The Faculty Senate received a legislative session update and approved resolutions regarding the library system, CIRT and restructuring in the College of Education Tuesday.
Julie Weaks, UNM vice president for Business and Finance, outlined preliminary University funding recommendations results approved by the House of Representatives' that are pending Senate approval.
Weaks said the news - at this point - looks good.
"Higher education funding has fared not nearly as bad as it could have," she said. "The funding formula was fully funded in the House version - we anticipate about $4 million in new money minus the tuition credit. By early next week we anticipate we'll know how the final funding will look."
The tuition credit - the amount the Legislation assumes the University can increase tuition - is hovering at 2.5 percent, considerably lower than last year's 5 percent credit, she said.
The Legislature has handed down some funding cuts, including a 15 percent decrease in allocation for special projects and a statewide reduction in athletic scholarships that could cost UNM about $300,000, she said.
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
University President Bill Gordon cited enrollment increases dating back to three years ago as one of the reasons UNM has fared better than other schools in Legislative funding. But, since that funding is based on a three-year enrollment cycle, future allocations could suffer.
"We haven't seen the enormous gains like we did three years ago," he said. "Our enrollment has held steady, which is good for us in terms of being able to plan what we do."
The Faculty Senate also approved a resolution that would help improve collaboration between different information technology entities on campus, such as CIRT, the Health Sciences Center and the library system.
The resolution calls for the formation of a representative body made up of key people from every telecommunication and networking entity on campus, as well as faculty, staff and students.
Library Committee Chairman Noel Pugach presented a resolution based on similar legislation last year that would support plans to hire an outside consultant to help solve the libraries' space problems and urge consideration of compact shelving - shelves on tracks that can be pushed together to conserve space.
"We know there's no quick solution to library space, but the most viable is compact shelving," Pugach said.
Nancy Dennis, who attended the meeting on behalf of interim library dean Frances Wilkinson, said the library staff supported the resolution and was pleased with its improved relationship with the Faculty Senate.
The Senate also unanimously approved a restructuring plan in the college of education that would realign classes under five recently-created degree plans, among them Language and Literacy and Educational Specialties.
