Greetings,

The Washington State Legislature has completed its budget deliberations and forwarded a budget to the governor for her signature. Particularly in light of the dire projections at the beginning of the legislative session, higher education was well treated in the operating budget.

New Enrollments: I am particularly pleased to report that the state will provide funding for 650 "new" students at CWU across the biennium -- 625 undergraduates and 25 graduate students. Although there is some confusion about the meaning of the term "new," budget documents suggest that we are expected to grow by 650 students on top of our state-funded enrollment, not our actual enrollment. Central received the largest proportion of new enrollments of any state baccalaureate institution. Legislators will raise support for these newly funded FTE from $5,342 to $6,303, reversing a decades-long decline in per-FTE funding.

Tuition Increases: This budget authorizes comprehensive regional institutions to increase resident undergraduate tuition by 6 percent and placed no restrictions on non-resident or graduate tuition. However, they did pull back 25 percent of the increased tuition into the state general fund. Said another way, the actual increase in our budget is 4.5 percent above current undergraduate tuition rates. While we would have preferred no "pullback," we are pleased that the conference committee reduced the amount from the Senate's 50 percent proposal to the finally adopted 25 percent.

Financial Aid: Legislators made it easier for families to qualify for the State Need Grant by increasing eligibility from 55 percent to 65 percent of median income.

Performance Indicators: In return for the richer per-FTE funding and tuition increases, the state expects CWU to improve time to degree, preserve access for low-income students, improve freshman retention rates, improve and sustain the quality of its degree programs, and improve its ability to prepare students for the workforce. Unlike the previous biennial budget, this budget does not target money for high demand programs.

Tuition Wavier Authority: Central's government relations team has advocated in the last two biennia for tuition waiver authority comparable to that of the other regional comprehensives in the state. We'd asked for an increase from the current level of 8 percent to a more equitable 11 percent. Although we received that authority in this legislative session, it was not funded. However, we are optimistic that the increased authorization level will strengthen our case for funding in the supplemental year or in the next biennium.

Salary Increases: We have been optimistic for some time now that legislators would hold firm on their intent to raise salaries for all state employees by 3.2 percent in the first year of the biennium and 1.6 percent in the second year. They have done so; however, we're still trying to sort out the implications of language that would make the raises effective on July 1 for all represented employees and on September 1 for non-represented employees.

Capital Budget: Our biggest disappointment in this biennial budget is the failure of legislators to provide construction money to renovate Dean Hall. We had been encouraged in previous biennia to ask for funding for Dean Hall and, in fact, had had to convince Legislators to shift funding from their top priority for CWU - Dean - to ours - the Music Building. Accordingly, planning and construction money for Dean Hall was our top major capital project this biennium. Further, when representatives of other state institutions got together to develop an integrated capital budget request, planning and construction money for Dean Hall was near the top of the list. Sadly, while we did receive planning money for this important project, we did not receive construction money. Dean Hall will continue to be a major priority for Central, but its completion will take a little longer than we'd hoped.

Altogether, CWU was awarded $21.5 million for capital improvements including, in addition to planning money for Dean, minor works preservation, minor works program, combined utilities, air quality upgrades to Nicholson Pavilion, and preventive facility maintenance and building system repair.

Summary: As always, we should be grateful to all of those on our campus who have worked with legislators and their staff to help them understand the needs of our campus and of higher education in general. I want to particularly thank Ann Anderson, Linda Schactler, Professor Jim Huckabay, and Jimmie Berto for coordinating our government relations effort and all of those on campus who were ready at a moment's notice to respond to data and information requests, to provide testimony, or to clarify our position in one-on-one meetings with legislative members and staff.

Jerilyn S. McIntyre
President

CWU faculty, staff and administrators who have retired or will retire between July 1, 2004, and June 30, 2005, will be the guests of honor at the 12th Annual Retiree Reception Thursday, May 5. CWU President Jerilyn S. McIntyre will host the gathering, which will include refreshments, from 3 to 5 p.m., in Barge 412. This year's 20 honorees are:

Faculty: Jim Brown, political science; Nancy Buergel, family and consumer sciences; Ken Calhoun, industrial engineering technology; Wayne Fairburn, business administration; Phillip Garrison, English; Sheldon Johnson, biology; and Thomas Yeh, library.

