The three-year contract includes faculty salary increases.  Under the contract, faculty will receive a three percent raise in the first year, and two subsequent two percent raises for the second and third years.  In exchange, the contract increases the burden on faculty members for their health insurance, raising the amount in premiums they pay from ten percent to fourteen percent of the university’s cost.  One of the things the contract did not address was the ongoing risk to the university that the state may cut funding and how this would affect the Faculty Association.

Dr. Lowman did take the time to address the assembled people, continuing with his commitment to the students, the school, and his role as an educator.  “The task at hand... [is to] grow the institution in size and stature...”  This goal, however, may not be easily met given the budget crunches on both sides, both from lower enrollment numbers and budget cuts on the state’s side.

For several years, the university’s request for funding to Lansing has included a building project for the School of Business, Economics, and Legal Studies, but Dr. Lowman confessed that the likelihood for this and other large projects going forward in the very near future is “low”.  Dr. Lowman was more optimistic about what he referred to as “smaller ticket” items, such as the expansion of the Aquatic Research Laboratory, the building for which has been graciously donated to the university by Edison Sault Electric and Wisconsin Energy; but maintained the Business, Economics, and Legal Studies building as a priority project.

This meeting, the first Board of Trustees meeting for the school year, as well as being a first for our new President, also marked the first appearance of Ms. Barbara Cliff as Chair.

For more information about the Lake State Board of Trustees, Dr. Rodney Lowman, to read the university’s mission statement, and to contact the office of the President, please visit http://www.lssu.edu/president.

Be first to comment this article

Only registered users can write comments.
Please login or register.

Powered by AkoComment Tweaked Special Edition v.1.4.6
AkoComment © Copyright 2004 by Arthur Konze - www.mamboportal.com
All right reserved