TECHNICIAN
thursday november
4
2010
Raleigh, North Carolina
technicianonline.com
Committee confronts coming budget storm University Budget Advisory Committee starts talking about University’s financial issues.
Professors: Put tenure to proper use Faculty, students don’t want tenure to be a ‘merit badge.’
Chris Boucher
Elise Heglar
Deputy News Editor
Staff Writer
The University Budget Advisory Committee met Wednesday today to talk about what’s expected to be a rocky financial patch for the University. Atop the list of priorities for the UBAC was its tuition increase proposal. The UBAC also discussed the looming budget cuts everyone is expecting to be substantial. “We’re facing a time we haven’t faced at this University,” Charles Leff ler, vice chancellor for finance and business, said. “People believed that after the last two years of cuts we would be back where we need to be [financially]. “But we should not at all delude ourselves. There is going to be another dip. How low will that dip be?” Leffler asked at the meeting in the Chancellor’s Conference Room of Holladay Hall. The committee first announced its proposed tuition increase for the next academic year. While an increase is inevitable for all N.C. State students, the UBAC sought to protect in-state undergraduate students from the largest proposed increases. According to interim provost Warwick Arden, Chancellor Randy Woodson will go to the University Board of Trustees and recommend a cap of 6.2 percent, or about $300, on the tuition increase for in-state undergrads. The proposal also called for approximately $600 increases for other student populations: in-state graduate students, and out-of-state undergraduate and graduate students. These increases are not subject to the same cap as the undergraduate hikes, Arden said before reminding everyone that
MIKAYLA CRAIG/TECHNICIAN
At the budget advisory meeting in Holladay Hall on Nov. 3rd, executive vice chancellor and interim provost Warwick Arden leads the discussion about undergraduate admissions and enrollment growth funding. There is a “concern about students choosing majors based on the cost of degree,” said Arden, “We don’t want students to be limited in their choice about major.” There is a possibility that funding will not only be based on enrollment growth, but on performance growth as well.
this was a proposal, and nothing was set in stone. “This [proposal] can be changed; it will likely be modified several times over the coming nine months,” Arden said. Committee prepping for 10-15 percent cut In addition to the proposed tuition increase, the UBAC also laid bare a stark reality: it is going to have to decide how to cut 10 to 15 percent from the next University budget. There will inevitably be some programs pared down or cut, said Leffler. “Nothing is off the table,” he said. The UBAC will be more able to prioritize budget issues when it finds out the exact numbers on the next budget,
Leffler said. “The question is how far north of 10 percent might [the budget cut] be? We really have to be prepared for a 15-percent scenario,” he said. When the UBAC refers to “programs,” it is not exclusively referring to academic programs, Arden said. As the UBAC considers what it could cut, “we will favor the academic core of the university,” said Arden. “We’re at a point with class size and faculty reduction, that if we reduce them anymore it will significantly affect the way we currently do business.” Arden said students will come first, and their resources will be cut last, as the UBAC considers potential budget reductions.
“Seats in classrooms, sections available for students, faculty positions; students are first and foremost in the Committee’s minds as they try to trim the budget,” Arden said. Leffler stressed that this was just the first stage of the discussions surrounding next year’s budget. “This is a budget reduction planning process, not an implementation, because we have a lot of research to do before we decide where we can reduce,” Leffler said. “There will be several more iterations of this [reduction] plan.”
