in- receipt of additional information about cent increase for the President, and a stitution in our state, eliminated 46faculty education has slipped appreciably in Western's 1976-77 budget from Governor shade over four per cent, on the average, relation to the rest of the country. (Slides positions, effective Jan. 1; these include 13 Milliken and the legislature. for the central administration, including 1,2, 3 and 4 are reproduced on pages 3 and positions that were unfilled or vacated by "It is possible that others might be the vice presidents, the secretary of the early retirement and 33 persons who were 4.) rehired on continuing appointment, but it Board of Trustees, the administrative Slide No. 1 shows how the per cent of laid off." will be a small number," he said. "The assistant to the president, and the director Bernhard reiterated that Western had state appropriations for colleges and Governor and Gerald Miller, director of of information services." universities has dropped from 20 per cent anticipated $338,000or one per cent of the the department of management and Bernhard noted that the amount in 1965-66to 14per cent in 1975-76.Slide No. Governor's latest cut of $500,000. He in- budget, have said we should anticipate no allocated for the central administration is dicated that the specific final cuts in 2 reveals that although the state ap- increase in our budget for next year." slightly less than one per cent of the total propriations per fiscal year equated Central Administration were as follows: President Bernhard added that the budget of the University, which ranks President's Office, 7.7 per cent; Academic student has increased during the same outcome of faculty union negotiations also Western at or near the bottom of the State period from $1,074 to $1,934 in actual in- Affairs, 1.6 per cent; Finance and will affect these decisions. in comparison to other institutions of flated dollars, they actually have Business Operations, 4.1 per cent; "The number of faculty is not on the higher education. Administration, 4.7 per cent; Student decreased from $1,074to $1,030in constant bargaining table at present, although it deflated dollars. Services, 3.8 per cent; Secretary to the could be," Mitchell said. "Last spring, Board of Trustees, 1.6 per cent; and when we became aware of the budgetary AAUP Petitions Information Services, 3.7 per cent. "The difficulties we would face this year, we overall cut for the institution was 2.5 per asked the faculty union leadership to look To Stop Meeting cent and, in relative standards, it's the at the question of faculty workload and way the University should make those Campus faculty numbers, but they declined." Prior to the start of Tuesday's general campus meeting, Dr. Arthur Falk, decisions," he observed. In response to a question concerning the Mitchell announced that decisions have freeze imposed on research grants from president of the WMU chapter of the American Association of University been made to rehire 71 faculty members Briefs the Faculty Research Fund, Mitchell said who were "pink slipped" last fall, effective he would "take the pledge to release this Professors, presented University Western's University Theatre will President John T. Bernhard with signed next April 30. He indicated that 57 faculty money immediately if tl1e faculty union present Joseph Walker's "The River faculty petitions. positions are being terminated and an Niger" at 8 p.m. Wednesday through would stipulate that this is not a additional 30.3 positions are being held-l0 bargainable item." Dated 1-14-76,the petition stated, "We, Saturday, Feb. 4-7, in Shaw Theatre. the undersigned members of the WMU of them in hope that outside grant support Bernhard responded to a question ••• faculty, request that the University con- will be renewed and 20.33 because "we All students over 25 years of age are concerning a rumor that salary increases lack sufficient information about the 1976- for Western's administrators have been' fine the collective bargaining process to invited to bring their lunch and come for the negotiating table. 77budget. There is programmatic need for higher than the average faculty salary coffee and a rap session from noon to 1 "Meetings like the one President Bern- these faculty for next year, but we do not p.m. every Monday and Tuesday at the increases during the past five years. know if we have the money." "Consistently during this period, the hard called on Oct. 5 both circumvent and Susan B. Anthony Center in the Can- subvert the bargaining process; therefore, Wetnight used two pie charts (see page terbury House. average rate of increase for ad- 5) to illustrate the sources of revenue and ministrators, from the deans to the vice we decline to attend the President's ••• proposed meeting of Jan. 'l:l." the major types of expenditures, both Manzella Fitch, director of the women's totaling $48,082,000,for this current fiscal resource center at Western, Division of year. Continuing Education, will be a guest Wetnight reported that to date, through panelist at a "Women in Public Office: Set TIAA-CREF Meetings the winter semester, the University is running about $23,000 below its tuition The Time Is Right!" workshop Saturday, The University Personnel Department 3770Knauss Hall; and meeting with TIAA- estimate. ''That's our second largest Feb. 21, at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, reminds all University faculty and ad- CREF representative only from 9-10:30 revenue source," he said. "We're getting co-sponsored by the state division of the ministrative staff members, who enrolled a.m. Friday, Feb. 6, general meeting in the student head count, but the credit American Association of University in TIAA-CREF prior to September 1, 1974, 2750Knauss Hall. hours are slightly down." He pointed out Women. that the MPSERS -has provided a Eligible persons are urged to review the that the average undergraduate course • • • "retirement window" for a very short information packets that were recently load is down from 13.3hours a year ago to Charles McCarthy, well-known period of time. - mailed from the Personnel Department. If 13.1and the average graduate student load Christian pacifist, will conduct a seminar This provides an opportunity for eligible anyone elected TIAA-CREF prior to is down from 6.3 hours to 6.2 hours for the on "Christian Pacifism: Option or employees to elect the MPSERS plan September 1, 1974,and did not receive this same period. Obligation" Feb. 6-8 at the St. Thomas instead of continuing in the TIAA-CREF More Catholic Student Center, 421Monroe information, they should contact the plan, if they wish to do so. Personnel Office immediately, 383-1650. St. More information may be obtained by Information meetings with represen- Gets ROTC Commission 381-8917,383-8144or 383-8141.