Exempt: Cecelia Calhoun, enterprise info systems; and Paula Romeo, athletics.

Civil Service: Vernon Bier, facilities management; Marie Clerf, facilities management; Christie Fevergeon, graduate studies and research; Linda Macdicken, health center; Kai Ng, dining services; Sharon Parker, art; John Randall, grounds and custodial; Waleeta Schwartz, president's residence; James Thomson, psychology; Charlene Watterson, dining services; and Cynthia Wilber, university store.

CWU is reducing watering around its Ellensburg campus, which will result in the saving of more than 10 million gallons of water during the summer.

"Central Washington University recognizes that the current drought situation is critical, especially for our agricultural neighbors in the Kittitas Valley," CWU President Jerilyn S. McIntyre says. "We want to do our part to conserve the water that is available."

CWU music student Charles (Chaz) Jacobus, from Maple Valley, died unexpectedly on April 19.

Members of the campus community are urged reach out to his close friends who are still grieving and music department faculty and staff who have also been profoundly affected by his death, along with other students and co-workers who may react -- inside or out of the classroom -- to topics such as death, the loss of a loved one, spirituality, crisis responses, or relationships in general.

The CWU Student Health, Counseling and Wellness Services (extension 1391 or 1881), Wildcat Wellness Center (x 3214), Student Affairs and Enrollment Management (x 1515), and Community Psychological Services Center (x 2501) are available to assist as needed and can provide information about referrals for services or consultation.

A team of CWU construction management students took top honors at this year's three-day Associated Schools of Construction (ASC) -- Associated General Contractors (AGC) National Student Competition.

The national competition involved six-person student teams who had to successfully estimate, bid, plan, schedule and design an actual construction project. The competing teams then formally present their work to a panel of construction industry judges.

The Central students placed first among the seven teams in the "Heavy-Civil" competition.

Central's winning team was comprised of six construction management seniors: Chad Webley, from Quincy; Clint Myers, Auburn; Nick Lupo, Bellingham; Ken Keck, Monroe; Kyle Smith, Montesano; and Ryan Heathers, Ellensburg.

For the win, the CWU students also received a $1,500 donation for the university's construction management program from Granite Construction, Inc., of Watsonville, Calif., which sponsored the competition.

The Adult Swimming Association University League (ASA U.) hosted its first National Swimming Championships in Houston Texas April 2. It is an association of student-run swim clubs from colleges and universities across the U.S.

The CWU Swim Club was among the participating teams. On the women's side, Central won 10 individual events, two relays and the team national team title.

CWU also placed fourth in the men's competition.

Greg Coles, information technology applications specialist, has been named the university's civil service "Employee of the Month" for March. Coles serves as is lead analyst for the PeopleSoft financial management system application for CWU information technology services.

During surprise ceremonies, Coles received a certificate and $100 from the president's discretionary fund, through the CWU civil service employee recognition program.

University students, faculty and staff, along with Ellensburg community members, are encouraged to make signed or anonymous nominations for employees of the month. Nomination forms are available from the CWU human resources office, employee council representatives and on-line at: www.cwu.edu/~hr/ec/index.html.

Matthew ALTMAN and Cynthia COE, philosophy, recently published an article "Willful History: Nietzsche, Nihilism, and the Possibility of Freedom" in the International Studies of Philosophy (XXXVI).

Michael BRAUNSTEIN and Sharon ROSELL, physics, attended the 2005 spring meeting of the Pacific Northwest Association for College Physics at the University of Portland, April 15 and 16. Braunstein presented a paper, "Demonstrating Chaos in a Sprott Circuit." Rosell served as treasurer of the organization.

Sarah BRITTO, law and justice, has had journal articles accepted for publication, including:

• Beck, E. and Britto, S. -- "Using Feminist Methods and Restorative Justice to Guide Sensitive Topic Interviews" in AFFILIA;
• Britto, M., Britto, S. and Collins, S. -- "Enhancing Consensus-Building with Technology" in Academic Exchange Quarterly; and
• Martin, K., Vieratis, L. and Britto, S. -- "Gender Equality and Women's Absolute Status: A Test of Feminist Models of Rape," in Violence Against Women.

