August 19, 2005

President Wilson convened the first SPBC meeting of 2005-06 at 1:30 p.m. 

Noting that the Committee had had the summer to reflect on the composition

of and charge to the strategic planning work groups that will soon be formed, the President asked for suggestions and improvements to the working documents on those subjects.  With a few minor changes, the Committee approved the documents and asked Professor Gardner to prepare them for distribution to the campus.  (Reporter’s note: These documents were subsequently posted on the SPBC public Web site at: http://www2.iwu.edu/president/Strategic/.)

 The Committee then turned to the selection of work group members.  CUPP is responsible for overseeing the election of faculty members, while Student Senate will guide the selection of student members.  Staff representatives will be elected under the leadership of a new Staff Council, itself soon to be elected.     The President will communicate with the President of the Alumni Executive Board to choose alumni members.   The goal for completion of these processes is late September so that work groups can begin their assignments no later than October 1.  The President noted, in response to a member’s question, that it is appropriate for work groups to “dream big” so that we can make real progress toward achieving the University’s vision. Such dreams not only help to set annual budget priorities, but they also help to craft a blueprint for future capital campaigns.  

Because the SPBC will this year be assuming a role in the University’s budgeting process for the first time, Vice President Klotzbach led the Committee in a discussion of the operating budget for the remainder of the meeting, using the 2004-05 budget [Fiscal Year (FY) 2005] as an illustration.   The Board of Trustees will approve the final budget for FY 2006 at its October meeting, and preliminary work on the FY 2007 budget will occur this fall as well.   The President confirmed that the SPBC will have a role in identifying budget priorities, recommending shifts in resources, and suggesting new spending areas.

The Committee agreed to establish a regular meeting schedule for the fall soon, with a goal of meeting again in mid-September.

Distributed to all faculty and staff: 9/16/2005