No change was good news for the Fresno Pacific University Board of Trustees.
The administration requested no revision in the 2000-2001 budget during board meetings Oct. 27-28. Spending last year had to be cut $1.1 million in response to overly optimistic revenue projections.
Thanks to a bond issue and a new budget process, the university finished the 1999-2000 fiscal year with a $183,000 surplus and Vice President for Business Affairs Larry Perryman said he expects revenues will exceed estimates in 2000-2001. "Our financial picture looks strong," he said. Perryman, who had been interim vice president, was appointed to a three-year term.
Much of the increase is expected to come from the school of professional studies, Perryman said. The goal is not to use extra funds for operating expenses. "They should be set aside for one-time purchases, such as facilities, equipment and capital needs," he added.
Looking ahead to the next three-five years, the board adopted a set of strategic goals. The university will develop:
- a comprehensive information system for planning, resource allocation and assessment.
- a faculty and staff orientation, development and mentoring program that includes review and discussion of the Fresno Pacific Idea as well as university goals and procedures.
- fiscal stability and flexibility as well as increased investment in areas such as faculty and staff compensation, operating budgets, equipment and deferred maintenance.
- an infrastructure to manage projected significant enrollment growth.
- an environment of cultural and racial diversity that better prepares students to participate in society.
In other financial matters, the board approved a 3 percent salary increase for faculty and staff effective January 1. Tuition for some graduate school programs was also raised: general graduate fees went from $290 per credit hour to $320 and teacher education increased to $390 per credit hour from $370.
Board members also selected a new executive committee: John Thiesen will serve as vice chair, Velma Dyck as secretary, Pat Evans as assistant secretary, David Beckenhauer as treasurer and Max Steinert as assistant treasurer. On the full board, Dale Boese, Dick Falls, Kathy Gray, John Thiesen and Sally Uhl were re-elected to three-year terms and Karl Avakian and Juanita Perry were re-appointed to two-year terms.
A search committee was appointed to find a replacement for Provost Howard Loewen, who leaves at the end of the school year after five years' service. The panel consists of four teaching faculty, to administrators, one dean and one vice president.
FresnoPacific Universityis an accredited Christian university. Located on a 42-acre, park-like campus in southeast Fresno, FPU has an enrollment of more than 1,700 students -- half graduate and half undergraduate. The university also enrolls 12,000 students annually in its professional development studies programs offered locally and throughout the world.