APPROVED
MINUTES OF THE RC MANAGERS MEETING
August 29, 2013
9:00 a.m. – Noon, 107/108 Eagle Commons

Present:

B. Bailey, L. Campbell, P. Fackler, P. Frese, J. Foster, J. Geiger, D. Katis, T.
Latour, R. Nowaczyk, S. Puleio, R. Puller, C. Reber, D. Sobina, H. Tripp, T.
Varsek, and K. Whitney.

Minutes

The minutes of the RC Managers Meeting of August 1, 2013 were approved as
drafted.

Agenda Items
1.

Overview of FY13-14 Budget Issues
P. Fackler distributed copies of an overview of FY13-14 budget issues. He provided
information on the following:
a.

b.

c.

d.

e.

Budget Work – T. Varsek working to streamline budget processes; efforts may be
driven to some extent by SAP. Consideration being given to reducing the number
of fund centers. K. Whitney advised that extensive communication be done
regarding any changes.
Business Warehouse Update – M. Lavan heading up project which will use suite
of business intelligence software developed by PASSHE. Goal to implement by
end of year.
Audit – FINrpt to be completed by end of week. Deficit expected to be $6-7
million. System needs work but F&A will work with IT team to get necessary
data. P. Fackler agreed to bring the audited financials to a future RC Managers
meeting.
Budget Schedule – P. Fackler hopes to have budgets for RC Managers by end of
next week (September 6). Depends on ability to extract necessary data from
PeopleSoft. R. Nowaczyk agreed to provide information to F&A about special
cases, such as the CU/Edinboro arrangement.
BRIC Work – P. Frese noted faculty concerns that BRIC hadn’t met. RC
Managers advised that a meeting be convened soon. P. Fackler reviewed issues
for examination by BRIC that had been forwarded to F&A, including assessments,
sabbaticals, and transfer pricing. K. Whitney indicated that before PEC approved
any revised set of financial guidelines, the RC Managers would have an
opportunity to review and approve them. H. Tripp pointed out that the SCUPA
representation on BRIC as listed on P. Fackler’s handout should be revised to
delete the words “one faculty member” and replaced with “one person” since the
SCUPA union did not represent faculty. P. Fackler and L. Campbell will make the
change.

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K. Whitney asked RC Managers if there were any additional issues that BRIC
should consider. D. Katis noted that the peer group for Intercollegiate Athletics
included four private institutions. K. Whitney asked if BRIC should be looking at
the extent to which RCs contribute to recruitment and retention. P. Frese noted
problems with filling on-line and on-ground courses as well as faculty teaching
too many students. K. Whitney agreed that there seemed to be wide ranges of
productivity. Noting that on-line students, even those who are on campus, don’t
pay any Activity Fee, H. Tripp suggested that all students pay some kind of
Athletics Fee. K. Whitney asked that R. Nowaczyk and the deans take another
look at the system for pricing within PASSHE to identify possible opportunities
for Clarion.
ACTION: P. Fackler will bring audited financials to a future RC Managers
meeting.
ACTION: R. Nowaczyk will provide F&A with information on financial
arrangements for special cases such as the Clarion University/Edinboro
University agreement.
ACTION: The wording related to SCUPA representation on BRIC will be
revised to delete the reference to “one faculty member” and replace with
“one person.”
ACTION: RC Managers will forward to P. Fackler any additional issues
that should be reviewed by BRIC this year.
ACTION: R. Nowaczyk and the deans will re-examine the system for pricing
within PASSHE to identify possible opportunities for Clarion.
2.

Proposal for Budgeting Tuition and ISF revenues
P. Fackler shared a proposal for budgeting tuition and ISF revenues designed to allow
F&A to push revenue out to the RCs more quickly while still allowing for some
balancing. Members voiced no concerns about the proposal and agreed that the proposed
steps were a better approach.
ACTION: The proposal for budgeting tuition and ISF revenues was approved by
the RC Managers.

3.

Workforce Plan Update
K. Whitney welcomed Ray Puller, Interim Dean, College of Education and Human
Services, to the RC Managers group and thanked him for his service. R. Nowaczyk
provided an update on enrollment, noting that first to second year retention had improved
due to activities related to attendance reporting and Mapworks. K. Whitney noted the
need to provide concise information on what had contributed to the university’s retention

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gains. P. Facker suggested linking the gains to those colleges that had achieved them. K.
Whitney asked if a statement or policy on the role of faculty in recruitment were needed.
P. Frese suggested offering some examples of best practice in this area as a model that
might be adopted at Clarion. K. Whitney asked RC Managers to consider ways to engage
faculty in recruitment and retention.
K. Whitney credited the efforts of Student Financial Services under the leadership of
Ragan Griffin and those of Facilities personnel under Ric Taylor for the successful
consolidation of the financial aid and student accounts operations into a single location in
Carrier.
The discussion turned to communication about the workforce plan going forward. K.
Whitney asked what kind of information was needed. Members suggested more
meaningful information about deficits would be helpful as would greater detail about
plans to provide teacher education programs. J. Geiger suggested that once the workforce
plan was finalized, one-on-one meetings with media be used. H. Tripp noted the need to
promote Clarion’s leadership in areas such as specialized accreditations, partnerships, etc.