9
President Todd said that he wanted to mention another point that he meant to make about embarrassment. The School of Music has wonderful professors that could go to any university they chose. He noted that some professors have been on the stage of Carnegie Hall. UK has some of the best professors in the country, and it is embarrassing that they will not receive a salary increase this year. The state desperately needs the arts, and it desperately needs culture.
President Todd said that he had received only one or two e-mails from the faculty and staff about not getting a salary increase this year. UK is a pretty incredible place. It is hanging in there and meeting a need for the state. He expressed appreciation for the leadership of the Board, and said that he appreciated the faculty, staff, and students that the university is attracting. He also expressed appreciation for the administrative support. He does not think that there has been a team at this administrative level since he has known about the university.
President Todd did not review the specifics of the budget since that had been done in the Finance Committee meeting. He did, however, display a series of slides which showed that the university has not received much of an increase in the base budget since he became president.
The state has got to decide to invest in education. UK is doing its part and will continue doing its part. The university has friends in the legislature. Governor Beshear's recent appointments to CPE have been very strong, and UK is going to get attention. The administrative staff has to be more aggressive because nobody else is going to do the job for the university.
When they reformed higher education in 1997, the University of Kentucky was the only university that gave up anything. The deal was that UK could now become a Top 20 university. The administration has been working on that plan, and it has to work hard to continue to sell the message.
President Todd said that they did have some principles in doing the budget. They tried to preserve as many jobs as possible and also take care of health care benefits. He urged the Board to pass the budget when Mr. Branscum presented it in his Finance Committee report.
G. Proposed Amendment to Governing Regulations: Investment Committee (PR 3)
President Todd said that this is the second reading of PR 3. It is a change in the Governing Regulations which will add some community members to the Investment Committee. He said that Chair Wilcoxson is strongly behind the recommendation, and he urged passage of the second reading. On motion made by Mr. Branscum, seconded by Ms. Haney and passed, PR 3 was approved without dissent. (See PR 3 at the end of the Minutes.)
H. Proposed Amendment to Governing Regulations: Faculty Vacation Leave, Sabbatical Leave, and Delay of Probation Period (PR 4)
President Todd said that this is the first reading of PR 4. It is a Governing Regulation change dealing with vacation leave, sabbatical leave, and delay of the probationary period for faculty. The deans and the University Senate have reviewed it. The revision will change a