UMM Consultative Committee
Meeting Date:  Friday, October 31, 2003 - 9:00 AM

Members present:  Brenda Boever, Reginald Davis, Kevin Ely, Margaret Kuchenreuther, 
Michelle Page (Chair), Bart Finzel, Jeff Ratliff-Crain (XO)

Absent:  Joyce Amborn, Rebecca Webb, Kt Schwaderer, Lee Korby, David Wuolu
Visitors:  Sandy Olson-Loy, Sam Schuman

Guests Sandy Olson-Loy and Sam Schuman were asked about the circumstances around 
the administrative restructuring that occurred during the summer of 2003.  Chancellor 
Schuman emphasized that decisions made about positions and other budgetary matters 
are not made individually by vice chancellors but are supported by the administrative 
team.  

The chancellor said that the Budget Task Force had recommended cutting administrative 
salaries but had not specified which salaries or positions should be cut and this was the 
chosen way of meeting this recommendation.  The timeline was tight, with any P&A 
positions needing 12 months of notice in order to cut positions, so it was necessary for 
some of this to happen in the summer.  In this particular case, continuing employment 
was found for the Residential Life position, unlike in other cases where cuts were made 
and continuing employment was not available.  

Olson-Loy added that this restructuring took place because the positions were more easily 
combined than positions elsewhere on campus, there was less impact on the various units 
than in other cases, and that she used input from the Budget Task Force to make the 
decision.  In addition, the qualifications and credentials of the people involved made the 
restructuring possible.  

The committee asked if any cuts were identified for 2004-2005 (taking into account the 
need for 12 months notice).  None were identified at this time.  Members inquired about 
creating a more effective communication strategy so that the campus will have better 
information about what is happening and why.  One member of the committee pointed 
out that this type of restructuring entailed adding a layer to the administrative hierarchy 
and may not have necessarily been what the Budget Task Force originally had in mind.

After the departure of the guests, the committee discussed representation on the Budget 
Task Force, naming Bart Finzel, Brenda Boever, and Margaret Kuchenreuther to the BTF 
for 2003-2004.  The committee noted a lack of representation by unionized staff on the 
BTF.