Council of Higher Education
October 17, 2010

Dear COHE members,


Hi! I just wanted to provide you a quick update on the BOR meetings this past week in Rapid City, SD.  As you may have heard, they tabled almost all spending items.  They want legislators to perceive them as sensitive to the budget crisis.


Their view is that the state has a $40 - $45 million shortfall next year.  They argue that the BOR took 100% of the budget cuts two years ago and 85% of the cuts last year. They have two goals for this year: (1) To be held harmless. They argue, we gave up our portion. So, just continue us at the same level with no new cuts. (2) They still want to increase the total amount available for salaries by 2%.  They want the legislature to fund 1% and they will find 1% internally.  In my view, they are dreaming.  We are likely to see cuts once again in the BOR system! Some are even talking about an across-the-board salary cut, perhaps as much as 5%. Others think that the universities may have to release (terminate) all staffers with a temporary or term contract


The Student Federation leader used their time on the agenda to share that students think Desire 2 Learn is under-utilized. They would like to see faculty use it more.  I caught up with this fellow (I do not remember this student's name) and asked him what he thought students want.  He said, at a minimum, students would like to see syllabi posted for every class on D2L.  If possible, they would also like to be able to check their grades online.  He understood something about academic freedom and that instructors may choose to use a publisher's delivery system or a simple Website of their own.  He said students would at least prefer a link in D2L to that alternate system.


Finally, please remember to vote here on our survey of contract items before November 1.  Here is a pdf with the list of propose items, you may share this with non-members.  They will get a chance to vote in one week.


Your brother in defense of faculty rights,

Gary