By Jerilyn S. McIntyre
We are currently putting the finishing touches on the 2003-04 academic year budget that was presented to the campus in May and approved by the Trustees in June. Your division and unit administrators will be letting you know the specific details as they affect your unit budgets, but I wanted to let you know some of the universitywide decisions we made to mitigate the impact of the budget cut this year.

As I announced previously, state officials responded to our impressive enrollment recovery by funding an additional 196 full-time equivalent students. They also authorized a tuition increase of 7 percent to offset the impact of reductions in state general fund allocations. The Board of Trustees followed the recommendation of the Budget Advisory Committee in approving a 7 percent increase in tuition for resident students. Finally, state officials targeted some of our funding to certain areas for specific policy reallocations. When all of this was added together, we began budget planning with a $1.2 million decrease from last year. We also identified several internal needs that we wanted to fund, totaling about $1.8 million. This included salary adjustments for employees farthest out of range from peer comparisons, collective bargaining costs, utility cost increases, disability support services, software maintenance, additional West waivers, and additional adjunct support. To accommodate the cut in the state general fund and to address these internal needs, we faced an overall budget cut of approximately 5 percent.

A budget cut of that magnitude obviously was not desirable, so we first began to look for cost-cutting and revenue-generating ideas that would soften the impact. We offered a retirement incentive package to all employees and a cyclic-leave option to exempt employees. We assessed a long-overdue administrative surcharge to auxiliary programs. We asked qualified exempt employees to teach classes without pay as part of their regular assignment. And, because the impact of the budget cut is most acute in the first year of the biennium and the revenue-generating activities will not have an effect until the second year of the biennium, we also reviewed all sources of one-time funding available to the university to provide some relief during the coming academic year.

Several other events combined to provide additional sources of revenue. We had begun budget planning with an estimated annual average enrollment of 8,000 FTE. Projected enrollments later indicated that we could plan on and base our enrollment on at least 8,300 FTE. We also received funding for additional FTE through proposals submitted to the Office of Financial Management and the Higher Education Coordinating Board.

When all of these sources of revenue and cuts were totaled, it appeared that we needed to ask each division to cut its budget by approximately 1.5 percent with the understanding that the revenue that was generated by the cut would support the internal needs we'd identified and would provide a small pool of money for reallocation to units that were most in need of additional support. Each division provided a budget request letter in which the division's needs were detailed. It was clear that the increased student FTE would place the greatest additional burden on academic affairs and student affairs, so those two divisions received proportionally greater enhancements to their budgets than the others. However, each division did receive at least some additional funding.

Long-Term Planning and Transforming the University
I am not satisfied with short-term solutions and am aggressively working with the cabinet to develop long-term plans that will allow us to maintain the quality of our work under increasingly common budgetary constraints and to bring about the transformation of the university that I described to the campus earlier this year.

I will be speaking in greater detail about the plans to transform the university in several venues during the coming year, but I want to mention three important guiding principles for this planning. First, CWU has always been responsive to the state's need to educate its citizens, and it is important that we continue to be. While Washington state has a large and very successful community college system, it lags far behind other states in the percentage of citizens who matriculate to baccalaureate degree programs. What has been primarily an embarrassment in the past has grown into a true economic handicap. In addition, we have many students knocking at the doors of higher education and finding that access is increasingly restricted. It is for this reason that I have announced that CWU will do its part by setting an enrollment goal of 10,000 FTE (8,000 on the Ellensburg campus and 2,000 at the university centers) by 2010.

Second, divisions, individual units, and departments at CWU have had a tendency to work in isolation from each other. Not only does this mean that important activities and outcomes are not shared with the rest of the university community, but it also means that there is a great deal of duplication of effort. It is for this reason that I have asked members of the cabinet to look carefully not only within their divisions but also across divisions to find areas where multidisciplinary and multidivisional cooperation could improve service to students and the state and could free up resources that could be turned to other initiatives. One example is CWU's impressive activity in the area of civic engagement. Clearly this is a center of excellence for our institution, and yet this work is currently split among several units, departments, and divisions with minimal coordination. I've asked the vice presidents to take a look at how we could look more holistically at this and other important initiatives.

