WASHBURN UNIVERSITY OF TOPEKA BOARD OF REGENTS MINUTES March 10, 1999 ____________________________________________________________________________ I. Call to Order Chairperson Parks called the meeting to order in the Kansas Room of the Memorial Union at 6:50 p.m. II. Roll Call Present were: Mr. Blair, Mr. Craig, Mr. Dick*, Mr. Engel, Mr. Ferrell, Mrs. Parks, Mr. Roth*, Mrs. Wagnon and Dr. Ybarra. * Regents appearing at meeting via telephone conference call. III. Approval of Minutes of February 10, 1999 meeting as circulated It was moved and seconded to approve the Minutes of the February 10, 1999 meeting as mailed. Motion passed unanimously. IV. President's Report Dr. Farley announced that on March 2 Washburn students conducted a reading event in conjunction with Read Across America. He said there were over 100 very young kids present at Lee Arena and several student athletes, including members of the women's basketball team, read from children's books to those present. He said that the event was held on the 95th anniversary of Dr. Seuss' birthday and he read, on several occasions, Green Eggs and Ham to the participants. Dr. Farley announced that Washburn into the Streets will be held on April 10, 1999. He said this is an outgrowth of an event sponsored originally by LINC, which stands for Learning in the Community, as a local clean-up project. He said this event is being sponsored by LINC, the Washburn Student Association and the Campus Activities Board. He said he is delighted how it's expanded to include more students and student organizations and how he hoped that at some point it would expand to include members of the general community as well. Dr. Farley announced that the History Department held its annual History Day February 27 attended by representatives from 25 middle and senior high schools. He said the History Day event was coordinated by the chair of the History Department, Dr. Bill Wagnon, who did a super job. Dr. Farley announced that student elections are presently ongoing and noted a new innovation in the student elections. Students participating in this year's election will be able to vote electronically on the internet through "e-vote." President Farley announced that the Washburn debate team "seized the top three spots" in the state competition at Bethell University. First place went to Beth Hall and Brad Wilmoth who edged out fellow Washburn team members Tammy Bassett and Scott Johnson. Finally, he announced that eight psychology students will be participating in the Great Plains Psychology Conference and will be presenting nine papers this coming weekend, March 12-13. Mrs. Parks commended Janet Hars, the debate team, and the psychology students. Chairperson Parks announced that following the last meeting of the Board of Regents, several had concerns about the budget. She asked that Regent Wagnon and Regent Dick visit with members of the administration concerning the budget. Regent Wagnon reported that she and Regent Dick met for 2-1/2 hours with members of the administration including President Farley discussing issues of potential concerns in future budgets and the interrelationship between the budget and activities at the institution. She noted there are a number of new initiatives taking place or are on the drawing boards including distance learning and the impact on the institution in 2001 were the Living/Learning Center to be built and where the funds will come from to enhance these programs. She also discussed enrollment trends and revenue sources. She reported that an analogy drawn by Regent Dick of the University's revenues to a three-sided triangle. One side is the General Fund Revenue capped by statute, a second side is the amount of state funding provided the institution and the third side is tuition and fees. She said one is fixed, one is not growing and the third is bulging. She said we need to figure how to expand the triangle as a whole instead of just one side. It was moved and seconded to ratify appointment of the committee. Motion passed. V. New Business A. Action Items 2. Selection of Bond Counsel & Financial Advisor Regent Engel announced that he had a conflict of interest and asked to be excused and departed the room prior discussion of the item. It was moved and seconded to approve the appointment of Cosgrove, Webb & Oman as Bond Counsel and Fahnestock & Co., Inc. as Financial Advisor for the Living/Learning Center bonds and to provide other services in conjunction with capital projects over the next five years. Motion passed unimously. Regent Engel returned to the Kansas Room. 3. Proposed Room, Board, and Family Housing Rates for FY 1999-00 It was moved and seconded to approve the recommended rates for housing set forth in the agenda item. Motion passed unanimously. As approved by the Board of Regents, the new rates for Carruth will be $3,215 for a double unit and $3,990 for a single unit, Kuehne and West will be $3,320 a person, and family housing will be going to $195 per month. 