SGA debated whether to support the faculty’s vote of censure or take a neutral stance at the Senate meeting on March 12, but decided to table the discussion until they could gather more information.
Faculty members voted to censure the Executive Leadership Team (ELT) to express their disapproval with how administration is handling the $27 million budget gap on March 6.
Amanda Allee, the assistant vice chancellor of student support and engagement, attended the meeting to provide context for the budget deficient and plan. She said that minimal budget cuts were handled yearly by the colleges, and the $27 million in cuts is a response to faculty requests for a multi-year plan as opposed to yearly cuts.
According to Allee it is difficult to blame the budget gap entirely on administration because the ELT members are less than three years old, meanwhile enrollment and revenue began declining in 2017.
“They are dealing with a problem they did not create,” Allee said.
SGA president Aidan Burke supported Allee and credited Jeff Greene, the interim vice chancellor for administration and finance, as the one who discovered the depth of the deficient.
Since the issue is being handled, Burke said a neutral stance toward the censure is appropriate and would allow SGA to acknowledge the administration’s efforts while also supporting faculty’s concerns.
Some members proposed that SGA should support faculty in accordance with the U.N.I.T.E Act, which endorses improved working conditions for faculty.
“We are reaffirming our commitment to the voice of the workers,” said Senator-at-large Logan Smith.
The UCCS Staff Council Executive Board disagreed with the vote of censure, saying it’s essential all shared governance bodies support the university and ELT. They also referenced national trends, such as a decline in public confidence and higher education and demographic shifts, reasoning these issues are not limited to UCCS.
SGA ultimately decided to table the vote concerning their stance toward the vote of censure until they can hear faculty’s perspective.
In other news:
- Clydechella will be on April 30 with Thomas Day headlining.
- The Chancellor will attend the meeting on April 23 to answer a series of pre-prepared questions.