PRESIDENT’S CABINET
April 9, 2001
2:30 p.m.
HIGHLIGHTS
Members present: President Suzuki, Dr. Ambroson, Dr. Barnes, Dr. Berman, Mr. Carmona (arrived at 4 p.m.), Ms. Farris, Mr. Fremont, Ms. Martin, Dr. Ochoa, Mr. Charles (for Dr. Ollenburger), Dr. Soriano, Dr. Tillman (arrived at 3 p.m.), Ms. Thomas, Dr. Turk
Energy Conservation at Cal Poly Pomona: Past, Present and Future
Chris McAlary, along with George Lwin and Harmick Marcarian, reported on (1) the history and accomplishments of energy conservation at Cal Poly Pomona over the past five years, (2) the energy crisis in California, and (3) plans for energy conservation at Cal Poly Pomona in the future.
It is expected that power prices will increase from between 30 percent to 55 percent and they will remain high. Prices for natural gas have increased by 350 percent. We are looking at potential blackouts over the summer.
To date, an Energy Conservation Task Force has been created, HVAC controls and temperatures have been reset, lighting has been reduced, and we are in the process of developing an energy conservation incentive and rebate award program.
The campus is looking at the possibility of building a co-generation plant to meet current needs and growth over the next 20 years. Consideration will be given to partnering with Enron, the L.A. County Sanitation Districts and Mt. SAC in the building of such a plant.
Update on Foothill Transit Issue
At a meeting on Friday, March 30, the Executive Board of Foothill Transit approved a plan to reroute all but the 480 bus line to perimeter bus stops. The 480 line will continue to run through the campus, staying on Kellogg Drive. At Assemblyman Bob Pacheco’s request, both Cal Poly Pomona and Foothill Transit agreed to delay the implementation of this plan until January 2002 at the earliest. Pacheco has agreed to try to obtain necessary funding ($3-l/2 million) to repair our roads to bus standards. If he is successful, the transfer center would remain on campus.
Enrollment Update
Spring Quarter enrollment appears to be headed toward exceeding the target, thereby balancing our slightly below target summer and fall quarter FTE numbers. We expect to meet the College Year FTE target of 16,100. (Actual Census Date figure was 16,226.)
Fall application processing proceeds at a steady pace, with modest increases in applications and admissions in some areas. Meeting Fall Quarter targets is expected; summer orientation figures will contribute additional predictive information.
Report of Trustees’ Meeting
President Suzuki reported briefly on the March 20-21 CSU Board of Trustees meeting:
(1) Both Lt. Governor Cruz Bustamante, and Assemblyman Bob Pacheco expressed their support for the CSU to offer education doctorates (Ed.D.)
(2) Faculty and staff housing projects were presented. Fullerton and Channel Islands are working on the development of housing units for faculty and staff.
(3) Two million dollars for the College of Agriculture’s Center for Animal and Veterinary Science Education was approved. The funds will be used for design purposes. Thirty-eight million dollars additional funds will be needed to complete this project.
(4) Dr. Aubrey Fine of the College of Education and Integrative Studies has been selected as one of the 2001 faculty recipients of the Wang Family Excellence Award. He is the third Cal Poly Pomona faculty member for the third year in a row to receive this award.
The President announced that the women’s basketball team had won the NCAA Division II Women’s Basketball National Championship in Rochester, Minnesota.
Progress on University Priorities
A. Graduate Studies and Research
Bob Charles reported that Academic Affairs will present a plan for reorganization at the May Cabinet meeting that will include a position for an Associate Vice President for Research and Graduate Programs.
B. Promotion of Student Success
Laraine Turk reported on a number of areas of improvements focused on increasing student success including: improved response rates in the Career Center, Counseling and Psychological Services and the Student Health Center; improved Registrar advising services for dealing with E.O. 665 students; quicker processing of financial aid; continued growth in Visitor’s Center contacts (over 7,000 guests to date). The time required in the Registrar’s office to process transcripts and to complete graduation checks has been reduced. A significant collaborative effort with Academic Affairs was the internships program development with the Daily Bulletin/L.A. News Group. Work is being done to improve the transfer rate of community college students, including the partnership agreement and development of a dual enrollment program with Mt. SAC.