Jim BROWN, political science, presented a paper, "Democracy, Bullshit, Political Science, and Dereliction of Duty," at the annual meeting of the Western Political Science Association in March in Oakland, Calif.

Yvonne CHAPMAN, law and justice, chaired a panel on juvenile courts and presented a paper, "Teen Courts and Restorative Justice," at the annual meeting of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences in Chicago, March 18.

"Nabob," a story by the contemporary Russian author Sergei Nosov, has just come out in TIN HOUSE literary journal. The story was translated by Dinara GEORGEOLIANI, foreign languages, and Mark HALPERIN, English (emeritus). Halperin took part in a panel on translation at the 2005 Associated Writing Programs (AWP) Conference in Vancouver B.C. In addition, Judith KLECK and Katherine WHITCOMB, English, were invited to present papers as part of the conference's pedagogy forum. Kleck and Whitcomb also both had papers accepted for publication in the annual Anthology of Pedagogy Papers, published by the AWP.

Karen GOOKIN, KLECK and Joseph POWELL, English, recently won second, first and third place, respectively, at the 11th annual Allied Arts Juried Poetry Contest, sponsored by Yakima's Allied Arts Council. Their works were selected from more than 300 entries from around the state. All three poets read their winning poems at the award banquet April 19 in Yakima.

Rae HEIMBECK, philosophy (emeritus), has published a new book "Asian Philosophy," co-edited with Forrest Baird, through Pearson Prentice Hall press. His book is sixth volume in the prestigious Walter Kaufmann's "Philosophic Classics."

Chenyang LI, philosophy, was an invited speaker at Academia Sinica, Taiwan, March 18, and at the University of Toronto, April 1. He has been awarded a visiting senior research fellowship for 2005-06 at the City University of Hong Kong.

Megan MATHESON, psychology, Lori SHEERAN, anthropology, and Steve WAGNER, biological sciences, presented a paper at the 58th Annual Meeting of the Northwest Anthropological Conference, in Spokane in March. The paper was titled "Preliminary Analysis of Aggression and Monkey-Human Interactions in Habituated Tibetan Macaques (Macaca thibetana), Huangshan, China." They also presented a poster at the joint meeting of the Oregon Wildlife Society and Society for Northwestern Vertebrate Biology held in Corvallis, Ore., in February. It was titled "Amphibian Biodiversity and Primate Conservation Research in Huangshan (Yellow Mountains, China)."

J. Michael OLIVERO, Jim ROBERTS (law and justice) and 2004 CWU graduate Chris TREVINO, from Quincy, have published a paper, "Domestic Violence: Dyadic Death," in the National Social Science Journal, which is the official journal of the National Social Science Association.

Charles REASONS, law and justice, presented a paper in February titled "Murder and Inequality In Canada and the United States" at the annual meeting of the Western Society of Criminology in Honolulu.

Christopher SCHEDLER, English, presented a paper titled "Migratory Modernism: Mariano Azuela's Los de abajo (The Underdogs)" at the Pacific Northwest American Studies Association annual conference in Portland, Ore., April 14-16.

Key SUN, law and justice, had a poster, titled "Anxiety reduction, interaction schemas, and negative cognitions about the self," accepted for presentation at the 2005 Convention of American Psychological Society in Los Angeles.

Senior Melissa THOMPSON, a Douglas Honors College (DHC) student double majoring in music performance and mathematics, has been selected for an eight-week National Science Foundation fellowship for research in mathematics at Texas A & M University this summer. The nationally competitive fellowship covers all expenses and travel. Thompson, from Mill Creek, the principal flutist in the CWU symphony orchestra, was inducted to Phi Kappa Phi last spring and is also a member of the DHC Graduate Prep Program.

SHARED LEAVE NEEDED

Mike Surginer, Brooks Library electronic resources and systems specialist, is in need of shared leave donations. If you have leave you can't use, consider donating your leave.

