Laura Bucio
Assistant Editor
The Action Task Force, an administrative committee created last year to “find” $8 million in the University’s budget by reviewing current programs and expenditures, generated the following list of recommendations.
Recommendations No. 1 through 16 have gone before the ULV Board of Trustees, which approved all but No. 3 and No. 14. Recommendations No. 17 through 34 are expected to go before the board later this year.
1) Academic Calendar
Currently various University programs, such as education, law and business, start and end their terms at different times. The proposal will put all ULV programs on the same academic calendar.
2) Four-Unit Standard
Students often receive a different number of academic units for the same course. The proposal will standardize courses to a four-unit standard.
3) Cross-Listed Courses
Some of the same or similar courses are listed under different majors and programs. The proposal would have listed these courses under one major. If other majors required the course they would have needed to take it under the other major. This recommendation was rejected by the Board.
4) Possible Conversion of 3-unit Courses
Current 3-unit courses will be revised so that they are converted into 4-units, establishing a 4-unit standard for undergraduate courses.
5) 128-Unit Requirement
All undergraduate will be required to complete 128 units for graduation.
6) Distribution of the 128 Units
Of the 128 units required for graduation no more than 48 may be general education courses, no more than 60 can be major, supportive, or prerequisite courses, and no more than 20 can be minor or elective courses.
7) Proposed Timeline for Recommendations
This recommendation establishes a timeline so that a decision is made regarding recommendations 1, 4, 5 and 6. Dialogue sessions, development, implementation plans, and catalog changes should be done by September 2007.
8) Class Size and Course Rotation for Major Courses
This recommendation calls for the development of a process to review average class size and rotation of course offerings.
9) Class Size and Course Rotation for GE Courses
This recommendation charges the Office of Academic Advising with developing the process regarding class size and rotation of courses.
10) Institutional Grants for Traditional Undergraduates
This recommendation charges that the Financial Aid Policy Committee with developing a plan to reduce the average discount rate for students to 38 percent and the entering freshman discount to 45 percent.
11) International Students
This recommendation calls for bringing 50 additional international students a semester to campus.
12) Transfer Students
This recommendation calls for the the recruitment of 75 additional transfer students a semester to ULV’s main campus.
13) Reduction in Expenses
Departments at ULV will need to cut their budgets by 2 percent by the year 2007.
14) Establish a Main University data system
This recommendation would have established Banner be established as the main data system for the University. This recommendation was rejected by the Board.
15) Marketing Unit
Marketing, recruitment, promotion and advertising functions for adult undergraduate and graduate students will be consolidated under a single marketing unit.
16) Centralize Enrollment Management Center
An executive position will be created to manage advertising, image development, marketing, recruitment and admissions for ULV.
The following recommendations have yet to go before the Board of Trustees for approval:
17) Undergraduate Student Profile
Undergraduate students would be profiled in order to collect data and help aim the marketing to students who are in the market “target” area.
18) Per Diem Revision
ULV would establish a $45 per diem rate for reimbursement of meals when employees travel.
19) Management Study and Assessment
The president would appoint a task force to conduct a management study and periodic assessment of the University's processes for: Administrative Structure, Decision Making Process, Delegation of Authority and Responsibility Accountability.
20) University Data Integration
This recommendation calls for a team to develop a plan, budget and timeline to properly integrate information systems across the various University departments.
21) Alternative Admission Options
Two recommendations:
a. Legacy students should be admitted though programs that are already established or through the First Year Resource Program. Legacy students include children of alumni, trustees, ULV faculty and staff.
b. Traditional students who are denied admission and who do not qualify for the First Year Resource Program will be offered a “matriculation plan,” which will require students to take one course at ULV, as a non-matriculated student, and to be concurrently enrolled at a community college.
22) Online General Education Program
More general education courses or elective courses would be offered through the online general education program.
23) Undergraduate Major Offerings
A team would be formed to assess current majors and minors offered in relation to the needs of prospective undergraduate students. This team will consist of the Enrollment Management and Marketing Units, the provost, the Deans of Arts and Sciences, Business and Public Management, and Education and Organizational Leadership. This recommendation may result in the reduction or elimination of some of the current major offerings.
24) Undergraduate Expansion of Existing Programs
Based on the information collected with recommendation No. 23, the team would assess the need for expanding existing traditional undergraduate programs and creating new ones.
25) Nontraditional Undergraduate and Graduate Programs
Based on information collected with recommendation No. 23 the team would consider expanding non-traditional undergraduate, and graduate programs.
26) Incentive for Growth
A team would be created to develop guidelines regarding the creation of the new programs that might arise from recommendations 23-25. The team will consist of: the assistant to the president, the president, the provost, the executive vice-president and the vice president of the enrollment management unit.
27) In-House Legal Counsel
A team would be developed to determine if an in-house legal counsel should be hired. The team should include the executive vice president, the provost, the director of human resources and the director of risk management.
28) Employee Technology Training
The ULV administration, along with human resources, would develop a mandatory employee technology training program.
29) Employee Policies and Procedures Training
ULV administration along with human resources should develop mandatory employee policies and procedures training.
30) Administrative Efficiencies
Human resources would develop an incentive program to reward University employees for ideas that promote savings within the University.
31) External Grant and Contact Funding
ULV would create a centralized Office of Research and Sponsored Academic Programs. Their goal will be to seek grants and contracts that support research in the University.
32) Zero-Based Budgeting
The executive vice president and his budget team would make zero-based budgeting for the entire University. This means that every department will have to justify its funding every year, as opposed to just justifying their request for the funding.
33) Expectations for New Generating Units
A team would be formed in to set parameters regarding the expected revenue for the University.
34) Expand Fundraising Capacity
The president should assemble a team to assess and improve the current fundraising structure and results.
Laura Bucio can be reached at lbucio@ulv.edu. |
