Minutes from January 26, 2022

1. Welcome and announcements
2. Approval of minutes from 11/17/2021 – approved
3. Discussion
   1. Strategic Plan Priorities/Budget Council Discussion – Megan Lasso, Chief Budget Officer
      

      1. Lasso explained the links between planning and budgeting at the University level through the President’s Strategic Investment Process and described changes to the process to include a biennial institutional focus.  She led the Council in a discussion about the impact of the prioritization process on investments at the unit and institutional level.  Discussion included re-commitment to the prioritization cycle with the biennial process.

   2. Annual visit from President Waded Cruzado
      

      1. President Cruzado reminded the Council of our history and purpose, including the leading role PC plays in setting priorities and reminding the University to follow the plan with discipline.  She further described the President’s Strategic Investment Process and its updates to address degradation of quality of proposals over time.  Questions were asked about the evaluation of off-year investments, which Budget Council can address; impact of environmental factors on decision making, e.g. housing, which leads us to focus on the things we can control – within constraints – like salaries and bonding efforts; and how the Council can better communicate where there is slow progress.  The President suggested PC members report annually to each college and division.

      2. Discussion item A continued with a conversation about initiatives that span units that require attention in the biennial budget process. 

         1. Interdisciplinary and collaborative teaching, funding, organization – one-off initiatives may become long-standing investments, but organizational homes and incentives are not always clear to participants.
         2. Wellness funding model
         3. Centers and Institutes, Graduate College as organizational homes for interdisciplinary efforts
         4. Doctoral award conferrals, highlighted in Carnegie metrics
         5. Financial need for students, especially resident students
         6. So many items in 3.3, all important, and pressing in the current environment
         7. Retention work - Academic Affairs task force may have recommendations
   3. Goal 1.2 Update

      1. Fastnow gave a very brief summary of 1.2, and the Council requested a more thorough discussion at the February meeting.

   4. Meeting times for Spring
      

      1. Fastnow indicated some members had schedule conflicts this term and she would explore alternative meeting times, keeping the scheduled time on the calendar in the interim.

4. Other business 

   1. Zimpel suggested the Council continue to discuss interdisciplinary and collaborative teaching and possible institutional barriers and solutions. 

5. Public comment - none

Next meeting:  February 23, 10:30 am -12 noon, MT Room

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