Last, we often are caught unprepared when state or federal level opportunities for additional funding are announced. We haven't developed a short list of the most important enhancements we'd undertake if money were available, and we often don't know what these enhancements would cost. We'll spend part of this year engaged in developing long-range plans for academic and student life programs and in completing a cost study that allows us to know, within reasonable variation, the cost of these program enhancements.

The Capital Budget
We are excited that the second phase of the new music education facility was funded and that we will now be able to build the two phases seamlessly and open them simultaneously. We also received approval and just broke ground for the Highline Community College/CWU-Des Moines (currently CWU-SeaTac) higher education center on the Highline campus. Other smaller projects also were funded in this budget cycle. Now we need to turn our attention to updating our master plan -- a project which the Campus Site and Development and Master Planning Committee is undertaking during this year -- and to finding solutions for other space needs on the campus and at our centers. Of greatest importance in the short term will be decisions about how Dean and Hertz halls and the SUB will be used to fill emerging needs.

Summary and a Look Ahead
Just as we to put budget discussions for the 2003-05 biennium behind us, the 2005-07 biennial budget request process is already beginning. Proposals must be forwarded to the Board of Trustees for approval in May 2004. Therefore, the vice presidents and I will soon be asking our divisions to develop proposals for program and space additions and enhancements that will help us develop priorities for the 2005-07 operating and capital budget requests. Unit and departments heads will be hearing more about this in the very near future.

For the time being, however, I hope you join me in looking forward to the beginning of the 2003-2004 academic year and the opportunities and accomplishments it will bring.

Central Washington University's board of trustees has authorized the naming of the CWU Library for Dr. James E. Brooks.

At just 35 years old, Brooks became CWU president in 1961, serving in that capacity through 1978. He points out that the library being named in his honor "was planned, built and opened during my administration."

Brooks graduated from the then-Central Washington College of Education with bachelor's degrees in education and geography in 1949. He is the only Central graduate appointed to the president's post.

He was president during the institution's name changes to Central Washington State College in 1961 and to Central Washington University in 1977. After stepping down as president, Brooks continued as a member of the university's geography and land studies faculty through 1993.

Brooks also taught geography and geology at Eastern Washington University and Portland State University (PSU), served as assistant to the president at PSU and was interim president at Yakima Valley Community College.

CWU President Jerilyn S. McIntyre says: "This honor is richly deserved. In the president's office and within the faculty, Dr. Brooks has made numerous vital contributions to this institution. It's also appropriate given his key role in Friends of the Library (FOL), which has been of great service to the university's Library."

Central Washington University's board of trustees has authorized the renaming of Tower Theatre for Dr. Milo L. Smith, the founder and, for 15 years, chair of the university's theatre arts department.

Smith joined the CWU faculty in 1956, serving for nine years as a one-person department of speech and drama. In his 35 years at Central, Smith produced 55 shows and initiated the children's theatre program, taking plays to neighboring communities. Along with Dr. Wayne S. Hertz, the long-time chair of Central's music department, Smith directed and produced eight Broadway musicals and several operas, both short and full-length.

Smith is also credited with development of the Tower Theatre. During a 1980 remodel of McConnell Auditorium, to incorporate the then-named drama department, no new performance space was included.

Since Smith had several years of experience directing and equipping arena theatres at Stanford University and the University of Oregon, he served as the elected project manager and in-house designer, working with the professional architects. Through his efforts, a flexible performance venue was added to the plan. He retired from the university in 1989.

CWU President Jerilyn S. McIntyre says: "Dr. Smith had the foresight and vision to see that the university's theatre arts department would grow and that more performance space would be needed to accommodate additional students. This acknowledgment of his exceptional efforts has been a long time in the works, and I am glad to see it now come to fruition."

To prepare new students for the 2003-04 academic year, Central Washington University will host Wildcat Welcome Weekend Sept. 19-22.

The weekend's events assist incoming freshmen with "their academic, social and personal transition to college," Dawn Melton, associate director of university housing and new student programs, said.

Wildcat Welcome Weekend begins with residence hall check-in on Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., to be held in conjunction with a student and family picnic. From noon to 4 p.m., CWU students and their families may then tour Ellensburg to learn about its history and explore its downtown business district.

