December 1, 2010

December 2010 APAC News, Vol. 3, No. 9

Welcome to the December issue of APAC News!

Goldberg, Van Neck Look at Bleak Budget Picture

At the APAC Budget Forum held Dec. 2, Todd Van Neck, Director of Budget and Program Analysis (left), and Frank Goldberg, Vice Provost for Resource Planning and Management, looked at the State’s and University’s budget picture.
 
“BUDGET MANAGEMENT at UIC” was the topic of the APAC Budget Forum held Dec. 2 in which speakers Frank Goldberg, Vice Provost for Resource Planning and Management, and Todd Van Neck, Director of Budget and Program Analysis, looked at the State’s and University’s bleak budget picture.
           
“HIGHER EDUCATION has two major competitors for State dollars,” Goldberg explained, noting those competitors are “primary and secondary education, which has a larger constituency than higher ed, and human services.

“EVEN WITHIN higher ed, there are competitors to four-year universities,” he continued. “One of our competitors is ourselves through the State Universities Retirement System. Because the State has been delaying SURS payments, they have to ramp up payments to the systems with dollars that could go to universities.”

VAN NECK SHOWED a chart of from where the University’s money comes, which included the General Revenue Fund (State money), the income fund (tuition and other revenues), gifts and endowments, grants and contracts, institutional funds, and “self-supporting,” which is a combination of activities such as revenues from the hospital and other health providers on campus. The chart showed that General Revenue Funds have remained flat while other funding sources have been relied on to provide an ever-growing percentage of University funding.

ANOTHER CHART showed State support vs. tuition dollars was $12.8 in State support vs. $1 in tuition in 1970. Now, State support is down to eighty cents vs. every dollar of tuition paid. “Students now bear the majority of cost,” Goldberg said. “Tuition is up because State support is down.”

“DOLLARS FLOWING through here do not have the purchasing power they had in 2002 because of inflation,” Van Neck said.

“IT IS a given that salary increases are good,” Goldberg said, “but raised salaries mean we take more money out of programs. Because we haven’t had a State-funded salary increase since 2002.

“AND, WE are trying to provide the same number of services with fewer people,” he noted.

THE NEXT chart showed that in nominal dollars, funding for colleges within the University has increased, while funding for support units has decreased. But in reality, when adjusted for inflation, funding for both has decreased.

VAN NECK showed a chart of State payments as of Nov. 30 for the last four fiscal years, 2008-2011. By Nov. 30, 2008, the State had paid the University $171 million of what it owed. In 2009, that was $130 million. In 2010, it dropped off to $7 million, and in fiscal 2011, it is $6.6 million.

“THE STATE has become a slow payer,” Van Neck said. “There is not enough revenue in the State coffers to pay its bills. The State says, ‘we know we owe you, but you have to wait.’”

“THAT WAS one of the reasons for the furloughs,” Goldberg said, noting that money that did not go to salaries could be used for bills that had to be paid.

THE FISCAL 2011 budget deficit is projected to be from $12 billion to $15 billion.

“I CANNOT imagine a future by which our budget won’t be cut,” Goldberg said. “I don’t know by how much and when. Will we ever even get the full amount of the FY ’10 appropriation we are owed? I don’t know, and I cannot imagine tuition going up by enough to offset the General Revenue Funds lost.”

GOLDBERG THEN listed ways the University is trying to grapple with the situation. The Administrative Review and Restructuring Committee and five task forces are examining areas in which the University might save money, for example.

“FUNDAMENTAL ISSUES are being grappled with by the Academic Directions Task Force,” Goldberg said. “The task force will provide information to help the University consider what its academic future will be.”

DURING THE question-and-answer period, a member of the audience noted, “We’ve been doing more with less. We can’t cut anymore, but the University gives us less. One of the classrooms has been at 60 degrees for three weeks, because there aren’t enough electricians.”

GOLDBERG REPLIED, “At the highest levels of the University there is a realization that we can’t do all we’ve been doing, which is why they are thinking about ‘reducing our footprint.’ Reducing our footprint will be a painful process, because the need for our services is higher than ever. Our enrollment is the highest ever; the need for our medical services is the highest ever. And even if we eliminated some of the smaller units on campus, it wouldn’t solve the budget problem.

“WE ARE trying to do everything we’ve done in the past with less, and that cannot be done,” he said.

THE UNIVERSITY is “facing a very, very significant problem,” Goldberg concluded. “Up to this point we’ve been able to manage around the problem. What we face now is a serious problem that has to be reckoned with.”