Leave can be donated to those out because of serious accident or illness. Without significantly increasing the cost to the state for leave, the purpose of the leave-sharing program is to permit state employees to come to the aid of another state employee:
1.   who is suffering from or has a relative or household member suffering from an extraordinary or severe illness, injury, impairment, or physical or mental condition; or,
2.   who has been called to service in the uniformed services; and,
3.   where the fact of either 1) or 2) has caused or is likely to cause the employee to take leave without pay or terminate his or her employment.

You may donate annual leave, accrued sick leave, or personal holiday.

• Donations are normally processed in blocks of eight hours, with a minimum total donation of eight hours required;
• Do not contribute annual leave hours which would reduce your balance to less than 10 days (80 hours), or the prorated equivalent if you are less than full time, or contribute any excess annual leave hours that you would otherwise be unable to use because of an approaching anniversary date;
• Do not contribute accrued sick leave hours that would reduce your balance to less than 167 hours. (Exempt employees on the sick leave accrual plan are the only exempt employees who are eligible to contribute sick leave. Disability Leave Bank hours may not be counted toward the minimum balance or donated for Shared Leave use.); and,
• All or part of your personal holiday may be donated.

The shared leave donation form can be downloaded from the HR forms section of the Human Resources home page: http://www.cwu.edu/~hr/index.html or requested from the HR office by calling 1202. Requests to donate leave must be approved by your supervisor before forwarding to HR and are subject to approval by your department head and Human Resources.

NEW LIBRARY RESOURCE: STANDARD & POORS NETADVANTAGE

The CWU Brooks Library has a new electronic resource available to students, faculty, and staff. Standard & Poors NetAdvantage is a comprehensive source of business and investment information from Standard & Poor's research products: corporate records, stock reports, industry survey, register, outlook, stock guide, bond guide, earning guide, dividend record and mutual fund reports.

You can access the resource from the library's databases page: http://www.lib.cwu.edu/databases/

CINCO DE MAYO CELEBRATION AT CENTRAL

CWU Dining Services will host the annual Cinco de Mayo dinner Thursday, May 5, at Tunstall East Dining Hall. The fiesta will be served from 4:30 to 7 p.m. and also extended through Late Night Snack at Tunstalluntil 9 p.m.

The price is $9.26 (for CWU meal plans, including debit plans), $10.50 cash and children $5.25.

SYMPOSIUM ON UNIVERSITY RESEARCH AND CREATIVE EXPRESSION

Organizers are seeking faculty, staff and student volunteers for judging, chairing sessions, and providing general conference support for the first CWU Symposium on University Research and Creative Expression. If you would like to volunteer for the event on Thursday, May 19, contact Pat Lubinski at lubinski@cwu.edu.

The conference will provide a university-wide forum for presentation of research and other scholarly works by undergraduate and graduate students, faculty and staff.

DAMON WAYANS TICKETS NOW ON SALE

Tickets are now available for a stand-up and improvisational comedy performance by Damon Wayans, who will be the featured performer at Central's homecoming on Saturday, Oct. 22.

Wayans' long list of television and movie credits include the current ABC hit "My Wife and Kids," "Saturday Night Live" and the critically acclaimed Emmy Award-winning series "In Living Color," "Mo 'Money," "Beverly Hills Cop" and Spike Lee's "Bamboozled."

Tickets are $25 for CWU students, $35 general admission and $45 for reserved floor seating. They are available at the Recreation Ticket Counter in the CWU Samuelson Union Building's recreation ticket counter, Jerrol's Book and Supply Co. in Ellensburg or by phone at (509) 963-3513. Reserved tickets are available only at the SUB or by phone.

CWU EMPLOYEES

Civil Service new hires: Andrea Finnegan, Program Assistant, Purchasing; Kathleen Sheldon, Credentials Evaluator II, Registrar Office; Corey Sinclair, Recreation Coordinator Supervisor, University Recreation; Malbert Stewman, Program Support Supervisor I, Center for Student Empowerment; Jo Ann Ryan, Program Assistant, Student Employment; Mari Knirck, Library Specialist I, Library.

