University of Minnesota, Morris
Campus Resources & Planning Committee Minutes

 May 18, 1998

Members present:  Andy Lopez, Jeff Ratliff-Crain, Jenny Dose, Gwen 
Rudney, Lynn Schulz, Sara Haugen, Chris Wenner (excused absences resulted 
in quorum).

Guests: Sam Schuman, Dave Johnson, Cathleen Brannen.

Jenny Dose spoke on behalf of the Human Resources subcommittee.  The 
group has met with Sam Schuman, Cathleen Brannen, and Sarah Mattson, and 
has produced a list of recommendations and concerns focusing on current 
conditions, progress made in the past five years, and plans for the next 
five years.  Andy Lopez noted that previous ad hoc attempts to address 
staffing concerns have been ineffective.  Gwen Rudney reported that one 
person interviewed by the human resources subcommittee considered 
decision-making to have been too opportunistic and reactive.  Sam Schuman 
noted that idealistic policy can prove troubling, such as the "three 
faculty per major" goal which constrains growth in growing majors.  Dose 
wondered if the criteria for the goal was student demand or program 
coverage and Jeff Ratliff-Crain reminded the committee that servicing 
majors isn't the only need a discipline fulfills.  

Concerning compensation, Chris Wenner asked if the 6% raise for faculty 
is definite.  Johnson explained that the 6% for faculty and 4% for P&A 
represents a pool of funds.  Distribution will be merit-based.  
Ratliff-Crain noted that uneven raise rates for faculty as opposed to 
staff has become an issue and Rudney noted that uneven development 
opportunities have also been a concern.  Cathleen Brannen suggested that 
USA positions are compensated on a level equal with Twin Cities positions 
and P&A are harder to compare.  Schuman added that P&A salaries don't 
cluster as appropriately as faculty salaries.  Wenner then asked if, 
concerning PeopleSoft, we are prepared for the year 2000.  Lynn Schulz 
answered that, while some faculty machines are questionable, we are 
on-target with compliance reporting in this area.

Schulz then spoke for the Enrollment subcommittee, noting that the entire 
UMM community is responsible for retention.  Underinvolvement among 
sophomores is a primary concern.  Rudney and Ratliff-Crain noted that 
they are harder to involve because the lack the educational training from 
upper division coursework and the commitment of having selected a major.  
David Johnson wondered if the abysmal rate of retention from the 
sophomore to junior year reflects the difficulty of shifting to 
off-campus housing.  Wenner asked why Morris Junior Year (MJY) wasn't 
sufficient as a plan for pursuing sophomore retention.  Ratliff-Crain 
berated the "carrot" approach but Schuman confirmed the hope that 
exciting plans for junior year would facilitate sophomore retention.  
Lynn Schulz suggested that the MJY initiative doesn't facilitate 
retention of marginal students since it focuses on opportunities for 
students who are already well-connected to UMM.  Other concerns of the 
Enrollment subcommittee include making someone directly responsible for 
retention (the way Rod Oto is responsible for recruiting and Gary McGrath 
is responsible for enrollment) and improving the model used to predict 
recruiting numbers, as it "ignores actual retention figures and places 
undo responsibility on the recruiting numbers."   

Concerning the redrafted prelude to the Campus Plan, David Johnson 
reminded the committee that the fund-raising goal of 2.5M was developed 
by the University Foundation office on the Twin Cities campus based on 
analysis of our donor base.  Ratliff-Crain asked about reciprocity and 
Johnson confirmed that the agreement with Wisconsin will end.  UMM would 
suffer if agreements with the Dakotas ended similarly.  

Sam Schuman reviewed revisions in the strategic goals.  Andy Lopez noted 
that upcoming NCA forums will address the Mission Statement.  Future CRPC 
agenda items will include a report from the Budget subcommittee.

The CRPC will meet again Monday, June 1, at 4 pm in the Behmler 
Conference Room.