Associate Professor Andrew Winters, who is the former director of the doctor of social work program in UofL’s Raymond A. Kent School of Social Work and Family Science, was elected senate chair over the summer and formally assumed his responsibilities from outgoing chair, Eugene Mueller, at the senate’s Sept. 3 meeting.

“I am excited and honored to take on this responsibility,” said Winters, who previously served on the senate’s Redbook & Bylaws Committee. “I am a strong advocate of this body’s work and of shared governance. I learned a lot from the excellent work Eugene (Mueller) did during his time as senate chair, and I hope to carry that spirit forward during my term.”

Winters joined UofL’s faculty in 2018. During his time at the Kent School, he has worked on a breadth of research projects focused on improving youth outcomes, strengthening youth development practices at youth-serving organizations, challenging oppressive service delivery systems and critically evaluating organizational practices in child welfare.

Administrative search updates

• At the end of September, the search committee will begin reviewing submissions to fill the open position of executive vice president and university provost. See the for more information about the search.
• The search for the School of Music dean will not begin until the school’s accreditation process concludes in March 2026.

The next meeting of the University of Louisville Faculty Senate will take place Wednesday, Oct. 1, 3-5 p.m., Clinical Translational & Research Building, rooms 101/102, Health Sciences Campus. Senate meeting information, meeting minutes and committee reports are available on the .

First up was Bradley, who was unanimously voted president by the Board of Trustees on March 26. In his remarks, Bradley emphasized how “his heart is with UofL,” and that played a significant role in his decision to accept the appointment.

“I am excited about the future of our great university,” said Bradley, who joined UofL as dean of the School of Dentistry in August 2016 and served as provost in both interim and permanent roles since 2022. “We have fantastic people in place to keep our momentum going forward.”

Bradley, along with Faculty Senate President Eugene Mueller, Staff Senate President Kevin Ledford and Board Chair Diane Medley, fielded questions about changes in university leadership.

Mueller and Ledford said the timeline needed to conduct a national search (average 1.5 to 2 years) was not practical given the immediate needs of ongoing university initiatives.

“The constituent representatives on the board – Faculty Senate, Staff Senate and Student Government – were all fully involved in the process and stand by the measure,” said Mueller.

Bradley was appointed with a three-year contract, rather than the customary five-year contract. In two years, the Board of Trustees along with all appropriate shared governance mechanisms, will conduct a formal review of Bradley’s work.

“We have a strong leader in President Bradley, and we look forward to working with him,” added Medley.

In his remarks, Bradley said that there will be no major changes in policies or priorities from the previous administration. Those priorities include completion of the university’s current Strategic Plan and development of the new Strategic Plan, which will be introduced in early 2026. Growing student enrollment and retention are among other university goals.

When asked about the potential impacts of the recently passed (an act relating to diversity, equity and inclusion), Bradley said that the university is an agent of the state and must abide by the law. However, the university’s general counsel, along with the general counsels from several other Kentucky universities, is working with the state attorney general to get clarification on what the law requires.

Interim Provost Cardarelli echoed Bradley’s comments about the university’s current priorities. She added that student success is one of her priorities and wants to create initiatives that promote a shared understanding among faculty, staff and administrators of their respective roles to prioritize a meaningful and productive higher education experience for UofL’s students.

Cardarelli will also drive ongoing efforts to ensure that faculty compensation standards are competitive in today’s market.

Concerns about U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) efforts’ impact on UofL’s international students and faculty were raised at both meetings.

Paul Hofmann, associate vice provost for international affairs, addressed those concerns with Faculty Senate, and Cardarelli did so with the Staff Senate.

Recently, rumors circulated about ICE agents detaining international students on the Health Sciences Center Campus. Cardarelli and Hofmann said that these rumors were not true and noted that, if ICE were to come to any of the university’s campuses, they would first contact the University of Louisville Police Department.

The larger concern, according to Hofmann, is international students’ ability to return to the United States after traveling abroad, including those who travel as part of UofL-sponsored travel abroad programs. While a visa allows an individual to attempt to enter a country, it does not guarantee entry. The final decision on whether one is allowed to enter rests with the immigration officials at the port of entry.