C. Improving Campus Infrastructure
Pat Farris reported on a number of items including the following: Walk lights in the quad have been replaced. One hundred fifty poles/fixtures are being installed. Street lights on Mansion Lane will be completed in 5-6 weeks. The new parking lot (Lot “B”) will be ready by May 1. The signage project is about 95 percent completed. The technology infrastructure project is moving forward and construction will begin by the fall of 2001 and last for 18- 24 months.
D. Community Outreach
Ed Barnes reported that the Pomona Leadership Forum, the CEOs of the major organizations in Pomona, are working to improve the City of Pomona and to revitalize the downtown area to improve Pomona’s image. The group includes the Pomona Unified School District and Western University of Health Sciences. The Forum is looking at housing for faculty and staff that could be offered below market rates.
Cal Poly Pomona and Mt. SAC entered into a formal partnership agreement which will put into motion a plan to develop joint curriculum, encourage increased staff and faculty initiatives, make better use of facilities and ease the method by which students can transfer from Mt. SAC.
President Suzuki received the Technology Leadership Award from the San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership at a recent awards ceremony.
AGRIscapes will be opening in the Fall of 2001. The farm store and ornamental horticulture will move to the development which is south of Temple Avenue.
The Downtown Center hosted the L.A. Philharmonic Orchestra brining campus and the community together. The Street Gallery Initiative paired Cal Poly Pomona students with local muralists to work on community projects.
The partnership with Student Affairs, the Service Learning program has been implemented as part of a matching grant, and almost every college and school has at least one service learning course under development. A permanent director and support staff person will be hired by July 1, 2001.
E. Professional Development
Pat Farris reported on the staff professional development program. A survey has been sent to the campus community requesting information on preferences for development. The majority of respondents listed computer training as their number one request.
Bob Charles reported that $250,000 will be used to attract new faculty by offering special resources to purchase equipment or to support research interests that would make this institution more attractive to the candidate.
Two hundred thousand dollars in Student Assistant funds have been distributed to faculty to support instruction and research. Reassigned time for University service and research totaled nearly $68,000 this year.
A joint program between Academic Affairs and Instructional and Information Technology has created 20 enhanced technology classrooms and trained faculty to use them. A Technology Equity Program in partnership with I&IT replaced obsolete computer workstations.
Special lottery funding will be set aside to providing monies to faculty to convert to the semester system, should a decision be made to convert. Twelve millions is available from the Chancellor’s Office to be divided among the campuses that decide to change from the quarter to the semester/trimester system. Jane Ollenberger will be sending a referral to the Academic Senate on this matter.
F. Improving Campus Communications
Esteban Soriano and Ron Fremont reported on the significant strides this year in all faces of campus communication – most recently the launch of the university’s new e-magazine (PolyCentric). They also shared examples of a key development tool (PolyFriends), our community outreach publication (Panorama), and the university magazine (PolyTrends). They are currently working on a new publication entitled Chronicle of Excellence, designed to profile exceptional areas of the university. Communique, the e-newsletter from the President to the campus community, is being sent out quarterly to favorable reviews. Enhanced relationships with the media is reflective in the overall column inch count, rising from 2,500 inches to 17,000 inches over the past two years.
Ron Fremont and Mike Berman are currently developing an electronic emergency information system called CPP ALERT. Still in the design stages, it will enable instant messaging to every campus computer in the event of an emergency.
One Minute Items/Announcements
Arturo Carmona invited the Cabinet to attend the May 11 CSSA statewide conference entitled the “student retention summit.” Cal Poly Pomona will be co-hosting the event.
Arturo reported that he had sent a memo to President Suzuki concerning the student CARES initiative. The President’s approval to hold a referendum is needed.
Arturo distributed copies of a letter to President Suzuki regarding the custodial staff from Varsity Contractors and asked that the Cabinet look into the issue. The President referred Arturo to Pat Farris, Vice President for Administrative Affairs.
Donna Tillman announced that there are only two meetings of the Academic Senate left before the end of the year in which to consider the issue of conversion to semesters. Bob Charles and Donna Tillman will meet to discuss how the campus should proceed. The next meeting of the Cabinet will be held on Thursday, May 3, 2001 at 9 a.m. in the President’s Conference Room.