Forum endorses policies
Two new policies were endorsed at the meeting of the University Forum on Wednesday, March 25.
The policies were a revised "PRP 4802 Student Code of Conduct" and "PRP 4955 Identification Card Policy."
Richard Rugen vice president for administration and finance, presented for a first reading two new policies related to university cell phone use. Rugen explained that the policies were needed because personal use of employer-provided cell phones has been deemed a taxable benefit by the IRS. Under the policies, all BU employees issued cell phone by the university will be asked to return phone. They can purchase phones, and the university will be issued a stipend to cover the amount of university calls that are anticipated. A limited number of employees, such as police and community assistants, will be issued university phones. Those employees will have to log calls on the phones and cannot use them for any personal calls.
Richard Baker, chair of the Middle States Steering Committee, announced that the Middle States Visitation Team will give a formal exit presentation on Wednesday, April 8, at 11:15 a.m. The team would not take any questions at that time however. There are also tentative plans to have an open meeting for the campus community during the Middle States visit, which runs April 5 to 8, but the time and place have not been established yet.
There was also a broad discussion of the role of the University Forum. Forum chair Michael Coffta noted that he would like to more calls for straw votes as a simple method to get the idea of what level agreement we have on campus on a given issue.
President David Soltz noted that both policies that were endorsed at Wednesday's meeting did so after substantial changes based on discussion in the Forum. He added that he would begin to report each semester on which policies he approves after they have been endorsed in Forum.
In the open discussion at the meeting, Rugen, in response to a question, announced that the speed bumps would be reinstalled soon behind McCormick Center for Human Services. In response to another question, Rugen noted that field trips for educational purposes, a class trip or a field trip, cannot include non-university employees because of liability concerns.
A Forum member expressed concern that there should be more crosswalks on Second Street. Rugen said that the university has to recommend changes to the Town of Bloomsburg because Second Street is controlled by the town.
Planning and budget
At the planning and budget committee meeting on March 12, Richard Rugen, vice president for administration and finance, said that very preliminary budget projections show a potential shortfall for the coming fiscal year.
Admissions director Chris Keller reported that the university is on track to meet the fall enrollment target of 8,350 FTE - with 1,914 new freshmen, 390 transfer and 85 other new students.
Applications are up slightly at 11,480, with increases in out-of-state and minority applications. The yield of students accepting and average SAT scores are holding steady from last year.
Eric Milner of the space and facilities subcommittee, outlined the priorities of future construction on campus. Priorities are addition to and renovation of
Waller Administration Building followed by the renovation of McCormick Center for Human Services.
The university plans to begin construction of an addition to Sutliff Hall in the spring of 2010, with faculty to be relocated from the building in the summer of 2010.
Richard Baker, chair of the middle states committee, reported that the Middle States visitation team will be on campus from April 5 to 8.
"I've been through this at several other universities and I'm very impressed with how it's been handled so far," said President David L. Soltz.