Dr Shelton thanked Randy and SAC for putting this session together to ensure that staff concerns were heard. He stated the goal of the transformation process is to make the university better and more efficient than when we started.

We have thought hard on ways we can become more efficient. You know where things can be improved and be made more excellent and do what we have to do to become great. We need to set aside those things we no longer have to do. We need staff input on what areas can be improved.

Economic cycles happen in all states, I have been through these kinds of processes at three other universities, and we are not immune to these cycles and have to be aware and sensitive to limiting cuts to those areas that can become excellent. His goal is to listen to you and answer your questions to the best of his ability. He needs staff experience in this process. Your opinion is valuable.

S: Needs to be open to all possibilities. Wants to get away from % for each unit, and to get to the point where we can redirect cuts so they don’t fall on everyone every time. Next two years will be tough though governor is being responsive and is supportive to higher education. Wants to be able to bridge through these economic troubles. He would like short emails, notes, etc listing ideas, suggestions.

S: They need to be involved. We have to be serious about this process and will improve it to keep it from happening time after time. As the UA continues to shine and bring more students and monies in, which will improve the situation. There is a future for those who stick with us.

A: Goal is to have real soul searching...can we do fewer things which can improve the way things happen. Are we doing the things the way we should? It seems convoluted with the horrible financial situation. Immediate reality, just absorbed large cut with another cut coming this year even with governors help. Through 2010 the problem will exist. How do we keep the very best people here? We have a chance to make a difference this time and improve this difficult cycle. Short term does not look good, but the long term should improve. If we do this well, with the engagement of all of us, we will make better decisions. It will turn around but we can’t do business as usual and expect things will get better. Its just unrealistic.

A: We realize that this seems like a long range plan through 2010-11. I would love some great ideas saving large amounts in this year, but having a long range plan will save money in the long run. Are we doing business as we should? Are there activities we can do better? We have got to reduce the work through our structure, etc.

A: I have experience in this area. Tasks are assigned to us with no opportunity to recover the costs. You gave some examples and these items should be sent in so that these items can be considered. You know better ways to do our business...we need to hear about that. Try not to make more work for others. Core point is to see what we are doing that we need to discontinue, but we need to hear about those ideas. We have to look at them.

A: Training for supervisors may be a key component in this though they are trying to do more with less. Staff is essential to shared governance and I will continue to impress upon supervisors and encourage the necessity of participation in the process.

A: In this years cuts we didn’t go across the board. We wanted a sense from the deans, dept heads and provost what the average cuts to administrative units would be. Administration cuts were higher over this year over the last few years. I cant do my job without you so we need to stop doing some things. Cant speak to layoffs but Arizona Health Sciences Center units College of Medicine, College of Nursing, etc has been included in these cuts. Certain units have other sources of income (medicine has clinical income). Summer teaching and indirect cost returns used to get by. We can no longer cut away at the margin, working harder and smarter, we cant go down that route. Tuition increased this year shifted costs from taxpayer to student. Higher cost isn’t the best choice but it is one area we can use and we have to have more tuition dollars follow the enrollments to incentivise departments to teach more.

A: Will be handled on a case by case basis by the unit. Hopefully the best person will remain in the position.

A: The College of Science brings in more money than COM. Some areas have tremendous untapped potential for promoting the university. We need to continue to improve and gain state dollars in these areas. People in these areas are expensive, but that is the market. I expect a sizable return in this investment and the person in question has raised considerable funds when in MO. Some decisions are hard, but in order to grow our medical affairs school we need this leadership. I do appreciate this rubs folks the wrong way.

A: If we work optimally we can achieve what seems impossible. It would be if we continue to say we are now, we have to stop doing some of the activities that we are engaged in, eliminate and consolidate activities, and become not just more efficient, but more selective.

A: Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS) was beginning to tax areas who were encouraging employees to leave early. A review a year ago showed this was happening. Allison Vaillancourt will check with ASU to see if and how this is happening. We want every chance of flexibility we can get.

[Allison Vaillancourt checked into this and got back with this response: I connected with my colleagues at ASU and confirmed that there is no retirement incentive plan for people in the ASRS plan. The person who asked the question must have heard about the phased retirement plan now available to all UA, ASU and NAU employees in the optional retirement plan (TIAA-CREF, Fidelity, AIG). This program allows people to announce their plans to retire, reduce their FTE and begin drawing retirement income. The restrictions on ASRS retirement incentives are still in place.]

A: We are committed to our school and our students. Cuts made will allow students to complete their needs for graduation. The situation is not unique to AZ...the general public doesn’t want to pay for higher education, public works, etc. Characteristics to AZ, the state doesn’t believe in funding financial aid which would help funding situation. We have to think differently if we are going to continue to be great. This exercise will not be painless, but will give you a sense of the commitment to the university and students to not be the same old roller coaster year after year. Every segment is engaged in making things better: What we are doing and how we get rid of unfunded areas. If we improve the graduation rates we would not have to think about these cuts.

A: I can’t specifically speak to the names, but if you as a group or unit wants to put forward a plan or idea do so by Oct 13. After that groups will be looking into these plans and ideas. By January we hope to have a plan in action for 2010.

A: The rumor about faculty was incorrect, tenured or tenure-eligible faculty will not be lost. As plans come along I will be meeting with units and groups from all areas affected, but this is not likely to be a one on one process.

A: We will try and use experience, insight and creativity to increase efficiency. We have to change our ways to ensure the quality of what needs to be done, for what is important.

A: The rumor is untrue and I would not support it if it were. Rumors should be forwarded to my office or emailed to me  and I or the appropriate person will handle it.

A: Provost Hay is currently soliciting funds in Phoenix. I can look into a smaller gathering in the future if that is something you would be interested in. My office will work SAC to determine if such a meeting is needed and specifics.

A: There is a process of submitting a whitepaper which can be found on the provosts website, but it is not an anonymous process.

A: The president had someone in UITS handle this question. We transitioned from a model where we charged per phone. Decided to shift the model to charge by person and recalculated so if you had more people UITS gave the money back to the unit to go for voicemail, data, phone to support the infrastructure. We calculated what you would owe and gave dept money to pay it. If you have more questions UITS can handle them knowledgably.

A: The university is not building a hotel. The Science and Technology Park is looking into using about 15 of 1000 acres down there where it is felt an hotel and meeting conference center to enhance the park and grow and generate some additional income. This has no impact on us as we are not funding this plan as this is a private company. Should there be a problem CRC could turn over the acreage involved and walk away.