Content
In attendance: Kathleen Brooks, Randy Pryor, Don Lee, Ann Fenton
Via phone: Thomas Hunt, Julie Peterson
Excused: Julie Albrecht, Vicki Schlegel
Joined at 10:00 am: Interim Vice Chancellor Yoder, Barry Shull (Facilities), Liz Husmann (recorder)
Facilities Update
Barry Shull gave an overview of facility projects on East Campus, beginning with the larger capital construction projects. The procedure for large capital projects is to receive approval from the senior administrative team (currently Chancellor Green, Interim VC Kostelnik, Interim VC Yoder, VC Jackson, and Associate to the Chancellor Nunez) after which an architectural firm prepares an initial design and cost estimate. A program statement is then drafted and sent to the Board of Regents for approval. After Board approval and identification of funding a project is moved to the final design phase.
Vet Diagnostic Center
Expected completion is next spring followed by two months of commissioning. Move-in is planned for May or June. Plans for the old diagnostic facility are not solidified yet, but we would rather not downgrade lab space to classrooms because lab space is much more expensive to build.
Residence Hall
Planned to be completed next summer, and ready for move-in August 2017.
East Campus Union
Barry Shull explained that, generally, the life expectancy for the mechanical systems of a building like the East Campus Union is 35—40 years. The Union has reached that age and Facilities Management is working with us to evaluate razing and rebuilding compared to renovating. Funding will be 80—90% student fees with some funding from Housing component, because there is student dining space in the Union. Housing does have a plan in place for student dining during the construction period if the East Campus Union is razed.
CY Thompson Library
The Library will be renovated to be a Learning Commons similar to Love Library North on City Campus, which has been well-received. There will be 24/7 study rooms for students. Books will be housed in a portion of the lower level, and the upper level will have study rooms and house the Engler program. Funding for the project will be from private sources.
Food Industry Complex
The ground floor level of the FIC will be converted into medium and large classrooms. A committee will provide input in the design of the educational spaces. The Liaison Committee wants to ensure cutting-edge educational technology is employed to best help students learn.
Legacy Plaza
This will be the main social hub of East Campus and surrounded by the East Campus Union, CY Thompson Library, the residence hall, and the Food Industry Complex classroom nexus.
Ruth Staples Child Development Lab
The department and its students have outgrown the current space. Private funds are needed to construct a new and larger facility. The Burr/Fedde site is being considered.
Smaller facility projects include:
- Renovations in basement labs at Chase Hall.
- Filley Hall, specifically the Ag Econ commodity trading room and seminar room.
- Plant Sciences Hall, specifically Gooding and other labs and the growth chambers on the fourth floor. Barry Shull discussed the necessity for Plant Sciences Hall to eventually have an HVAC renovation, which would require relocation of everyone during renovation.
- Public Art Lincoln will be placing 93 large sculptures of hearts (one for each county) on East Campus temporarily for a new public art project.
5% Assessment on Revenue
Faculty input is provided through the Unit Heads. Proposals were due July 31 and are being compiled. Decisions will be made in the next few weeks. Three things they are looking for in the proposals that give them higher priority:
- Proposals that do the most good overall for a given department
- Leveraging of funds
- Deferred maintenance
Vice Chancellor Search
The Liaison Committee asked if there would be an opportunity for them to meet with the candidates for breakfast or coffee. Dr. Yoder said all scheduling is being handled by the search firm and the Chancellor’s Office. Airport interviews are done and Chancellor Green is anticipating announcing the interviews of the four finalists sometime this week.
Liaison Committee Meeting Frequency/Expectations
Dr. Yoder expressed the importance of the committee’s role in IANR. The committee has at times been involved in major decisions and communicating details to the faculty. That being said, the committee agreed that two meetings a semester would be sufficient and that they can be cancelled if there’s nothing on the agenda to discuss.
Roads Scholar Tour Feedback
Randy Pryor shared feedback from the Roads Scholar Tour that took place August 6th and 7th. There were 23 faculty members on the tour. Jessie Brophy was very helpful in setting up the tour and making everything run smoothly. Randy Pryor said everything went well, and read some positive feedback from faculty members who attended. He also went through a brief itinerary of the tour which included visiting:
- Eastern Nebraska Research and Exemption Center
- Mobile Beef Lab
- Raising Nebraska Exhibit at the Nebraska State Fair
- West Central Research and Extension Center
- Golden Spike Tower and Visitor Center
- N-CORPE
- Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture
- Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District
- South Central Agricultural Lab at Clay Center
- Glacial Till Vineyard
The Liaison Committee suggested there be a greater effort to reach out to new extension hires and get them involved in the tour. The committee suggested the Extension division and the mentor program encourage new extension educators to attend the tour. The committee also discussed the importance of striking a balance between visiting university sites, agriculture sites, and Nebraska sites. There’s some debate on whether to have the tour in May or August, and the agenda would have to be adjusted depending on the month. Ann Fenton suggested sending out a second invitation encouraging anyone to attend if the first call does not fill the bus, as the tour can be beneficial for faculty members at any stage of their employment.
General Update
Dr. Yoder explained that IANR is in a good situation at the moment, with enrollment up at CASNR, external funding/research at an all-time high, extension being well-received across the state, and 130 new tenure-track hires (over the past five years). However, the agricultural economy in general is down, and that will likely affect the economy of the state and influence the budget discussions in the legislature. President Bounds and Chancellor Green are monitoring this careful.
Other Issues
Don Lee expressed some concern about IANR moving away from a teaching focus. The IANR Deans and Vice Chancellor consider what each of the departments need when considering hires. Teaching received a lot of support when Chancellor Green was Vice Chancellor and it will continue to receive high priority within the Institute. Individual concerns can be brought to the Vice Chancellor.
Meeting adjourned at 11:00am
Distributed electronically to the IANR Liaison Committee for review: Friday, September 9th, 2017