Saturday's agenda includes a welcome by CWU President Jerilyn S. McIntyre in Nicholson Pavilion at 10 a.m., followed by a keynote address by Derek Greenfield, the founder and senior consultant of Visions for Organizations and Individuals to Create Effective Solutions (VOICES).

Students are then invited to a tailgate lunch sponsored by Dining Services and the Wildcat football game against Western New Mexico at 1 p.m. in Tomlinson Stadium.

Following the game Saturday evening, the Super SUB Night will allow students to play casino games, pitch baseballs against a radar gun, dance and sing karaoke.

On Sunday, students attend a series of workshops designed to help them get academically connected with one of the four colleges on campus, learn basic budgeting principles, attend one of a variety of mind, body, spirit sessions; and find out how to get involved on campus.

The weekend culminates Monday morning with students attending three educational sessions including their first "University 101" class.

PARTNERS IN EDUCATION OPEN NEW YAKIMA DECCIO CENTER

Through an ongoing partnership between Yakima Valley Community College (YVCC), Central Washington University and Washington State University, Yakima Valley students now can more easily earn bachelor's and master's degrees, and certificates.

A grand opening and open house for the Deccio Higher Education Center was held Sept. 8 on the YVCC campus in Yakima. Gov. Gary Locke was the keynote speaker. CWU President Jerilyn S. McIntyre, YVCC President Linda J. Kaminski, WSU Tri-Cities Chancellor Larry James and state Senator Alex Deccio, for whom the building is named, also made brief remarks.

The state-of-the-art facility features 11 distance education classrooms, two video conference rooms and eight shared computer classrooms/laboratories, student support services, and faculty office and meeting space. It provides for optimal space utilization and a coordination of services between the three higher education institutions.

The higher education center responds to the needs of time- and place-bound students from the Yakima Valley wanting to earn a degree locally because of family or employment considerations. Students may complete their two-year transfer degrees at YVCC and then continue toward baccalaureate and master's degrees through CWU-Yakima and WSU.

The Washington state House and Senate authorized $16.5 million for the project in the state's 2001-03 biennial budget. Planning for the center began in 1996. Classes begin for YVCC and CWU on Sept. 22 and Sept. 24 respectively. WSU classes began Aug. 25.

ADDITIONAL TRANSFER STUDENTS TO STUDY AT CWU

Through a new $1.26 million two-year appropriation, 81 additional transfer students will be able to pursue bachelor's degrees during the 2003-04 academic year in law and justice, accounting, business administration and general studies/social science from Central Washington University at CWU-Lynnwood or CWU-SeaTac.

"Transfer student demand for upper-division access at higher education centers has never been higher," Dr. Linda Beath, CWU associate vice president for undergraduate studies, says. "Our close partnerships with community colleges and our focus on transfer students have taught us how to make transfer and articulation as smooth as possible for students."

The money, from the Office of Financial Management (OFM), will also allow a new group of 25 students into a bachelor's degree program in education at Green River Community College (GRCC), Auburn. The two-year program, called "Project TEACH" (Teacher Education Alliance of College and High Schools), allows students with an associate of arts degree to take classes in education, science and math on the GRCC campus.

"Students who complete the program earn a bachelor's degree in elementary education with a science minor and meet the state qualification for the award of a kindergarten through 8th grade teaching certificate," Beath notes. "The program is intended to establish a model of how community colleges, working with their K-12 and university partners, can enhance the recruitment and preparation of future teachers."

CWU NAMES NEW DEAN

Dr. Thomas M. Peischl has been appointed as Dean of Library Services at Central Washington University, according to Provost David Soltz. Peischl will begin on or before Nov. 1.

Peischl earned his Ed.D. in education administration from the University of Northern Colorado. He earned an M.Ed. in special education from Temple University, an M.A. in library and information science, University of Denver, and a B.A. in history and psychology, Susquehanna University.

He joins CWU from the University of Wisconsin-Parkside, where he was Associate Vice Chancellor for Information Services and Chief Information Officer. Peischl has more than 20 years of university experience at the level of dean or director of library and information services. He has more than 25 professional presentations and publications, and has served in several leadership roles for the American Library Association and the Association of College and Research Libraries.

