University of Central Oklahoma
TBEVIslisi The Student Voice Since 1903
THURSDAY April 10, 1997
Student group funding applications due
Prairie Sky Singers... Prairie Sky Singers Mike Standing and James Arnet sing and play a drum outside the Business Building. The Prairie Sky Singers performed Monday, as the first of several events to celebrate Indian Heritage Week. (Staff photo by John Clanton)
A new zero-based budget has student organizations scurrying to turn in requests for money this year in order to have it for next year—since UCO has revised its budget development process. Zero-based budgeting means each organization must justify its request for funds based on need rather than historic funding level, said Jean Benson, associate budget director. Sue Ryan of student services said the new process will allow new organizations, as well as old, to apply for funds. The funds will come out of the student activity budget. Each student is charged a student activity fee of $4 per credit hour, which makes up this fund, she said. Benson said committee reviews will include the Student Activity Budget Committee, made up of 11 student organization representatives, two faculty members, the dean of students and the associate budget director. The University Budget Review Committee is made up of university executive officers, director of budget, director of institutional research and planning, deans and president of the faculty senate. The President's Cabinet will also serve as a review committee, she said. The requests are due April 16 and should be turned in to Dr. Deanna Land, dean of students. They will be reviewed for completeness and organized for presentation to the Student Activity Budget Committee April 22-24, said Benson. —
By Joanna Hafey /Staff Writer
High rate of adjuncts attributed to budget cuts By Patrice Patterson Staff Writer Budget cuts have made the use of adjuncts a more valuable tool at UCO. Many of these unsung heroes may have three degrees, but receive no benefits and make less than waitresses. As of Fall 1996, the total number of adjuncts was 259, making up 40.6 percent of the staff, versus the 378 full–time faculty members. Part of the reason the percentage is so high is sheer economics, said Dr. Clyde Jacob, vice president for academic affairs.
"The academic department's goal is to try to reduce their budget approximately $1.3 million over the next two years in an effort to increase the university's reserve and bring the total budget back into a more healthy state of affairs," Jacob said. "Because of budgetary constraints, the university is being forced to utilize a few more adjuncts than we would normally use," he said. Adjuncts receive no benefits, with no health or any other type of insurance. They get paid once a month, but it's not considered full time work, even if an adjunct works full time at several
different universities. This high rate is only a temporary measure because the university does not have the resources to hire as many full– time faculty, Jacob said. Another reason for the high percentage is that metropolitan universities often utilize adjuncts more because of their increased availability. "We have access to a variety of potential adjunct faculty with a variety of expertise," he said. However, even though 40.6 percent of the faculty are composed of adjuncts, full–time faculty teach more classes than
adjuncts. Adjuncts teach 24 percent of sections for undergraduates and 17 percent for graduate sections, stated a recent UCO study done by academic affairs. For example, one full–time faculty member typically teaches 12-15 hours, or three to five sections, whereas one adjunct may only teach three to six hours, or one to two sections. The academic department would like to see the adjunct level somewhere in the neighborhood of 10-15 percent, said Jacob. V See ADJUNCT, Page 3
INSIDE TODAY INDEX Editorial 2 Letters 2 Sports 10 Entertainment 13 Around Campus 14 Classifieds 15
FACULTY SENATE UCO presidentdesignate, Roger Webb, listens to concerns at meeting.
DEDICATION Mitchell Hall renovations enhance the history of the 71-year-old building.
8
AROUND TOWN Check out what's happening around the metro area this weekend.
14