March 9, 2006

Present: Judith Anderson (chair), Bob Becker (arrived about 4:50), Erik Bucy, Sandra Dolby, Roger Levesque, Rosemary Lloyd, Al Ruesink (recorder), Rob Shakespeare, and Rick Van Kooten (by phone until 5:00).

The meeting convened at 4:15.

Minutes of the March 2nd meeting were approved unanimously following some editing.

The CPC discussed a recommended person to fill Rick's seat for next year in his absence and Judith will ask that person to serve.

We began a discussion of the negative impact that the huge increase in healthcare coverage fees for SAA's will have on grad student morale and recruiting.

Dean Swamy joined us at 4:30 and helped us understand the SAA healthcare issues. The campus will not be able to absorb the total increase and some will have to be borne by the students. The big increase resulted from several very large claims that were covered last year with what is essentially a self-insured plan. Building priorities were discussed. For the past three years a Humanities(and Social Sciences)/Classroom building has received the highest priority from the campus for new construction. However, it has been dropped as a university priority for the 06-07 legislative request. Instead, a Computational and Information Building, which was supposed to be funded entirely from private funds, has been added to the capital funding request from the State. Swamy has discussed this issue with Interim Provost McRobbie and indicated the urgency of the Humanities/Classroom building. Regarding the College budget, Swamy circulated an updated version of the requests he made recently at the budget conference of the College. He hopes to achieve a faculty salary increase of 3%, and the CPC affirmed this priority, even if it has to come at the expense of some new hires. Regarding faculty raiding, there are now about 44 faculty who are indicating a possibility of leaving the College, compared to 54 at this time last year. Swamy has asked for campus funds to devote to various aspects of faculty retention. Swamy left our meeting at 5:26.

Following some discussion regarding other issues we may need to consider this year, the meeting adjourned at 5:56.

Albert Ruesink, recorder

Questions or comments regarding the minutes and actions of the College Policy Committee may be addressed to co-chairs Judith Anderson (anders@indiana.edu --855-3845) and Bob Becker (becker@indiana.edu --855-3014). Past minutes and College Policy Statements can be found at the CPC web page: www.indiana.edu/~college/faculty/policy/policies.shtml.