A senator asked about the chart’s indication that a single dean would oversee two divisions (AFE and Aquaculture) and Land Grant. The VP confirmed that Land Grant would be separate and that an updated organizational chart reflects this difference.

VP Jackson promised to work on getting caught up on emails. She noted that sometimes work is going on behind the scenes while she is waiting to respond. She said she did not mind read receipts if senders want to be sure she has received emails.

VP Jackson noted that we must be certain to have items to CPE by the deadlines. She has recently submitted two reports to the Council on time.

Chair Rye indicated that BASC is still waiting for documents on the budget from the President’s Office, especially information on how the reorganization will affect the budget. VP Jackson promised to check on that request.

Chair Rye explained that BASC was still waiting on a line item budget from the President’s Office. It also hoped to see copies of any documents/recommendations the Registry had submitted and other documents noted in the BASC report and minutes. Chair Rye said that the representatives of the committee will meet with President Thompson on 10/4. She invited the Senate President to come.

At its meeting, BASC discussed the issue that promotion is still on hold even though tenure has been brought back. There are three ways by which salaries could be raised at the university. One would be a merit-based system. Chair Rye noted that faculty are hired at the bottom of one level and when they get an increase, they are then at the bottom of the next level and even that option has been suspended for a total of 5 years under the Sias, Burse, and now Thompson Administration. Another method would be a COLA increase; the last one was over three years ago and that was the first in several. Chair Rye said that student tuition has been increased and possibly administrative salaries have increased in the interim, but faculty salaries have remained static. She reiterated that BASC needs that data. Finally, the university can undertake an equity study. BASC will review a study that compares budgets and salaries at public Kentucky universities. Chair Rye noted that according to a CPE published chart (2003-2013), KSU is the only state institution without an increase in its instructional budget despite the fact that the overall operating budget has increased $20m during the same span of years. (See attached document.)

BASC is interested in surveying units about budgets. BASC would like input from faculty and Chair Rye asked for unit coordinators to contact her. President Sipes asked if the current year unit budgets were based on last year's actual spending. Chair Rye replied that she did not know, but that she can confirm that the budget in her area has been cut.