PRESIDENT'S BUDGET ADVISORY COMMITTEE
March 4th, 2021
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Karen Moranski Interim Provost, Vice President of Academic Affairs; Chair
Joyce Lopes Vice President of Administration and Finance; Vice-Chair
Jerlena Griffin-Desta Chief of Staff and VP for Strategic Initiatives and Diversity
Troi Carleton Dean, School of Social Sciences
Jeffrey Reeder Chair of the Faculty; Modern Languages & Literature
Laura Krier Vice-Chair of the Faculty; University Library
Elita Virmani Chair of APARC; Early Childhood Studies
Erma Jean Sims CFA Representative; Literacy Studies & Elementary Ed.
Laura Lupei Senior Director for University Budget and Planning, A&F
Audra Verrier Staff Representative, Pre-Collegiate Programs
Melissa Kadar President, Associated Students
STAFF PRESENT:
Mike Ogg Senior Director for Budget & Planning, Academic Affairs
Shawn Taylor Budget Analyst, Administration and Finance
GUESTS PRESENT:
Anna Reynolds-Smith Director, Administrative and Financial Planning, Student Affairs
Natalie Sanchez Budget Director, Administration and Finance
Ian Hannah Assistant Vice President for Advancement Operations
Laura Monje-Paulson Assistant Vice President for Assessment and Strategic Operations
MEMBERS ABSENT:
Jonathan Dominguez Vice President of Finance, Associated Students
AGENDA
I. CALL TO ORDER AND WELCOME
II. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA AND MINUTES: February 4th,2021
III. ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER
IV. GOVERNOR’S BUDGET UPDATE
V. CABINET PRIORITIES
VI. SPRING BUDGET FORUM
I. CALL TO ORDER AND WELCOME
Interim Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs, Karen Moranski, welcomed the committee and began the meeting at 8:30 am.
II. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA AND MINUTES
Moranski introduced the agenda and asked if there were any additions. Hearing none, Moranski requested a motion to approve the minutes of the February 10th meeting. Minutes were approved unanimously.
III. ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER
The campus is seeing a record number of transfer applications for 2021/2022.
IV. GOVERNOR’S BUDGET UPDATE
(Please see the March 4th agenda packet for related documents)
Laura Lupei presented a summary of the Governor’s Budget Update that was released after the Governor’s January Budget. While there has not been a revised budget memo provided by either the Governor’s Office or the Chancellors Office, Laura outlined some assumptions based on the currently available data. As more information becomes available, the University Budget and Planning Office will provide updates.
The new announcement includes a restoration of the 2019-2020 $299M reductions to the CSU General Fund that would be effective July 1st, 2021. This would be an estimated $7.6M restoration to Sonoma State University. The restoration would help to reduce the deficit, but does not fully eliminate it. Closing the remaining deficit will heavily focus on increasing enrollment.
V. CABINET PRIORITIES
Lopes summarized that the Cabinet members worked to identify the top priorities and the various funding needs for the immediate future.
The current priorities include items such as: recruitment scholarships, campus Wi-Fi upgrades, increased sanitation for the 2021-2022 academic year, continued work in the diversity and equity council to put out a campus climate survey and provide DEI training, photographer to increase recruiting and capture new safety protocols in place, new accommodations for Disability Services, and a new CAPS Counselor and CARE Coordinator.
Some of these priorities may be paid via relief funding (HEERF) and would not increase the campus deficit. Lopes notes that the numbers and priorities are fluid and may change based on future information. Lupei discussed that she will be meet with each VP to look at available resources within each unit.
VI. SPRING BUDGET FORUM
Lupei asked the committee members for feedback and ideas on the format for the Spring budget forum. The committee suggested that there be a pre-recorded presentation as there were in years past with the addition of separate Town Hall style meeting(s) that would allow a time for Q & A.
It was brought up that faculty may benefit from a better understanding of the costs of education. Some may see the cuts and may not understand the fixed costs involved.
A suggestion was made to send out a survey to solicit questions. This would allow to for the presentation to address (or be prepared to address) questions that the members of the campus community may have. The group also suggested having breakout rooms where the PBAC members can facilitate conversations, similar to the roundtable discussions that were held after previous in-person budget forums.
Lopes adjourned the meeting at 9:39 am.
Minutes prepared by Shawn Taylor.