Civil Service job changes: Debra Thomas, Secretary Senior, Mathematics; Jennifer Ryder, Library Specialist I - Cataloging, Library; Traci Seely, Secretary Senior, Athletics.

Exempt new hires: Mandy Hanousek, Development Officer, University Relations.

To view current job openings at CWU, go to http://www.cwu.edu/~hr/jobs/index.html.

Sunday, May 1
Piano recital: Ian Houghton, 2 p.m., Music Building Concert Hall
Voice Recital: Jennie Greene, 4 p.m., Music Building Recital Hall

Monday, May 2
Presentation: Dr. Wu Guoguang, "China's Political Initiatives: Retrospect and Prospect," 3 p.m., Grupe Center

Tuesday, May 3
Joint Student Recital: Lyndi Suydam and Autumn Wilson, 7 p.m., Music Building Recital Hall
Presentation: Don McPherson, "You throw like a girl!" 7 p.m., SUB) Ballroom
Presentation: Dr. Subhash Singhal, "Fuel Cells for Clean and Efficient Power Generation," 7 p.m., Hertz Hall.

Wednesday, May 4
String and Piano Quartet: 7 p.m., Music Building Recital Hall

Thursday, May 5
Student Viola Recital: Rebecca Hindmarsh, 8 p.m., Music Building Recital Hall

Friday, May 6
"Topping-Off Ceremony": 11:30 a.m., Student Union and Recreation Center
Glass Artwork Post-Installation Ceremony: 5 p.m., Music Building Grand Foyer
Student Saxophone Recital: Bryan Drassal, 6 p.m., Music Building Recital Hall
Social Forum: Angela Davis, "Global Resistance to Global Capitalism: Reformulating Race, Class, and Gender in the 21st Century," 7 p.m., Music Building Concert Hall

Saturday, May 7
Track and Field: Great Northwest Athletic Conference championships, 10 a.m., Tomlinson Stadium
Flute Recital: Erin Menke, 1 p.m., Music Building Recital Hall
Flute Recital: Stephanie Miller, 3 p.m., Music Building Recital Hall
Flute Recital: Brooke Logan, 5 p.m., Music Building Recital Hall
Flute Recital: Virginia Queeno, 7 p.m., Music Building Recital Hall

Sunday, May 8
Joint Flute Recital: Armando Surita and Ninee Petchprapa, 3 p.m., Music Building Recital Hall

Monday, May 9
Continuing Education: "Wine Industry Marketing and Public Relations Conference"
Disability Awareness Week 2005: American Sign Language Demonstration/ "Understanding the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Community," 2 p.m., SUB Yakama Room

Tuesday, May 10
Continuing Education: "Wine Industry Marketing and Public Relations Conference"
Disability Awareness Week 2005: American Hippotherapy Association presentation (equine-assisted activities for persons with disabilities), 10 a.m. and noon, SUB Yakama Room
Disability Awareness Week 2005: "Living with Disabilities, Active in the Community," 2 p.m, SUB Yakima Room
Contemporary Music Ensemble: 7 p.m., Music Building Recital Hall

Wednesday, May 11
Disability Awareness Week 2005: "Is There Life After Highschool?" (high school transition conference), 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. SUB Theatre
Disability Awareness Week 2005: National Alliance for Mental Illness presentation, 1 p.m., SUB Yakama Room
Violin Recital: Heather Hart, 7 p.m., Music Building Recital Hall

Thursday, May 12
Disability Awareness Week 2005: "Paws with a Cause" (canine assistance program) presentation, 9 a.m., SUB Yakama Room
Disability Awareness Week 2005 Keynote Speaker: 911 survivors Mike Hingson and his seeing-eye dog, Roselle, 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. SUB Theatre
Chamber Winds Concert: 7 p.m., Music Building Recital Hall
Health Career Fair Special Evening Program: "Critical Issues in Health Careers and Healthy Communities -- You Can Make a Difference!" 7 p.m., Science Building 147
Theatre: "Frankenstein," 7 p.m., McConnell Auditorium, $14 general, $12 seniors, $10 students

