Eastern Washington University

WASHINGTONEASTERN UNIVERSITY start something big (((,, }.�i'It � ��!!!!� start something big September 2, 2008 The Honorable Christine Gregoire Governor of the State of Washington Legislative Building Olympia, WA 98504 Dear Governor Gregoire: This letter transmits the 2009-11 biennial operating budget request for Eastern Washington University. Developed within the guidelines set by the Office of Financial Management, this request represents Eastern's university-wide efforts to focus on its mission to prepare broadly educated, technologically proficient, and highly productive citizens. Eastern has proposed decision package requests, which are directly related to our mission, including: a salary increase, campus safety, student success and retention, network infrastructure, library collections, academic technology, alternative teacher education programs, collective bargaining and self-insurance premium. Faculty Salaries Eastern Washington University is committed to providing a high quality educational opportunity to the students in its region. In order to offer a curriculum that provides a strong academic foundation for its students, it is essential the university attracts and retains high quality faculty. The competitiveness of our salaries determines, in large part, our ability to accomplish this goal. If Eastern continues to struggle to fill faculty vacancies in critical program areas and to lose good faculty to better paying opportunities at other universities, the quality of education could be impacted. Eastern requests funding for faculty and professional exempt staffsalary increases. Campus Safety Eastern Washington University is an open campus with a widely diverse student population. Recent violent incidents at other universities have increased concern about the safety of Eastern's students, faculty and staff. Safety is our number one priority at Eastern. Students can not learn and grow in an unsafe environment. Parents naturally do not wish to send their college age students to a campus perceived as dangerous. Faculty and staff do not wish to work in a hazardous environment. The more levels an institution is equipped to deal with aggression and violence, the better. Eastern requests funding for additional police officers, counselors and critical safety notification equipment. Student Success and Retention Eastern Washington University is a regional, comprehensive institution serving the workforce needs of the state by providing a quality education experience that prepares students for a variety Office of the President 214 Showalter Hall • Cheney, WA 99004-2444 • 509.359.2371 • www.ewu.edu EasternWashington Umversoty os commotted to equal opportunrty and affirmatove action on employment. The Honorable Christine Gregoire September 2, 2008 Page2 of careers. Fifty-five percent of the students served by Eastern are first generation college students and many are from under-represented groups. This funding directly impacts student success and retention. Targeted areas for student success funding include an early warning and intervention system for at-risk students, paid student internships, leadership and mentoring opportunities, a Summer Bridge program to transition students into the college experience and expansion of the Eagle's Scholars First Year Experience program. Eastern Washington University requests funding to address student retention issues. Network Infrastructure Aneffective information technology infrastructure is a critical component of Eastern Washington University's success in fulfilling its teaching mission, enhancing academic quality and in conducting daily operations. Students, faculty and staff are reliant on the technological infrastructure to conduct daily business. Eastern's students use the infrastructure to register for classes, to conduct coursework and to interact with faculty. Eastern's faculty use the infrastructure for instruction, student interaction and research.· Eastern's staff rely on the technological infrastructure to serve students, provide mandatory reporting, award financial aid and reduce administrative costs. The university has an obligation to provide a high level of security to protect confidential student information and to maintain the integrity and preserve the safety of university information. Eastern Washington University requests funding to address netwo:rk infrastructure issues. Library Collections Eastern Washington University's mission to provide an excellent student-centered learning environment is enhanced through library materials available to students to support their learning and research, with an emphasis on education (teacher preparation), engineering and the health sciences. Quality academic programs at Eastern demand ample library resources in courses that require students to analyze historical events, evaluate social and economic issues, learn the impact of innovations and build on the knowledge and research of people who preceded them. Eastern Washington University requests funding for Library Collections. Academic Technology Faculty members at Easternuse technology with increasing sophistication to enhance student learning in and out of the classroom. The value and sophistication of digital instructional content continues to grow as an increasing amount of learning takes place online. £-learning content management solutions are required to ensure the security of these digital resources and to encourage and allow the sharing of content between instructors and students. Expanding uses of instructional technologies requires a strong underlying e-learning infrastructure of equipment, software and staffsupport. The importance and merit of student involvement in the campus (student life), local community (civic engagement) and the world (service learning), is being The Honorable Christine Gregoire September 2, 2008 Page 3 recognized and increasingly valued by the educational community and the public. Eastern Washington University requests funding to upgrade and enhance academic technology. · Alternative Teacher Education Programs Eastern Washington University's origin as a normalschool with over a century of graduating PreK-12 educators has established a commitment to the preparation of teachers and to their continued professional development throughout their teaching careers. Eastern's teacher preparation programs excel in their incorporation of best practices in teaching and in their adherence to national standards for teachers. To address both the needs of working adults who are choosing teaching as a new career and the needs of practicing teachers who are place-bound as they pursue their teaching careers, Easternwill develop alternatives to current programs that are based on the accumulation of credits and check-offs of requirements. Eastern requests funding to address alternative teacher education program development. Collective Bargaining Unit #1 Eastern Washington University is negotiating an agreement between the university and the Washington Federation of State Employees, Bargaining Unit #1. The provisions of this agreement will apply to all non-supervisory classified persons employed at Eastern Washington University. Collective Bargaining Unit #2 Eastern Washington University is also negotiating an agreement between the university and the Washington Federation of State Employees, Bargaining Unit #2. The provisions of this agreement will apply to all supervisory classified persons employed at EasternWashington University who act regularly as an integral part of management. Self-Insurance Premium Managing and assessing risk is an important part of any organization. This process becomes even more important in the State of Washington because the State self-insures tort claims. EasternWashington University places a high priority on actively managing risk to minimize tort claims. Eastern established a risk assessment function with the responsibility to outline a comprehensive training and risk management plan and approved a formal Risk Management Policy to reinforce the commitment. Also, Easternhas established an expanded Risk Assessment Team, as well as guidelines and forms for Field Trips. OFM directed Eastern to develop a policy level decision package for the premium increase in the 2009-11 biennium. The Honorable Christine Gregoire September 2, 2008 Page4 Eastern Washington University remains focused on its mission and is actively working to fulfill its obligation to serve the educational needs of its region. Your support for, and recognition of, the role of higher education in a successful state economy is critical to our institution, our citizens and our state. I urge you to carefully consider and support this request, and I look forward to discussing Eastern's plans with you and your staff. Thank you for your support. Sincerely, Rodolfo Arevalo, Ph.D. President RA:cgg EASTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY OPERATING BUDGET REQUEST 2009-2011 BIENNIUM 370 - EASTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY 2009- 11 BIENNIUM OPERATING BUDGET REQUEST TABLE OF CONTENTS AGENCY STRATEGIC PLAN A- Mission Statement . 1 Strategic Plan . 3 Performance Measures 18 Organization Chart. 19 Agency Activity Inventory Report. 20 AGENCY BUDGET SUMMARY B- Recommendation Summary 1 Program Budget Summary 6 DECISION PACKAGE OVERVIEW . C-1 SALARY INCREASE . D-1 CAMPUS SAFETY E-1 STUDENT SUCCESS & RETENTION. F-1 NETWORK INFRASTRUCTURE . G-1 LIBRARY COLLECTIONS H -1 ACADEMIC TECHNOLOGY . 1-1 ALTERNATIVE TEACHER EDUCATION .J-1 COLLECTIVE BARGAINING UNIT# 1 . K-1 COLLECTIVE BARGAINING UNIT# 2 .L-1 SELF-INSURANCE

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