ALUW Winter Quarter Meeting: Friday, February 27, 2009

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President’s Report – Louise Richards
Board drafted a memo to Betsy Wilson about budget planning principles.  Also looking to recruit someone to attend Library Legislative Day in Olympia, as it conflicts with ACRL conference.  ALUW would sponsor someone to stay overnight for orientation the night before.

Secretary’s Report – Gail Kouame
Web site updated with minutes from the Fall Quarter meeting with links to Race & Gender Salary Study report and Faculty Council page with committee reports.   Legislative Committee page updated with new section about State Budget Issues – thanks to Lisa Oberg.

Treasurer’s Report – Anna
Savings: $3023.00, Checking: $1050.46, Total: $4073.46 - $246.26 for catering for today’s meeting not included in the total
8 new member donations paid.  Donations help pay for catering, honoraria, other guest speakers on campus, etc.

Faculty Council Reports

Pam Yorks – Women in Academia
Working on synthesis of data from a survey done last summer and decide upon recommendations.

 
Paula Walker – University Facilities and Services
Highlights of Fall and Winter Quarter meetings. Reviewed plans for new student housing on the west side of campus.  Funded by student fees.  Also heard a presentation about the University Link Light Rail project.  Opportunity to discuss impact on UW community.  Construction scheduled to begin in winter of 2010.  Another project reviewed is the proposed molecular engineering building.  If construction approved, would be completed by 2012 – unsure about whether it will be approved.  Cunningham Hall would have to be moved to accommodate this building.  Capital budget reviewed at January meeting.  University is concerned about budget for capital projects.  Possible need to add an elevator to the University of Washington Club – there is a lift on the stairs, but an elevator would be better.  Approximate cost: $600,000.  UW Club is self-sustaining, so they will have to come up with funds.  In February, heard about planned expansion of Ethnic Cultural Center.  Two possible sites being considered. 

Jill McKinstry – Student Affairs
50% of UW Undergrads receive some form of financial aid – 16,000 students receiving $203,000,000.  Only 2.4 million is earmarked for work-study.  We rank among the top 5 in Pell Grants.  Goal of student financial office is to reach 60% of students’ needs.  Tuition plus room & board is estimated to be about $19,000.  Husky Promise is that the University will do whatever can be done to assist with financial aid.  Incoming Freshman are encouraged to work with departmental advisors.

Susanne Redalje – Research Committee
                                See print report

Deb Raftus – Instructional Quality
Faculty have asked for access to photos of students, especially for those teaching large classes, so they can get to know the students better.  Would be up on a private space and student groups seem to be ok with this.  There is a bill in the works for faculty to inform students of required materials at least 4 weeks prior to the beginning of class.  Amanda Hornby introduced herself in her new role and committee was enthusiastic and eager to work more with Libraries.  MYUW portal site is being reviewed so that it can be more user-friendly for instructors.  Deb asked to have the language of the Libraries links updated to make them more clear.  There will be a teaching and learning symposium in April – call for proposals is out.

Lauren Ray – Educational Outreach
Discussion about how to avoid overlap with Educational Technology council.  Lots of distance learning is taking place.  Considering doing a survey among faculty about barriers and managing online courses and then bring issues to Faculty Senate.  Also looking at deliverables such as a faculty toolkit.  One proposal is to have some online courses offered for $300 per student.  Looking to see that online learning management systems used should be the same as what community colleges in the area are using.  There was some push-back about this as some faculty want more flexibility.

 
Charles Chamberlin – Benefits and Retirement
Looking at health care benefits.  Fund Review Committee – has been very inactive to look at retirement plans such as annuities, lifecycle funds, etc. to look at what’s available through Fidelity, Vanguard, etc.  We used to get statements annually about benefits – looking to reinstate this.  Benefits newsletter type publication.  Always a quandary about whether to send something out to people or simply expect them to go to a web site.

Steve Duncan – WLA Legislative Liaison

Mind-boggling how fast the financial crisis came upon us.  There is a feeling that “it will all come back,” but it may not.  We are a debtor nation – we are likely to see changes in lifestyles as a result of this situation.  There is a pervasive fear right now about making big purchases, and that is hurting Washington because we are so sales tax dependent. $33 billion budget -  55% of budget is non-discretionary: k-12, corrections, debt services.  45%  - $15 billion - is what is left: human services, higher education, and “everything else.”  Human services is the lion’s share of this.  Interesting debates about raising revenues versus saving money by eliminating positions, etc.  How do you construct a budget that is dependent on taxes and cycle starts July 1st, but ballot to the voters won’t go out until November – what do you do?

Where are libraries in all of this?  Depends a lot on the revenue package.  Salary increases, COLAs, etc are not in the mix.  There will be cuts, but hard to say how deep they will be.  Many members of the general public resent government – we will have to learn to push back by talking about importance of educated society, roads maintained, etc.  Steve encourages us to look at this year and recognize the importance of getting to know our legislators, to the point of name and face recognition.  Look online and call up bills they have prime sponsored and see what they care about.  If they sponsored a bill that you like, send them a message and tell them – they often don’t get *positive* feedback.  If there’s a town hall meeting, you meet them at the grocery store, etc – introduce yourself.

Question: Is technology being used to track legislators at the State level?

Answer: Yes – there are podcasts of Senators reporting out, etc.  Also, you can follow someone on Twitter, etc.  Just because something happens first and fast, doesn’t necessarily make it more important.  We do have a very transparent process in Washington.

Question: Can you explain Gov. Gregoire’s reluctance to increase taxes?

Answer: Campaign may have set the stage for this.  At the time of the election, the budget shortfall being quoted was 2 billion.  However, Steve thinks she is unlikely to put up an argument if the legislature advises tax increases.

Question: What are the 15-20 key legislators thinking about how to deal with budget?

Answser:  Look at size of Gregoire’s budget, and then rearrange the cuts, and then raise revenues for remaining amount.  This would be about $1 billion in taxes.

Question: What about State income tax? 

Answer: It has to be voter approved and this is unlikely to happen.

Question: Any hot issues for libraries?

Answer: Issues like Intellectual Freedom, etc unlikely to get much attention.

Question:  Funding for State Library?

Answer: Seems to be in pretty good shape.  New Heritage Building – not so great.

The “ripple effect” of big company lay-offs has not been felt yet.