THE POWERPOINT slides from the event are available here:

Provost Tanner Reports on Finances to Senate

“There is nothing on the horizon that will suddenly pull us out of this” financial crisis, said Provost R. Michael Tanner.

AT HIS last University Senate meeting as Provost on Dec. 2, R. Michael Tanner reported on some pertinent financial issues.

TANNER SAID no more money was expected from the State before Jan. 1, and that President Michael Hogan is expecting a 15% reduction in the amount of General Revenue Funds provided to the University by the State in the future. Tanner also said a tuition increase of about 5% next year is likely.

HE ALSO reported that Hogan would like to provide salary increases of about 2.5%, but the money would have to come from even more “belt-tightening,” as the State will not be providing more money.

TANNER NOTED that there have been some media reports that the University in better financial shape than it is, citing factors like the University saving $11 million on purchases of natural gas last year. “But the State has failed to send us $350 million,” Tanner stated. “We’re worse than broke.”

PRESIDENT HOGAN has talked about “reducing the University’s footprint,” Tanner said, noting the University’s Academic Directions Task Force and outside consultants are gathering data. “They’ll look at which departments are productive and at where budget trimming needs to occur,” he said.

“THERE IS nothing on the horizon that will suddenly pull us out of this” financial crisis, Tanner concluded.

CAPE Winners Named; APAC Members Honored

Tom Moss.
 
THE APAC Chancellor’s Academic Professional Excellence (CAPE) Award Subcommittee is charged with choosing potential CAPE Award winners and sending its recommendations to Chancellor Paula Allen-Meares for final determination.

THIS YEAR, the Chancellor ratified all four of the Subcommittee’s choices. They were Tom Moss, special projects coordinator, Office of the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Affairs; Debra Simpson, coordinator of recruitment and admissions, African American Academic Network; Karen Su, director, Asian American Resource and Cultural Center; and Stacie Williams, assistant dean for student services and director of admissions, Honors College.

Debra Simpson.

THE FOUR received their CAPE Awards at the Employee Recognition Award Program on Nov. 3.

THE CAPE Award recognizes demonstrated excellence of Academic Professional staff. It commends and encourages APs’ professional development, and indicates UIC’s regard for the contributions made by APs.

Karen Su.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS are William S. Bike, director of advancement and alumni affairs communications, College of Dentistry, chair; Jessica Canlas, assistant director, communications, College of Pharmacy; Janis Hayden, assistant to the head, Department of Restorative Dentistry, College of Dentistry; Jacqueline Leskovec, program coordinator, University Library; Tiffany Murkey, executive assistant to the Dean, College of Nursing; and Hugo Teruel, associate director, Latin American Recruitment and Educational Services. Jennifer Czak, until recently assistant director, Research Development Services, served as vice chair.

Stacie Williams.

AT THE Award Program, APAC member William S. Bike received an Award of Merit, an honor whereby exceptional Academic Professional and support staff are recognized for their sustained excellence in performance and their commitment to their jobs. Out of thousands of UIC staff, only 30 were chosen by Chancellor Allen-Meares for this award.

William Bike.

IN ADDITION, APAC Communications Committee member Rob Moranetz, assistant director of undergraduate admissions, College of Nursing, received an INSPIRE Award at the ceremony. The INSPIRE is presented by the UIC Alumni Relations Council to individuals who have consistently and over long periods of time based their actions on UIC’s core values of Integrity, Nuture, Service, Pride, Intellect, Respect, and Excellence.

Rob Moranetz.

Pension Code Changes Affect New Employees

CHANGES TO to the State pension code increase the minimum vesting service years and retirement age for University employees hired after Jan. 1, 2011.

SENATE BILL 1946, signed into law last April, makes no changes to pension benefits for current employees or annuitants.  

CHANGES WILL affect new employees, those who move to a State Universities Retirement System-eligible position from a non-SURS-eligible position after Jan. 1, and visa holders who establish residency after Jan. 1.

THE LAW modifies the SURS traditional and portable plans, but the self-managed plan remains unchanged.

FOR NEW employees, minimum vesting rises from five to ten years of service. The “normal retirement age” increases to 67 for employees with at least ten years of service.

FOR CURRENT employees, retirement age is 62 with at least five years of service, 60 with at least eight years of service, or any age with 30 years of service.

EARLY RETIREMENT age for new employees rises to 62 with at least ten years of service, up from age 55 with eight years of service.

THE FINAL rate of earnings for employees affected by the changes will be calculated by the average earnings of the employee’s highest-paid eight consecutive years during the last ten years of service.

FOR MORE information, call SURS at 800-275-7877.