Friday, May 13
Disability Awareness Week 2005: Community resources presentation, 11 a.m., Black 201
Disability Awareness Week 2005: "Dealing with AD/HD," 11 a.m., Hertz 119
Jazz Band and Orchesis: 7 p.m., Music Building Concert Hall
Theatre: "Frankenstein," 8 p.m., McConnell Auditorium, $14 general, $12 seniors, $10 students

Saturday, May 14
Student Voice Recital: Holly Hooper, noon, Music Building Recital Hall
Flute Recital: Suzanne Carr, 2:30 p.m., Music Building Recital Hall
Trombone Recital: Chris Vitale, 5 p.m., Music Building Recital Hall
Piano Recital: John Pickett, 7 p.m., Music Building Concert Hall
Theatre: "Frankenstein," 8 p.m., McConnell Auditorium, $14 general, $12 seniors, $10 students

Sunday, May 15
Voice Recital: Rani Weatherby, 1 p.m., Music Building Recital Hall
Farrell Flute Recital: Katherine Geis, 2 p.m., Music Building, Choir Room 153
Theatre: "Frankenstein," 2 p.m., McConnell Auditorium, $8 all seats
Recital: Stephanie Miller, 3 p.m., Music Building Recital Hall
Faculty Piano Recital: John Pickett, 4 p.m., Music Building Concert Hall
Voice Recital: Jed Allen, 7 p.m., Music Building Recital Hall

Monday, May 16
Sax Nite: 7 p.m., Music Building Recital Hall

Tuesday, May 17
Saxophone Recital: Adam Pelandini, 7 p.m., Music Building Recital Hall

Wednesday, May 18
Student Brass Quintet: 5 p.m., Music Building Recital Hall
Saxophone Recital: Ben Petersen, 7 p.m., Music Building Recital Hall
Readings by Peace Corps Writers: Grupe Center 7pm

Thursday, May 19
Jazz Combo Nite: 7 p.m., Music Building Recital Hall
Theatre: "Frankenstein," 7 p.m., McConnell Auditorium, $14 general, $12 seniors, $10 students

Friday, May 20
Jazz Nite II: 7 p.m., Music Building Concert Hall
Theatre: "Frankenstein," 8 p.m., McConnell Auditorium, $14 general, $12 seniors, $10 students

Saturday, May 21
Piano Recital: Lauren Quock, noon, Music Building Recital Hall
Composition Recital: Stephen Lamm, 2 p.m., Music Building Recital Hall
Composition Recital: Eric Sumeri, 4 p.m., Music Building Recital Hall
Cello Recital: Lauren Rosenkranz Cello, 6 p.m., Music Building Recital Hall
Brian Crain Concert: 7 p.m., Music Building Concert Hall
Theatre: "Frankenstein," 8 p.m., McConnell Auditorium, $14 general, $12 seniors, $10 students

Sunday, May 22
Student Guitar Recital: Michael Edmondson, noon, Music Building Recital Hall
Percussion Recital: Allison Calhoun, 2:30 p.m., Music Building Recital Hall
Choral Concert: 4 p.m., Music Building Concert Hall
Violin Recital: Aundrea Schmidt, 7 p.m., Music Building Recital Hall

Monday, May 23
Voice Recital: William Thornton, 7 p.m., Music Building Recital Hall

Tuesday, May 24
Brass Blow-Out: 7 p.m., Music Building Concert Hall

Wednesday, May 25
Percussion Ensemble: 7 p.m., Music Building Concert Hall

Thursday, May 26
Symphonic Band Concert: 7 p.m., Music Building Concert Hall

Friday, May 27
Violin Recital: Joel Thoreson, 5 p.m., Music Building Recital Hall
Saxophone Recital: Stewart Merson, 7 p.m., Music Building Recital Hall

Monday, May 30
Percussion Recital: Mike Lewis, 7 p.m., Music Building Recital Hall

Tuesday, May 31
Chamber Orchestra Concert: 7 p.m., Music Building Concert Hall

For other May 2005 calendar items, visit: Campus Calendar