CBF MEETING

TUESDAY, MARCH 10, 2009

Student Attendees:  Amber Barton, Katie Gluck; Shannon Nelson; Linley Park, Sonja Pearson, Audrey Porcella, Kym Riner, Alex Roa, Jason Segers, Nicole Stanton; Chelcee Thomas; Shakira Tietje, Alicia Wallace

Faculty & Staff:  Greg Bohr; Terry Jones; Carolyn Dentler, Recorder

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Audrey Porcella, newly elected Chair, presided over the meeting.  A handout summarizing the student  meeting held with Dean Halisky and President Baker regarding the proposed CBF increase was distributed. Dr Jones to discuss the ramifications further.  With only a projected 38% voter turn-out, Porcella rallied students to vote in this upcoming Thursday and Friday election.

AGENDA

CBF Budget and Proposals

Dr Bohr outlined the remaining monies left in the CBF funds for this year:

Remainder of Funds:            $720

Reserved to Date (Unspent Balances):

Allocation for both the Open House and End of Year Party were voted on:

1)     Open House: Reduce the allocation from $500 to $100.  (Savings:  $400) 

Results:  10 Yes; 0 No.  Passed.

2)    End of Year Party:  Move the allocation of $200 back to the general fund.  (Savings $200)

Results:  10 Yes; 0 No.  Passed.

Alternative funding options were discussed and three project proposals were presented and voted on. Students concurred any balance remaining at the end of the year might be used towards funding a party.  The savings above total $600.  This added back into the general fund increased the available balance to $1,320. 

Project Proposals:

1)     Linley Park and Katie Gluck – Amnesty International Conference:  Requesting $500/each for travel.  Attending conference, not presenting, however will bring back information to Cal Poly for presenting at workshops.  Threshold for attending a conference (versus presenting) is $300, however Dr Jones said this can be increased if agreed on by the Committee.  The total $1,000 would be taken from the balance of $129 remaining in the “Travel & Conference” allocation plus the CBF general funds.

2)    Chelcee Thomas – Modern Day Slavery in the United States:  Requesting $250 from Senior Project funding. Funds would be spent for materials and speaker expenses. 

3)    Dr Jim Keese – Guest Lecturer:  Michael Conniff.  Requesting $200.  A collaborative effort between the Latin American Studies Program, Political Science and Social Sciences departments. Topic:  Politics and Populism in Latin America. 

Results: 

1)    6 – Yes to funding $500; 4 – Yes to funding $300  - Park and Gluck approved for $500/ech for   travel to conference.

2)    10 – Yes to funding $250 – Thomas to receive $250 for Sr. Project.

3)    9 – Yes to funding $200 for guest speaker; 1- No – Keese approved for $200 for guest lecturer.

CBF Fee Increase

Dr Jones discussed what the impacts would be to the Social Sciences Department should the CBF increase not be approved.

1)     If the vote does pass there will still be a reduction in the number of classes offered.  This is due primarily to this year’s fiscal deficit.

2)    If the vote does not pass there will be a larger reduction in classes, to the tune of 10%, which for Social Sciences would be approximately 10 classes/year. 

Who and what classes would this affect?  Jones gave a brief summary on the classification and employment hierarchy of faculty and how this plays out in the schedule of courses offered. 

4 Classification of Faculty:

Lecturers -                        Do not obtain tenure

Assistant Professors -             Tenure-Track.  6 yr process.  Evaluated yearly.

Associate Professor -            Tenured faculty

Professor -                         Tenured.

Who:  Jones explained that tenure implies guaranteed employment, a system which has been in effect for years and a mechanism that protects faculty from being fired.  Because lecturers will never obtain tenure, when budgets are impacted they are the first to be let go.  

Which Classes:  Jones said GE and major courses must be offered.  Specialty and individualized courses will be less likely offered.  Next year all CBF funds will go directly towards classes.  All CBF funds will be administered by the College next year.  The College will also play a bigger role in determining course offerings.

Comments:

Porcella:  Graduation rate will be affected.  Dean Halisky reported that only 70% of student graduate in 4 years; this will be stretched out even longer with less course offerings.  Also mentioned was Cal Poly’s reputation as a prestigious university, though primarily due to the Sciences spills over to the entire university. Cutting admission is not an option due to contractual 2% growth agreement.

Tietje:  Wanted to know if other CSU’s have CBF fees and how does Cal Poly compare.  Cal Poly is the only CSU that has CBF fees in place. 

Wallace:  Our fees in comparison to other universities, nation-wide, are less, however amongst other CSU’s is higher. 

Segers:  Wanted to know other ways of raising funds for travel, senior projects, field trips, etc. since CBF funds will not be available next year.  Jones said in past years some of these were funded through the department. 

Porcella:  Wanted to know if the increase is passed will this mean more classes in the areas students deemed necessary?  The Committee should still have a voice in determining CBF courses.  Also, she understood from Halisky that schedules projecting courses offerings would be made available sooner so students could plan.  Jones said the department is attempting to provide all of this, however with regards to scheduling there is always the unexpected.

Meeting Adjourned.