--Christy Levy, UIC News, christyb@uic.edu

Jennifer Czak Departs

JENNIFER CZAK, assistant director, Research Development Services and an APAC member for several years, has left the University. She and her family moved to the Omaha, NE/Council Bluffs, IA, area.

“DURING THE 11 years that I worked at UIC, I developed an amazing network of friends and colleagues,” Czak said. “Some I worked with only occasionally and some on a daily basis, but each interaction made my experiences richer and more rewarding.  I learned from all of you and I thank you for that. I wish all of you the very best.” 

WEBSITES TO KNOW

ACCESS MYCAREER at http://www.uic.edu/depts/hr/mycareer/ to view current employee "Professional Development Highlights" and other learning and development opportunities campus-wide.

Get Involved with APAC

THERE ARE several open slots on APAC. If you’d like to get involved, either on APAC or one of its committees, contact Michael Moss, Chair, at (312) 996-0306, or mmoss2@uillinois.edu. Committees that are looking for volunteers include Building Community/Education (events), Communications, and Employment Issues.

THE JANUARY APAC meeting will be held on the East Campus Wednesday, Jan. 12, at 12:30 p.m. All Academic Professionals are invited to attend. For more information, call (312) 996-0306 or log on to www.apac.uic.edu.

IN FEBRUARY, look for APAC's Open House & Membership Drive. APAC is actively recruiting members.  There will be a presentation on APAC and you will have the opportunity to meet current members, ask questions, and learn about ways to become involved. Light refreshments will be served. Location to be determined. More information to come.

Benefit Beat

The Department of Performing Arts hosts free events in which staff are welcome to attend.
WHEN YOU work in a large organization like UIC, sometimes you need to be reminded what services are available, whom to ask, and how to do something. APAC Newes frequently features information to make your life a little easier or more pleasant.

DID YOU know you could attend free concerts at UIC? The Department of Performing Arts hosts its Tuesdays-at-1 Concert Series of free weekly concerts by classical musicians and student ensembles. Recital Hall, L060 Education, Performing Arts, and Social Work Building at 1040 W. Harrison St. Call (312) 996-2977 or log on to http://www.uic.edu/depts/adpa/musicpages/music-tuesdays-at-1.htm.

PERFORMING GROUPS organized by the Department of Performing Arts include choirs, concert band, and jazz and string ensembles. Some groups are open to Academic Professionals, faculty, other staff, and community members as well as students. Peformances held throughout the year. Call (312) 996-2977 or log on to http://www.uic.edu/depts/adpa.

AP Resource Spotlight

THE CAMPUS Advocacy Network (CAN) provides a team approach to advocacy in order to assist APs and others who are victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, stalking, and hate crimes.

CAN IS committed to working together with survivors of violence even if no further action is taken. CAN works to realistically explore options and support persons’ attempts to access resources both on and off campus.

ADVOCACY MEANS that CAN assists in navigating processes. CAN outlines options and support by making phone calls, assisting with safety planning, coordinating different services, and/or accompanying you to appointments or court appearances.

CAN listens to you and validates your experiences so that you can heal. Although CAN does not provide counseling, it provides counseling referrals.

THE CAN team is trained to assist you if you wish to purse legal options in criminal or civil court.

SOMETIMES, THE services you need are not available on campus, or you may prefer to go off-campus for support. The CAN team has relationships with many resources in and around Chicago and can refer you to a place that best fits your needs.

THE CAMPUS Advocacy Network (CAN) is located in 802 University Hall, 601 S. Morgan St. Call (312) 413-8206; e-mail can@uic.edu; or log on to www.uic.edu/depts/owa/advocacy.html.

The Continuing Crisis

CHICAGO TRIBUNE  decries “rock-star salaries” for top U of I administrators. See http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/ct-edit-university-20101116,0,2084706.story.

THE UNIVERSITY of Illinois Board of Trustees approved three administrative changes to clarify lines of authority under President Michael J. Hogan and ensure that resources are used as effectively as possible in a time of fiscal constraint. See Nov. 18 UIC News, http://www.uic.edu/htbin/cgiwrap/bin/uicnews/articledetail.cgi?id=14802.

STATE FAILS in its support for higher ed, says Dec. 8 Progress Report.  See http://progressillinois.com/posts/content/2010/12/08/state-fails-its-support-higher-ed.

Vol. 3, No. 9, December 2010


ISSN 1946-1860

Editor: William S. Bike
Writing Staff: Ivone De Jesus 


Chair: Michael Moss
Vice Chair: Jennifer Rowan
Secretary: Jill Davis
Treasurer: Virginia Buglio