The UofL International Center provides guidance to international students on how to best consider their decisions to travel abroad for personal, academic or professional reasons.

The next meeting of the University of Louisville Faculty Senate is Thursday, May 1, 3-5 p.m., Chao Auditorium, Ekstrom Library, Belknap Campus. Meeting minutes, committee reports, action items and other information are available on the .

The Staff Senate’s next meeting is Tuesday, May 13, at 2:30 p.m., on Teams. Meeting minutes, committee reports, action items and other information are available on the .

UofL News: Tell us a bit about your position as professor of chemistry. How did you land at UofL and what interests you in this work?

Eugene Mueller: I started at UofL in August of 2007 – they hired me away from the University of Delaware, and I remain very happy with my decision to come here. In regard to how I ended up in chemistry? Well, spring break of my freshman year I was working on a lab report in my sister’s unfinished basement, and I read that “molecules have to collide in order to react.” I had taken two years of high school chemistry and half a year of college chemistry, and I never thought about how reactions happen. I’ve been hooked ever since that moment. I wanted to continue to do the research and learn more, but a big and delightful surprise is that teaching has proven to be equally rewarding.

UofL News: What motivated you to pursue the role of Faculty Senate chair?

Mueller: I decided I had two choices: I could either become a curmudgeon who just complains about decisions, or I could try to put myself in a position to make the decisions better.

UofL News: The Faculty Senate is tasked with many responsibilities. Which responsibility is most consistently appreciated by the faculty, considering its impact on faculty culture.

Mueller: We approve and give close scrutiny to new academic programs, and our recommendations are then forwarded to the Board of Trustees. While it is just a recommendation, we help change and clarify roles of those programs. We also frequently have the ability to get modifications in other matters and policy when we are a part of the process early. A major thing the senate chair does is provide the faculty with an explanation of why certain decisions are reached.

UofL News: What would you say are some of the unique benefits and opportunities of your position?

Mueller: The best thing is to be able to help guide policy development. Also, some of the invitations I receive have the great advantage of what I call “soft advocacy.” For instance, at a recent football game I could talk with some other trustees about a few things that are coming down the pike, and enjoy the informal socialization of getting to know each other better for the times we do have formal meetings.

UofL News: What are some of the unique challenges?��

Mueller: The senate doesn’t make laws like the U.S. Senate. We are a part of governance, but for us that is mostly consultation, questioning and persuading the administration by voicing concerns. There are viewpoints which are very different between the appointed trustees versus the representative trustees. Some things, for example, from the budgetary point of view, may seem innocuous to appointed trustees, but they don’t seem that way to faculty. However, we can make a difference through persuasion, and that requires homework, analysis and good argument.

Much of what my predecessors and I have done is essentially invisible, taking place in confidential conversations. Often, all I can say to others is, “it’s not as bad as it might have been,” or “yes, that position was voiced,” but I cannot go into much more detail. In all cases when I have been bound by confidentiality, I feel the restriction on me to speak publicly was very reasonable. I’ve discovered that the administration and trustees really do want the staff, the faculty and the students to be happy here, to be productive. It’s something that’s very genuine. Exactly where priorities fall does not always please faculty, staff or students, and viewpoints are so different certainly for professional administrators who have not been faculty. But it’s an unavoidable fact that when someone puts on a new hat, their view changes because their responsibilities are so different. Yet, I have found the trustees and the administration very ready to listen. The tension of different viewpoints coming together is one reason it is called “shared governance.”

UofL News: Tell us something you have come to appreciate about the faculty culture here at UofL.

Mueller: I have been really impressed by how many of my colleagues are willing and ready to serve, and do it in a very reasonable and productive manner.

UofL News: What do you personally hope to accomplish for the faculty at UofL through your position?

