In its first day of meetings, UF's Board of Trustees discussed revisions to the Student Conduct Code, incentives to get students to graduate faster and rumored budget cuts later this year.
UF President Bernie Machen, who has advocated for the state to dip into rainy-day reserves to cover future budget shortfalls, warned trustees that if more budget cuts are to be taken, he might need a new strategy to decide how they are met.
Steve Scott, a UF trustee, said because UF's $47 million budget cut this summer already trimmed the fat of many programs, there may be no choice but to make targetted cuts to compensate for potential losses.
The board's meeting continues today at Emerson Alumni Hall, with a report from Machen at 9:45 a.m. and the full board's meeting at 10:30 a.m.
UF TO TAKE OUT LOAN FOR NEW BUILDINGS
Machen announced in the Committee on Resources that UF plans to take out a loan and move forward with two $20 million construction projects stalled by the loss of state-matching funds this year.
The projects, William R. Hough Hall and an expansion to the Samuel P. Harn Museum of Art, are in the design phase of construction.
UF already received a $10 million gift from each donor, which will allow for construction to begin while UF officials investigate the loan, said Paul Robell, vice president for development and alumni affairs.
UF was supposed to earn about $27 million in matching funds this year from the state's fund-matching program for buildings but received $160,000, Robell said. UF is also missing $47 million in its endowment match program.
After a loan, Robell said UF is counting on the Legislature to reimburse it for the cost of the buildings when the matching-gifts program is reinstated.
The decision to move forward with the projects resulted from pressure from the donors, who didn't want to wait to see the "results of their philanthropy," Robell said.
He said he's not optimistic that the program will be included in next year's budget.
Construction on Hough Hall, a 59,000-square foot business graduate building, will begin in January, said Ed Poppell, vice president of business affairs. Before the five-month setback, the building was supposed to be ready by spring 2010.
Construction on the Asian art wing at the Harn Museum of Art will begin by March, Poppell said.
TRUSTEES TALK ABOUT FLAT-TUITION MODEL, GRADUATION RATE
Trustees in the board's Committee on Governance discussed possible incentives to get UF students to graduate faster, but Machen said it is hard to find a solution when students don't feel pressured to graduate on time.
Machen said 55 percent of UF's undergraduates graduate in four years, a figure that UF Provost Joe Glover said is an excellent rate by national norms.
A flat-rate tuition model has been discussed by the trustees as a way to entice students to take more classes at the same cost as someone with a lighter full-time schedule.In the model, students could take 12 to 18 credits for the same rate instead of paying by credit hour.
Machen said because most students have Bright Futures scholarships, they might not find the offer appealing.
"What does it matter for a student here who doesn't pay anything for their tuition?" Machen said.
Glover said students aren't pressured to take full loads at UF because they come in with several college credits from advanced high school courses. Freshmen come in with junior standing and still want the four-year college experience, Glover said.
TRUSTEES DISCUSS CODE REVISIONS
Trustees in the Educational Policy and Strategy Committee discussed controversial changes to the Student Conduct Code but were not ready to vote on the changes.
The revisions include eliminating the Student Honor Court's ability to hear academic honesty cases, and banning drinking games and common-source alcohol containers, such as beer balls and kegs.
Patricia Telles-Irvin, vice president of Student Affairs, said the goal of the revisions is to clarify the code's language and make it available to students in one document.
Mac McGriff, a trustee, called for a final draft of the regulations to be submitted. He said the committee would discuss it via conference call the week of Sept. 22.
Student Body President Kevin Reilly said he thought the revised draft had adequately taken into account opinions from a diverse group of students and gone through extensive revisions.
Sam Miorelli, UF engineering senior, wasn't convinced his opinion was considered.
Miorelli said administration wouldn't be asking for more power over students' social life if they didn't intend to use it.
"We have a problem with you coming in and saying it's against the rules for students to play beer pong," Miorelli said.
RENEWABLE ENERGY FEE PASSED
A renewable energy fee that would charge students 50 cents per credit hour was unanimously approved by the board's Educational Policy and Strategy Committee.
The revenue would be spent on projects that conserve energy, such as adding solar panels, and would be allocated by a committee of students, faculty and staff.
The fee must be approved by the rest of the board and the Board of Governors.
