Faculty Senate held their weekly meeting on March 31 through a Zoom conference call for their second virtual meeting.
Big-ticket items:
- Budget Cuts
- Provost John Wiencek updated the Senate on plans for $22 million worth of budget cuts across the University of Idaho. Wiencek said a large portion of budget cuts focus on salary and benefits.
- President C. Scott Green said he is concerned over the financial impact of COVID-19 on student housing and meal plan costs the university would normally receive.
- Green added he is concerned with the potential of reduced enrollment this upcoming semester, partially due to the cancelation of UIdaho Bound.
- “Our campus really sells our school,” Green said.
- Program Prioritization
- Wiencek updated the Senate on the progress of the Academic Program Prioritization Taskforce (APPT) in evaluating programs for potential termination, as required by the Idaho State Board of Education.
- The APPT is now considering a select few programs for restructuring, reduction or closure. The task force plans to further evaluate by speaking with heads of the programs and their colleges.
- Wiencek said, the APPT is aiming to conclude next week and then send their recommendations to Green, who will make the final decision concerning the programs.
- Upper Division Credit Requirements
- A change was proposed to reduce upper division credit requirements for a bachelor’s degree back to 36 credits. Previously in the 2017-2018 school year, the credit requirement was raised to 40.
- Programs with students completing their UI degrees in Coeur d’Alene after taking foundational courses at North Idaho College have had difficulties with this credit amount.
- The Senate plans to vote on this catalog change at their next meeting.
Haadiya Tariq can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @haadiyatariq