Mueller:

• I am hoping for a more structured and lasting method of consultation before major decisions are taken. In particular, I hope for the development of the annual budget to include a broader consultation of more senators.
• Regarding presidential searches, the Redbook specifies an advisory committee made up of an elected faculty member from each school, but “it shall be consulted” is all it says. So, amending and clarifying that language is a current work in progress.
• I aim to spread the culture of consultation to campus construction projects, giving more thought to the impact on pedestrians and traffic.

UofL News: What is an element of Faculty Senate that you wish people better understood?

Mueller: I wish people understood that the senate represents all the faculty, including junior faculty, part-time faculty and part-time lecturers. They can talk to their senators or to me if there is a problem, because we can be proactive. The summaries of our meetings are beneficial and informative for any faculty to read. While in my position, I would like as much input as possible.

To learn more about the Faculty Senate, visit .

The is a rebranding of the Bachelor of Science in chemistry – biochemistry track program. This four-year undergraduate program will continue the interdisciplinary nature of the current biochemistry track with altered chemistry and biology course requirements to give students more options than the current B.S. chemistry program. Program Director Craig Grapperhaus said the new program considers the increase in demand for biochemistry studies as well as the lack of competition for such programs within Kentucky.

Associate Professor Martin O’Toole reported that the will be a joint program between the J.B. Speed School of Engineering and the School of Public Health and Information Sciences. The online program will appeal to students with undergraduate degrees in engineering or public health as well as health care professionals who want to learn how to manage complex amounts of medical and public health data sets.

To meet the increasing workforce demand in Kentucky’s industrial base, the will fill the gap between traditional four-year engineering and two-year technician programs. Program Director Thomas Rockaway said the program will emphasize applied math and science skills directly relatable to industry. Some common job titles for applied engineering graduates include product development, manufacturing, product testing, technical sales and field service.

Provost Report��

Interim Provost Gerry Bradley presented the following leadership search updates.

• Dean of the College of ����ֱ�� and Human Development: Search committee appointment letters have been sent. The committee will be charged in mid-January.
• Dean of the School of Nursing: Semi-finalists have been selected. Semi-finalist interviews are scheduled for mid-January.
• Dean of the College of Business: This dean search has been rescheduled to begin spring 2024.
• Dean of the School of Medicine & EVP for Health Affairs: Search firm recently conducted stakeholder interviews on campus. This will be a combined role where the dean will also serve as the next executive vice president for health affairs. Names of faculty elected to the search committee have been submitted to the provost.
• Vice Provost for ITS & Chief Information Officer: The position profile has been posted. There has been significant interest in the position, and the search committee is reviewing candidates.��

Bradley also reported that the new Strategic Enrollment and Retention Committee (SERC), which was created in August 2023, now has 17 members representing several facets of university operations with more members to be invited once subcommittees are established. The SERC will determine how to best update the 2018 Strategic Enrollment Management Plan so that it covers all key actions needed for the university to reach its new and aggressive student growth plans.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) continues to demand attention from higher education. Formally charged in August 2023, UofL’s Committee on the Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence in UofL Academics now has a full complement of committee, subcommittee and steering committee members. The committee is assessing the potential applications and impact of ChatGPT and generative AI in academics and undergraduate/graduate student research at UofL. Bradley said that the committee is expected to complete its work and submit final recommendations in spring 2024.��

Other Faculty Senate News��

• Faculty Senate Chair Eugene Mueller reported that he and other faculty are exploring opportunities for formalizing Faculty Senate input on university budget decisions. University President Kim Schatzel said that she is fully supportive of this effort because it strengthens the university’s commitment to shared governance and transparency. Further details are forthcoming.
• Kevin Gardner, executive vice president for research and innovation, reported that the Research and Innovation Strategic Plan is in development and expects the plan to be ready to present by March 2024.��

Due to the holiday break, the January 2024 Faculty Senate meeting will take place Wednesday, Jan. 10, rather than Jan. 3. See the for meeting minutes, committee reports and other information.����

UofL is conducting the study in partnership with Segal, a human resources consulting firm with expertise in higher education, to provide fair and equitable faculty (nonclinical) and staff compensation programs as identified in the university’s 2019-22 strategic plan. The university will use the results of this study to:

• Provide opportunities for career development and advancement;
• Provide a comprehensive and competitive compensation and benefits package; and
• Follow “best practice” philosophy and align the university’s job and pay structure with the market.

