Public home page Local home page How to contact us Search

Highlights of the September 22, 2003, meeting of the College Park Senate

1. Notes from Joel Cohen, Chair:
   
   • A committee has been appointed to formulate sexual-harassment policy.
   • A Revised Proposal for Adjusting General Education (CORE) Distributive Studies Requirements is pending before the senate. It will be discussed in open forums on Sept 26 and Sept 30. For details, see http://www.senate.umd.edu/CampusCrier/WebDSProp2.htm
     
2. State of the campus address by Dr. Mote: “Changing times.” Address will be available on University website. Here are Marv's notes [It was an up tempo address of a very depressing topic. – Marv]
   
   • State university were totally state supported until approximately 50 years ago. Now a growing trend toward student support (tuition) and grant support, with less state support (now 26.5%, down from 34% five years ago; Colorado is 8%, U. Virginia is 9%). But who should now pay for state required activities since much less state support? Mote believes this is a fundamental shift in state policy, not a short-term trend [due to recession]. One choice: Do nothing and hope for 2 miracles (a rapid turnaround in state revenue, a change in state approach toward higher education).
   • How to become a great university given this reality? A great university is a magnet for state economic growth. We have the people, right unfair advantages (e.g., location near many national labs and agencies), and quality. All we are missing is resources. Need to supplement general revenue via self-support, and resource generation and need to allocate resources in this direction. Goal is to move toward a responsibility-centered allocation model.
   • Question after talk: Can University become a private university? Answer: The 1999 law, which created the University System of Maryland, made the University a public benefit corporation and not a state agency. What this means has never been explored.
     
3. Governor Ehrlich has urged Chancellor Kirwan to force Prof. Donald Langenberg to resign for having attacked the Governor's budget in letters published in the Washingon Post and Baltimore Sun. Kirwan has refused. The senate voted unanimously in support of Kirwan.
   
4. The Council of University System Faculty proposes to establish a Faculty Legislative Liaison consisting of one faculty member for each legislator. If you are interested in being a liaison, send email to firelaw@umd.edu.

Dana Nau and Marv Zelkowitz