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College of Letters and Science 1998-99 Academic Planning Committee Minutes - Special Meeting Monday, April 19, 1999
The Chair, Mark Schwartz, called the meeting to order at 12:06 p.m. in Holton 241. The purpose of the meeting was to hear a presentation from the Dean concerning College priorities in hiring for 2000-2001. He discussed the state of the College's budget as it relates to providing supporting costs for hiring decisions. The Dean handed out a page listing "Predicted Funds Available" and summary of start up costs committed for the next three years along with a projected deficit in start up funds. Campus has turned over responsibility for start-up costs to the individual schools and colleges. The bottom line is that for the next two years, we already are over-committed, without any additional new hires. The Dean noted that we must keep investing in science research, but given the projected deficit, we need to avoid high cost start-up hires this year. We have had to spread out some of our start-up costs over three years, so we are starting out behind due to commitments already made. Because a number of schools can afford to offer all needed start-up funds in one year, we have a very difficult time competing for experimentalists. The Dean noted that we have put great emphasis on hiring in the natural sciences over the past few years. It may be that now is a time to turn our attention to addressing other needs. The College has about $600,000 from various sources for hiring. This is enough for about ten positions, and the Dean asked that the committee prioritize ten positions. He noted that we also have seven carry-over positions from 1999-2000 for which we also will recruit next year. The Dean then explained his intention to give the Committee members his "early read" on key needs within the College, noting that the Committee did not need to agree with his assessment, and asking that where recommendations vary, the Committee present a convincing, specific argument as to why. The Dean noted that we have lost three very distinguished faculty through retirement: Ihab Hassan (Vilas Professor of English), Bob Drago (Economics and Director of MHRLR), and John Bibby (Political Science). To retain the status of these units in the College, we will have to recruit equally high quality senior faculty. However, he did not feel we could do all three in one year and, therefore, has suggested that the Political Science replacement should be held over until the next round of hiring because he felt that that department has the least pressing need of the three. The Dean also discussed his thinking in coming to the committee to discuss his views PRIOR to receiving the committee's advice. He said that it was incumbent on him to impart this information so that the Committee members could know of his priorities in advance so that they would not waste a lot of time considering a large number of positions when there were likely to be few available. At the same time, he emphasized that committee members were free to disagree with his priorities and noted that they were encouraged to make a case for other priorities if they felt strongly that different requests were much more pressing. At the present time, the Dean's priorities are (not necessarily in this order):
The Dean then explained the new spousal hire policy that applies to Madison and Milwaukee. If we are asked to make a spousal hire (and if we agree), for three years campus administrations pays 1/3 of the salary, the unit with the spouse pays 1/3, and L&S pays 1/3. Clearly, if the spouse also is in L&S, the total payment will be 2/3. We don't budget for these costs, so they are in addition to other expenses we incur relating to hiring. We have two spousal hires this year. Another cost consideration is the recruitment process. This can be quite expensive as well. Departments wish to bring in three candidates; when an individual is hired, we provide a computer and moving expenses. The Dean stressed once again that these monetary pressures, of necessity, must affect the kinds of positions we agree to fund, in particular regarding start up costs. The Dean was asked if there was potential for growing the faculty from other sources. He noted that the Governor's budget contains proposals for significant funding of an international effort. If funded by the legislature, there could be 15-20 new faculty positions. A more conservative budget allocation still should yield 6 or 7 new positions in L&S. He indicated that among some senators there is growing opposition to the overseas effort. The meeting was adjourned at 1:37 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Connie Jo Special Assistant to the Dean and Distinguished Advisor Secretary to the L&S Faculty Distribution: Committee Members L&S Deans L&S Committee Chairs Secretary of the University |
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