Priorities in budget planning, 2017/18, University Libraries materials were handed out.
65 staff members were present
Welcome to Provost and Interim Chancellor, Garnett Stokes by Interim Director of University Libraries, Ann Campion Riley.
Ann reviewed Priorities in Budget Planning submissions that University Libraries made to the Provost’s office. The following points were addressed and commented on by Interim Chancellor Stokes.
- University Libraries’ first priority is to the students and the Student Enhancement Fee will assist us in providing better services for students.
- Library Management Team and Ann Riley decided to retain as many employees as possible and this resulted in loss of one staff member.
- University Libraries needed 10 million dollars to bring us up to par with peer university libraries. Instead, we were asked to cut 5 million dollars. We are requesting reinvestment in the libraries to give back to our collections, specifically electronic resources.
- Our move to Merlin Standalone will give us better control of our resources.
- ARL membership is at stake if our budget decreases significantly. ARL membership depends on a matrix of staffing, budget, enrollment etc. Interim Chancellor Stokes understands the real concern for loosing our ARL membership and thinks we should set up a plan to maintain membership. She is glad to see our new Administration is committed to supporting University Libraries and research resources for Mizzou students. Maintaining a sustainable support structure for University Libraries is essential.
- Interim Chancellor Stokes would like to plan for the annual increase in journals as an unavoidable expense like utilities. In historical budget models, revenue increases and cuts were given proportionally.
- President Choi is looking to find better efficiencies at both the system level and MU campus. Mizzou will undergo an administration review to as one solution to this goal.
- Discovery is a core value to the University and University Libraries have the mission to support students in this core value.
- Many colleges and departments on campus are in the same situation as we are with lack of available revenue streams such as class enrollment, alumni etc. Moving to more online programs and requiring supplemental fees are creative ways some departments on campus have found to make the 12% cut.
- University Libraries and the Collee of Arts and Science are two units that Interim Chancellor Stokes sees as needing a new approach within the new budget model.
- The system and the other 3 campuses did not cut 12%, nor are they affected by enrollment decreases that MU is facing. The system has had a reduction last year that they had hoped to reinstall but have not been able to retrieve. Therefore, they will continue to restructure HR, IT and finance departments.
- Requesting that units on campus cut 12% does allow for a cushion for reinvestment in key areas as well as to withstand against possible future state budget cuts.
- Marketing and Communications have been cut at system and campus level to allow for strategic implementation of a unified marketing plan. To increase enrollment we need to focus on our branding to support Enrollment Management. We will have a national marketing firm to help us manage our complex branding situation.
- Some reinvestments have already been arranged, such as Grad student stipend, Grad student health insurance, inclusion and diversity, center for teaching and learning. Stokes is waiting to see what the governor will do with the future budget to determine one time and reoccurring reinvestments.
- Chancellor Alex Cartwright will start August 1 and will need to be part of reinvestment conversations.
- Choi recognizes the importance to keep MU the flagship institution.
- Provost Stokes is implementing a taskforce charged with examining each program and evaluating it for investment, consolidation or elimination.
- It was brought up that we simply no longer have the staffing to be a professional resource for the State and to collaborate innovatively with organizations outside of the University for the advancement and wellbeing of its citizens.
- Interim Chancellor Stokes is not able to comment on the search for the Director of Libraries today, but will be able to do so by July 1.
- Interim Chancellor Stokes agrees that a title change needs to be made and, in researching peer institutions, is specifically looking at what that structure should become.