Faculty Council members weighed in on the Clark Building revitalization project and heard updates on the budget and several other items at its Dec. 5 meeting.

Interim Provost Jan Nerger gave a report on the Clark project, noting that the next phase of funding is currently included in the proposed state budget. She reminded the council that plans now call for replacing the B Wing with a new 120,000-square-foot building. Nerger said there is a three-phase plan for relocating employees in those wings, occurring in December, March and May.

She added that priorities for that relocation include maintaining student access, managing costs and striving to keep departments physically together.

In response to questions about the decision to hold off on revitalizing the C Wing of the building, Vice President for University Operations Brendan Hanlon said a committee is being formed to consider whether some improvements to the C Wing can be added to the project.

Clark resolution

Faculty Council passed a resolution along those lines later in the meeting, requesting that the administration work with the College of Liberal Arts to provide financial and logistical support for the relocations, keep units co-housed and renovate the C Wing.

Hanlon also gave an update on the state budget outlook for 2024-25, noting that the governor’s proposed budget calls for a 3% state funding increase for higher ed and a 2% cap on resident undergraduate tuition. Echoing CSU System Chancellor Tony Frank’s budget update at the Nov. 20 Board of Governors meeting, Hanlon said the governor’s budget is less than CSU had hoped, but budget challenges are nothing new to the institution, and it’s still early in the process.

He outlined possible scenarios that included the governor’s proposal as well as a hypothetical larger budget proposal with a 6% state funding increase and a 4% cap on resident undergraduate tuition.

Other matters

In other action at the council meeting:

• Faculty Council Chair Melinda Smith read a statement of appreciation for Nerger’s service as interim provost, citing her accomplishments, commitment to shared governance and “unwavering dedication and deep commitment to the betterment of our academic community.”
• Council members heard an update on the budget model redesign process from presidential Leadership Fellows Rob Mitchell and Jennifer Martin. This fall, there have been more than 20 listening sessions as well as visits with various CSU groups to discuss possible changes to the budget model, involving more than 350 participants. In addition, the Faculty Council Committee on Strategic and Financial Planning has issued a report on the opportunities and risk analysis of a responsibility-centered management budget model, which is being considered as a replacement for CSU’s current incremental budget model.
• The council approved the academic calendars for fall 2026 through summer 2028 and elected new members to the University Benefits Committee and Parking Services Committee.

The next Faculty Council meeting will be on Tuesday, Feb. 6. For the schedule of Faculty Council meetings, approved minutes and agendas, lists of members of the Council and its committees and other information, visit the Faculty Council website.