Peischl was selected from a very strong pool of four finalists for the position, Soltz said.

CWU EMPLOYEES

Civil Service new hires:
Marilyn Allred, Patient Services Representative, Health, Counseling & Wellness; Marion Andrin, Information Tech Systems Specialist I, Auxiliary Services Computing; Sara Bachman-Rhodes, Early Childhood Program Specialist, Early Childhood Learning Center; Cheryl Campbell, Patient Services Representative, Health, Counseling & Wellness; Jennifer Gaskill, Office Assistant II, Teacher Certification; Tracy Miller, Office Assistant III, Alumni Relations; Lisa Pannell, Cashier II, Student Financial Services; Phillip Patzik, Info Tech Applications Specialist III, Information Technology Services; Joanne Perez, Fiscal Technician III, Diversity Education & Center for Student Empowerment; Christy Raby, Food Service Supervisor I, Dining Services; Toby Sawyer, Credentials Evaluator II, Registrar Services; Richard Spencer, Electronic Media Producer I, Academic Computing; Judith Thomas, Cashier I, Student Financial Services; Angela Wedekind, Program Coordinator, Career Services; and Don Williamson, Scientific Instructional Tech II, Physics.

Civil Service job changes:
Chery Callecod, Office Assistant III, Enterprise InformationSystems; Cathy Fyall, Secretary Senior, Campus Life; and Gary Gleason, Construction Inspector, Facilities Management.

CWU ENROLLMENT UPSWING VALIDATED IN NATIONAL RANKING

For the third consecutive year, Central Washington University is on the verge of enrolling its largest incoming class ever. An estimated 1,350 freshman will begin their studies on the Ellensburg campus beginning Sept. 24.

"This year's freshmen also appear to be the most academically talented, based on grade point average, and ethnically diverse in school history," Dr. Jerilyn S. McIntyre, CWU president, says.

CWU's enrollment renaissance, in terms of size and quality, is reflected in the recognition it's receiving, including in the U.S. News and World Report 2004 edition of "America's Best Colleges."

In the national magazine, Central was listed among the top 12 public master's-degree-granting universities in the West.

"I'm pleased with the recognition we are receiving," McIntyre adds. "We've long had an excellent faculty and staff, and what I find most encouraging is Central is now a school of first choice among top high school students."

The rankings were based on a variety of criteria including academic reputation, student selectivity and retention, faculty resources and financial resources.

CWU REMEMBERS MARY JO ANNE COMSTOCK

Mary Jo (Lien) Comstock, 68, passed away Tuesday, Sept. 9 in Seattle with her family at her side. She was the wife of Dr. Dale Comstock, a Central Washington University professor emeritus of mathematics.

Born May 5, 1935, in Alexandria, Minn., she entered CWU in 1953 and, after raising two sons, graduated in 1980 with a bachelor's degree in family studies. The Comstocks were married Aug. 18, 1956, and they have made their home in Ellensburg since 1964.

Mary Jo spent 12 years on the CWU staff as an office assistant in the personnel and benefits office and secretary senior in the then College of Letters, Arts and Sciences before retiring May 16, 1997.

She is survived by her husband Dale; sons, Mitchell (Jina) of North Bend and Bryan of Seattle; mother, Polly Lien of Chehalis; brothers, Dale (Polly) Lien of Olympia and Paul (Sherry) Lien of Lafayette, Colo.

Services for Comstock will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 18 at the Ellensburg United Methodist Church, 210 N. Ruby St., with a reception to follow.

Memorials may be made to the Comstock Fund, Central Washington University Foundation, 400 E. University Way, Ellensburg, Wash. 98926 or Lupus Foundation of America, Pacific Northwest Chapter, 1207 N. 200th St., Suite 214, Shoreline, Wash. 98133.

CWU AWARDED ALPHA LAMBDA DELTA MEMBERSHIP

Central Washington University is laying claim to having the first National Alpha Lambda Delta chapter in the state.

