Arts, Sciences & Engineering Standing Bylaw Committees

Budget & University Priorities Committee (Elected)
Term: 5 years
2008-2009

 View Bylaws  |  Committee Description & Work Load

Bylaws:

A Committee on Budget and University Priorities, with membership as indicated below: eight faculty members, two from the departments of the School of Engineering and two from each of the following groupings of departments: (i) the natural sciences (e.g., Biology, Chemistry, Geology, Mathematics, Physics/Astronomy), and Physical Education; (ii) the social sciences (e.g., Anthropology, Child Development, Education, Economics, History, Occupational Therapy, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, and Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning); (iii) the arts and humanities (e.g., Classics, Drama/Dance, English, Art and Art History, History, Music, Philosophy, German/Russian/Asian Languages and Literatures, Romance Languages, and Comparative Religion). Members shall serve for five year-staggered terms. No more than one member of a single department may be a member of this Committee at any one time.

Four undergraduate student members: three from the College of Liberal Arts and Jackson College, one from the School of Engineering; two graduate student members: one from the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, and one from the School of Engineering. The following members ex officio without vote: the Academic Deans of the School of Arts and Sciences, the Academic Deans of the School of Engineering, the Executive Administrative Dean for Arts and Sciences, the Executive Administrative Dean for Engineering, the Dean of Student Services, and a representative from the Executive Committee. Students will be chosen in accordance with the normal procedures.

The functions of the Committee shall be: to make recommendations on the annual Arts, Sciences and Engineering budget to the Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences and the Dean of the School of Engineering; to recommend and revise annually a three-year strategic plan for Arts, Sciences and Engineering indicating the priorities on which budgets are expected to be based; to review and make budgetary recommendations on proposals for new programs and for reductions in existing programs; to review annually the relationship between the Arts, Sciences and Engineering budget and the total University budget; to review, as appropriate, matters regarding faculty salary corollaries and benefits, and if needed designate a liaison to the University Benefits and Advisory Committee (UBAC) on such matters; and to keep the faculty and students informed of its work, conclusions, and recommendations. In performance of this function, the committee shall have the authority to consult with University officials.

Committee Description & Work Load:

The committee meets weekly for about 6 weeks in the Fall term and about every other week in the Spring term. There is a great deal of pressure to write a 5-6 page report to the deans recommending budget priorities that must be in their hands by Thanksgiving, this in time for Trustee budget approval. Leading up to that project, the committee has discussions with various campus constituencies, seeking budget implications of their operations.