4. Academic Programs a. Bachelor of Integrated Studies It was moved and seconded to approve the change of the name from Bachelor of General Studies to Bachelor of Integrated Studies. Motion passed unanimously. b. Language Requirement for Bachelor of Arts Degree It was moved and seconded to approve the addition of the proposed foreign language requirement for the Bachelor of Arts Degree. Motion passed unanimously. As approved by the Board of Regents, candidates for the BA Degree must complete the 102 level course in one of the languages offered by the Department of International Studies or the equivalent. c. Certificate and Minor in Military and Strategic Studies It was moved and seconded to approve the proposed program for the Certificated in Minor Military and Strategic Studies. Motion passed unanimously. d. Concentration in Victim/Survivor Services in the Bachelor of Applied Sciences in Human Services It was moved and authorized to approve a concentration in victim/survivor services in the Bachelor of Applied Sciences in Human Services. Motion passed unanimously. e. Intensive English Program Proposal It was moved and seconded to approve the intensive English program proposal outlined in the agenda item. Motion passed unanimously. As approved by the Board of Regents, the intensive language program will be moved from its present base in Continuing Education to the College of Arts and Sciences beginning in Fall 1999. The courses will be for credit with letter grades but will not be applicable nor count toward a degree. 5. Policies a. Parking Regulations It was moved and seconded to approve the proposed revisions to the University's traffic and parking regulations. As approved by the Board of Regents, Sections 9.2.8 and 9.5.1 will read as follows: 9.2.8 Fees for Misuses of Parking; Late Payment A fee of $10.00 shall be charged for all Washburn University Tickets issued for restricted parking except for handicap parking violations. Such fees are due and payable at the University Business Office or Police/Security Office with five (5) days following the date the ticket is issued. If the fee is not paid, a late payment of $10.00 for restricted parking shall be assessed on the sixth day following the date of issuance of the University parking ticket. Faculty and staff may pay the misuse-parking fee within five days of the date the ticket was issued. Faculty and staff are subject to the $10.00 late fee. Faculty and staff with unpaid parking fees shall be subject to administrative review. 9.5.1 Hearings A person desirous of contesting the issuance of a UNIVERSITY TICKET issued to him or her may obtain a hearing in accordance with the following procedures: 1. A complaint regarding a specific ticket issuance may be made at the Police/Security Office. 2. If the individual is not satisfied with the disposition of the complaint regarding a specific ticket, the individual may submit in writing to the Director of Police/Security his/her reason for a review request. The written statement must be submitted to the Director of Police/Security within one week following registering the complaint to the Police/Security Office. Upon receiving the written request for a review of the complaint, the Director of Police/Security will schedule a hearing by the Parking Ticket Review Board which will consist of two students, two faculty or staff members and the Director of Police/Security. The Director of Police/Security will only vote in the event of a tie. The decision of the Parking Ticket Review Board shall be final. b. Small Dollar Purchase System It was moved and seconded to authorize the administration to contract with UMB Bank to provide a procurement card program for Washburn University to be used in the small dollar purchase program and approval of the small dollar purchase system proposed. Motion passed unanimously. c. Revision to Tuition Refund Policy for Short Courses It was moved and seconded to approve the following policy statement for refund for short courses. Motion passed unanimously. "The refund policy for credit courses that are less than five weeks duration, including winter intersession, and more than one day is 100% if the University's Registrar receives the official withdrawal notice prior to the first class session." 6. Personnel a. Eminentes Universitatis It was moved and seconded to approve the award of the Eminentes Universitatis designation to Dolores J. Lewis. Motion passed unanimously. b. Appointment of Interim Controller It was moved and seconded to approve the appointment of Bill Radcliffe as interim controller while continuing his regular responsibilities as the University's budget director effective April 1, 1999 with an additional stipend of $1,000 per month for those additional duties. Motion passed unanimously. c. Faculty Personnel It was moved and seconded to approve the faculty personnel item set forth in agenda item V.A.6.c. Motion passed unanimously. As approved by the Board of Regents in approval of the item, Dr. Laura Stephenson was granted a leave of absence for the 1999-2000 academic year; Michelle Rabouin has been granted a leave of absence for the 1999-2000 academic year; John Hunter has been awarded a leave of absence without pay for the 1999-2000 academic year; Dr. Nick Backus has been promoted to Assistant Professor with an increase in annual basic salary of $900; and, the appointment of James L. Karafelli and half-time administrative (librarian) position in the Law School Library at an annual basic salary of $15,000 effective March 1, 1999. d. Faculty Personnel It was moved and seconded to award the title of Professor Emeritus for Dr. Don Boyer for his 41 years