1934 – 2009
t h e o f f i c i a l s t u d e n t n e w s pa pe r o f t h e u n i v e r s i t y o f h o u s to n s i n c e 1 9 3 4
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@thedailycougar is tweeting, so why aren’t you following? Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Issue 149, Volume 75
WEATHER » hi
86 Lo 77
Forecast, Page 2
thedailycougar.com
Merit-based raises defined Productivity reviews to determine increases; promotional increases excluded gg
By Amanda Trella The Daily Cougar The UH Finance and Administration Committee for the Board of Regents approved the fiscal year 2011 budget in one of their most recent meetings. The budget includes funds for a 3 percent raise pool for faculty and staff, which will take effect in October. The raises awarded by the Regents will be based solely on merit, rewarding individuals based on productivity reviews that were conducted each year by deans, department chairs and department and college committees. “Merit increases are justified when faculty productivity increases and there is no doubt that faculty productivity, in terms of research, external funding and scholarly output, has significantly increased over the last year in our quest for (Flagship) status,” Faculty Senate President Mark Clarke said. According to the Regents presentation, the budget for the fiscal year 2011 is set to $1.34 billion, $7 million of which has been allotted for the faculty and staff raise pool. “We are pleased that the administration continues to
support (our quest for Flagship) and has worked diligently to secure a 3 percent merit pool for faculty even in this uncertain financial climate,” Clarke said. In order to be considered for the pay raise, staff members must meet certain requirements. “To be eligible, a staff member must be employed in a benefitseligible staff position continuously since March 1, 2010 and have a current PCD (Performance Communication and Development) form on file in Human Resources with a rating of “Generally Meets Expectations” or better,” Executive Vice Chancellor Carl Carlucci said in a memorandum to all UH vice presidents and deans. Based on the PCD ratings, merit increase guidelines recommend faculty and staff be awarded raise increases of 1 to 2 percent for “Generally Meets Expectations”, 2 to 3 percent for “Fully Meets Expectations” and 3 to 5 percent for “Exceeds Expectations.” Recommendations for the merit-based raise will be provided by the president, provost, vice presidents, deans, chairs, principal investigators and directors. After approval from the specified
Jairo Razo The Daily Cougar
Summer arts
C
hildren from across Houston participated in the sixth annual Summer Arts program at UH’s Blaffer Art Museum. Taking inspiration from the museum’s current exhibitions, Tomas Saraceno: Lighter than Air and First Take: Jacco Olivier, the children made art under the direction of artist and educator Patrick Renner. The program ends this Friday.
see RAISES, page 6
Valenti awaits facelift
Patron of arts and music dies
By Patricia Estrada The Daily Cougar
Blaffer Owen remembered for passion, enrichment of UH gg
Bill ashley courtesy of blaffer art museum
By Amanda Trella THE DAILY COUGAR The UH Blaffer Art Museum benefactor, arts patron and philanthropist Jane Blaffer Owen, 95, died last week in her Houston home. Owen held a life-long dedication to art, culture and history. “Her passion for the arts, and her continuing support for UH were unsurpassed. She has enriched our campus in so many ways,” UH President Renu Khator said. “Her memory will live on in the
Jane Blaffer Owen (second from left), “strongly believed in the transformative power of art,” Blaffer Art Museum Director Claudia Schmuckli said. Owen last visited the museum in fall 2009 for the Jon Pylypchuk and Josephine Meckseper exhibitions. contributions that have helped make UH a more beautiful and gracious place.” Daughter of ExxonMobil founder Robert Lee Blaffer and granddaughter of Texaco founder William T. Campbell, Owen was known for her generous donations in both Houston and New Harmony, Ind. Owen created the Robert Lee Blaffer Foundation to preserve and
promote New Harmony, Ind., the town in which she honeymooned in 1941. Her work has earned her numerous honors and awards, including the 2008 Louise Dupont Crowninshield Award, the highest commendation presented by the National Trust for Historic see BLAFFER, page 6
Renovations for the Jack J. Valenti School of Communication building, originally set to begin in January, have been postponed until midAugust. Administrators gave no reason for the delay. Despite the slow start to the construction, senior project manager Dean Ruck said progress has been made in the $3 million renovation and expansion project. “The documents for the project have just been completed by the architect,” he said. “(And) the general contractor will be bidding the work in July.” Communications faculty and staff were relocated to trailers by the Law Center on Jan. 19 in anticipation of the construction. “Any move is an inconvenience,”
communication adviser Les Oliver said. “It’s a trailer park and there is little, if any, privacy. We have adjusted as well as we can.” The Daily Cougar was relocated to the University Center Satellite due to the construction, while most classes in media production were relocated to the KUHT-TV studios. Students and faculty can expect disturbances while construction takes place, Ruck said. “Construction in an occupied building is inherently disturbing to the occupants,” he said. “Facilities planning and construction, as well as the contractor, (will) try to minimize disturbances by performing particularly noisy work during off hours whenever possible.” Ruck said Bartlett Cocke General Contractors has been selected as the general contractor for the renovation see VALENTI, page 8