"Alpha Lambda Delta is an honor society that acknowledges academic excellence during a student's first year in college," Dr. Charlotte Tullos, CWU vice president for student affairs and enrollment management, says. "We hope that having a student chapter here will provide our freshman with the opportunity to establish lifelong friendships and work with other students who have serious academic interests."

Founded in 1924, Alpha Lambda Delta is one of the oldest and most prestigious honor societies in the nation. It now has more than 230 chapters across the U.S. and has initiated more than 650,000 student members.

Its mission is to encourage superior academic achievement, to promote intelligent living and a high standard of learning and to assist students in recognizing and developing meaningful goals in society. By inviting first-year students to become members, the honor society's goal is to encourage academic excellence throughout their university careers.

Typically, no more than 15 percent of the freshman class will qualify for membership. Members are eligible for a variety of local and national awards and programs, and more than $100,000 in available scholarships.

CWU PRESIDENT TO SERVE AS NATIONAL LEADER IN ALCOHOL/DRUG PREVENTION

The U.S. Department of Education's "Higher Education Center for Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention" has announced that Central Washington University President Jerilyn S. McIntyre has been selected to serve on its "Presidents Leadership Group" (PLG), a body of higher education presidents and chancellors who have made student substance abuse prevention a priority on their campuses.

Nine new members are joining the PLG, representing a diverse group of campuses from around the nation. The PLG expansion marks the continued commitment by the Higher Education Center to highlight and promote the critical role of presidential leadership in collegiate alcohol and other drug prevention.

"I'm committed to supporting a safe and healthy campus environment here at Central because I believe preventing high-risk alcohol and drug use is one of my major responsibilities as a university president," McIntyre says. "It's an honor to be part of the Presidents Leadership Group."

Officials from 45 campuses in 27 states now participate in PLG, which was formed by the Higher Education Center in 1997. That year, the six-member PLG published an alcohol prevention report urging college presidents to become more active leaders on this issue on their campuses and in their surrounding communities.

CWU JOB OPENINGS

Searches are under way for the following positions. You can access the CWU home page (www.cwu.edu/~hr/jobs) or the Job Line at (509) 963-1562.

Faculty:
Earth Materials/Mineralogy, Assistant Professor, 963-2801;
Foreign Language, Lecturer Pool (part time), 963-1218;
Mathematics, Lecturer, 963-2103;
Political Science, Visiting Assistant Professor, non-tenure track, 963-2408;
Reference Librarian (temporary, part time), Linda Busch, 963-1902.

Exempt:
Assistant Athletic Director for Business Affairs, Paula Romeo, 963-1914;
Financial Aid Counselor (two positions), Alice Fulleton, 963-3049;
GEAR UP Parent/Community Outreach Specialist, Laurie Stehle, 963-1250;
HEP Project Coordinator, Rosario Estrella, 574-6800, ext. 3262;
Senior Director of Development, Janet Davies, 963-2160;
Study Abroad Advisor, 963-3616.

Civil Service:
Accountant/Accountant, Principal/Accountant, Senior;
Drapery Fabricator, Oct. 6;
Human Resource Representative I, Sept. 30;
Medical Technician (temporary);
Registered Nurse (temporary);
Scientific Instructional Technician I/II, Sept. 25;
Student Administration Applications Trainer, Sept. 29.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18
Soccer: CWU women vs. Seattle University, 3 p.m., CWU field

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 19
Wildcat Welcome Weekend: For new CWU students, All day, various campus locations, through Sept. 22
Volleyball: CWU women vs. Seattle University, 7 p.m., Nicholson Pavilion

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 20
Ceremony: Cross Country: CWU Invitational, 10 a.m., Irene Rinehart Park
Football: CWU vs. Western New Mexico, 1 p.m., Tomlinson Field
Volleyball: CWU women vs. Northwest Nazarene, 7 p.m., Nicholson Pavilion

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23
Volleyball: CWU women vs. Warner Pacific, 7 p.m., Nicholson Pavilion

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24
Fall quarter classes begin
Recital: Mark Babbitt, trombone, 8 p.m., Hertz Auditorium

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25
Concert: Kairos Quartet, 8 p.m., Hertz Auditorium

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27
Volleyball: CWU women vs. Saint Martin's, 7 p.m., Nicholson Pavilion