of service to Washburn University. Motion passed unanimously. e. Proposed New 3/4 time Administrative Position, International Programs It was moved and seconded to approve the position of coordinator of student international activities with an annual basic salary of $17,000 and to increase the administrative assistant position line by $2,400. Motion passed unanimously. f. Voluntary Phased Retirement It was moved and seconded to approve the voluntary phased retirement proposals for Professor Raymond Spring for three years commending in the 1999-200 academic year at a half-time appoint and for the 1999-2000 academic year for Dr. Nancy Dinneen for a quarter-time appointment. Motion passed unanimously. B. Consent Agenda 1. Financial Reports a. Public Fund Investments, b. Depository Security Transactions, and c. Liquidated Claims Approval - January 1999 It was moved and seconded to approve the financial reports outlined in V.B.1.a.-c. Motion passed unanimously. Sales Tax - Discussion President Farley reported that the use of sales tax to replace some or all of the University's ad valorem tax levies recently surfaced during a local radio talk show. Dr. Farley said he was intrigued by the idea but had two concerns: first, that it not erode state support for the University nor adversely impact the University's ability for increasing state support in the future; and, second, that the financial stability of the University be maintained. He said this issue meant that "we were challenged to develop alternatives" and "we have analyzed the data" in attempting to develop an alternative incorporating the utilization of sales tax in lieu of property tax. He said a proposal developed by the administration would leave intact the 3 mill Debt Retirement and Construction Levy and the .3 mill levy for the Special Liability Fund, eliminate the 7 mill General Fund Levy as well as the levy of approximately 8 mills for the Employee Benefit Contributions Fund. He said in lieu of the General Fund and Employee Benefit Contributions Fund a county-wide sales tax of .65% would be imposed and eliminate out-district tuition for Shawnee County. He said he was concerned by the financial stability and because the recent data was for the highest sales in history the administration considered three and five-year rolling averages. He said under these it looked as though a .65% would capture enough funds to replace existing mill levies and balance out the highs and lows over time. He said he has discussed the matter with several members of the Shawnee County Legislative Delegation and that there seems to be some report. He also noted that a recent public opinion poll "turned out to be very positive" as over fifty percent polled said yes. Mayor Wagnon said at a recent City Council meeting councilman Vince Cook suggested a proposal that the Council forward to the Board of County Commissioners a request to levy a half cent mill levy for bridge and for support of Washburn University. She said that some members of the Senate from the Delegation might have problems with the expansion of the 3 mill Debt Retirement Levy to the County. She added that the legislative leadership is not opposed to the proposal and have indicated they would not it as an opportunity to reduce state funding. She said that she is 100% enthusiastic about it and behind it. Regent Ferrell said he thought the proposal was a great idea but we have to be concerned that we effectively carry the message that this doesn't solve our problems but does help the community. Regent Engel expressed concerns about the ability of the institution to increase funds from this source in the future if the sales tax rate is fixed by the Legislature. Regent Blair noted that Topeka has a lower rate of sales tax than other communities with whom we are in competition. He said it's an unbelievable opportunity to change what is an inherently unfair and unequal tax, the ad valorem tax, with a sales tax. Regent Craig said that any time we can move from use of a property to sales tax or even an income tax or earnings tax we should. He said we do need to be concerned about consistency in the amount of revenue over time, commended the work of the administration and the thought process in exploring the notion and demonstrating that it appears to be financially sound. He said we ought to push for a change for the remainder of this year. It was moved and seconded that the Board of Regents communicate to members of the Shawnee County Legislative Delegation expressing support for substitution of a sales tax for the property tax and that it be pursued this Session if possible. Motion passed unanimously. Joint Board of Regents/Kansas Board of Regents Meeting President Farley announced that work is ongoing for conducting a joint meeting with the Kansas Board of Regents. He said as presently proposed the meeting would occur on March 17, 1999 on campus at the Bradbury Thompson Center. He circulated some draft information about the proposed meeting noting that it would begin at approximately 4:00 p.m. with an hour business meeting followed by a reception and an opportunity to socialize and finally by a dinner. It was moved and seconded to adjourn. The meeting of the Board of Regents adjourned at 8:05 p.m. _______________________ Kenneth P. Hackler Secretary, Board of Regents