Couture for a Cause aims to mobilize volunteers Friday fashion show to shine light on local charities. Kali Mallory Staff Writer
Marbles Kids Museum will host the Couture for a Cause Fashion Show on Friday, with its sights set firmly on attracting volunteers for various non profit organizations. The show, from 8 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., will encourage attendees to perform volunteer work through charity organizations. It is being presented by ME3, a nonprofit organization that connects volunteers with service opportunities. Former and current N.C. State students are on the list of designers participating in the show. “The designers whose outfits best capture the essence of their organization according to a judges’ panel receives a cash prize,” Amber Smith, a graduate teaching assistant and president and co-founder of ME3, which is organizing the event, said. “We envision a world in which every individual realizes and exercises his or her potential to make a difference in the community,” Smith said. “Through outreach, education and service, we promote volunteerism and helping others. Our goal is to boost volunteer rates for the benefit of the overall community.” Smith said the fashion show enables designers to represent a nonprofit organization in a creative way. “The show will feature the work of local fashion designers who will coordinate with ME3 nonprofit partners to create ready-to-wear and couture outfits that embody the mission and spirit of the nonprofit they are paired with,” said Smith. Dashuna Wiggins, a sophomore in agricultural education, said the fashion show is a great way to energize
potential volunteers. “People like fashion and they like to be in style,” said Wiggins. “It’s a good thing because it catches people’s eye to the charity.” There are two different contests for designers, said Smith. “[The categories are] ‘Ready to wear’ and ‘Art to wear.’ Designers show off one outfit in each category and have the chance to win a cash prize for either, or both,” said Smith. “Designs will be judged based on quality of construction, innovativeness, and most importantly, how well the design captures the spirit and mission of the partnering nonprofit.” Virginia Huffman, a junior in social work, was happy to learn that so many designers are participating in the fashion show. “It’s nice that the designers are giving their time and abilities to this cause by using their talents to raise money for a charity,” Huffman said. Huffman said participation by current and former students only enhances the University’s reputation. “It demonstrates how great our programs are. It’s a great cause, so kudos to us,” Huffman said. Smith said Couture for a Cause educates individuals about nonprofit organizations through art and should move them to advocate for change. “Couture for a Cause highlights participating nonprofit organizations, helping tell the stories of ME3’s nonprofit partners through fashion and art. Audience members will come away from Couture for a Cause knowing a lot more about the organizations involved, and hopefully, inspired to think about how they can make a difference for a cause they can personally feel passionate about.” Smith said volunteering is a vital aspect of life and nonprofits are dependent on it to provide services to those in need. “Volunteerism is a marker of the
Tenure is meant to ensure academic freedom for professors, to give them opportunities to teach less popular topics and challenge their students in new ways. While tenure might be a system meant to reward professors, some are questioning the benefits of tenure tracks at the University. “In a perfect system it is beneficial. Professors have motivation to teach well …. from this, students can receive better teaching,” Robert Walsh, a sophomore in political science, said. The tenure program gives professors a guarantee that they will not lose their jobs without just cause. But according to Chris Gould, associate dean of the College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, tenure is nothing but a merit badge for research in many cases. Scott Despain, an associate professor in foreign language and literatures, said that the University should award tenure based on more than just a professor’s research. “In my experience, the professor earning tenure should focus on quality teaching, service and research,” Despain said. The whole idea behind the program, according to Despain, is to give stability to the education system for students and faculty. Tenure, in theory, makes professors more dedicated to the University. “To make things happen, you need people that are dedicated to the University and tenure helps with that,” Despain said. Professors have to meet certain requirements in order to get tenure, which is typically associated with higher positions in the faculty. A certain amount of research and good academic demonstration are required to be considered for a tenured position. “It’s that same level of continuity and dedication that is expected. Dedicated professors that care about students and their education care about how they teach,” Despain said. One concern some students have about tenure, according to Walsh, is that it causes professors to care less about the students and more about research. It’s a fear that’s been personally unfounded by Walsh. “I have never had a professor act differently due to tenure, and tenure is something they deserve if they continue to find new ways to present the material and are always challenging themselves to be better at their profession,” Walsh said. Despite any faculty or student concerns, tenure appears to be here to stay. Faculty members who present sufficient evidence to deserve tenure will continue to receive it throughout the current academic year. As long as the professors who receive tenure aren’t just getting research merit badges, the practice should continue, Walsh said.
insidetechnician
DEMI OLUBANWO/TECHNICIAN ARCHIVE PHOTO
Models show off looks from Candace Farrish’s “Rockstar” line at the Cotton Couture Fashion Show. Farrish is a senior in Fashion and Textile Management.
health of the overall community overall. It is an important facet of civic and community life, benefiting the thousands of nonprofits that provide necessary services in our community,” Smith said. “Additionally, volunteering is good
for the individual doing it: Research shows that volunteerism provides personal, physical, emotional, and spiritual benefits to participating individuals,” Smith said.
Caffeine and alcohol don’t make good mix See page 6.
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