According to Mary Elizabeth Miles, vice president for human resources, the two-year evaluation is on schedule to finish in July, at which time the committees will report findings to university vice presidents, deans and vice provosts for implementation strategies. Cherie Dawson-Edwards, vice provost for faculty affairs and an associate professor for the Department of Criminal Justice, added that the market assessment for the faculty portion of the study will finish in March and noted that the study only considers faculty base pay – not administrative supplements.

Learn more on the Compensation and Total Rewards Study .

Col. Steven Green, director of public safety and chief of the University of Louisville Police Department (ULPD), provided an update on department initiatives. Green said that more RAVE alerts are being sent due to a recent decision to include incidences of crime on the outskirts of UofL’s campuses. While on-campus crime rates remain stable, ULPD felt it important that visitors to/from campuses be made aware of any safety concerns in the immediate areas.

Learn more about ULPD services on the department’s .

In other action …

• The senate approved a measure to close the Master of Arts degree in teaching of art history due to lack of enrollment. There are no students currently enrolled in the program, so no teach-out plan is necessary.
• Senator Michael Cunningham introduced a matter to consider revision of Red Book rules that apply to how faculty are consulted in the selection of university senior administrators. The Red Book Committee will consider the matter.
• Senate President Eugene Mueller asked senators to send him their thoughts on how to address the emergence of artificial intelligence-generated programs, such as Chat GTP.

Committee reports and other information from the March 1, 2023, UofL Faculty Senate meeting are available on the senate’s . The next meeting of the UofL Faculty Senate will take place Wednesday, April 5, at 3 p.m. in the Elaine Chao Auditorium, Ekstrom Library, Belknap Campus.

“Shared governance is a critical part of the University of Louisville’s success,” said Schatzel. “I want to assure you that I am deeply committed to considering the opinions of this group as we make decisions about the future of our university.”

Fostering a culture of success for students is among her priorities. Doing so, according to Schatzel, takes a “high-tech and high-touch” approach – one that considers data analysis, student advising, accessibility to classes and services, peer-to-peer tutoring and other factors. As she considers that and other initiatives, Schatzel said she will “listen widely” to make the most informed decisions.

See the president’s for more information about President Schatzel and to register for an upcoming listening session.

ACTION ITEMS

Unanimous approval was given for the creation of an . The program will consist of four three-credit hour courses, which are currently offered at the university’s College of Business. According to Ryan Quinn, chair of the Department of Management and Entrepreneurship, a professional certification in sales is a relevant credential among all academic disciplines and vocations. The program initially will be available to College of Business students and eventually will be open to students from across the university as the program grows.

Approval was also given to the creation of the . According to Quinn, the center’s efforts in research and leadership development are already part of the College of Business’ . Quinn said establishing the center adds legitimacy to the project’s efforts; provides a location through which donations can be solicited; provides formal status within the university; and positions the center and the university as global leaders on the topic of positive leadership.

The Faculty Senate unanimously approved a which recognizes the excellent work Provost Lori Stewart Gonzalez did while she served as the university’s interim president.

OTHER BUSINESS

Mindy Christian, manager of UofL’s Emergency Management Program, urged senators to familiarize themselves with the emergency management and preparedness plans as well as the other information and resources available on the program’s . She also asked senators to help direct occupants in their buildings to the website, so campus safety remains front-of-mind for the university community.

Improved academic efficiencies were on the agenda for the Dec. 7, 2022, University of Louisville Faculty Senate meeting. At the meeting, senators approved the closure of a Master of Engineering in Industrial Engineering degree program. Faculty Senator Candace Harrington presented the report and said closure of the program was duplicative to the Master of Science in Industrial Engineering degree program also offered by the Department of Industrial Engineering. In addition to the review and approval by the Faculty Senate, the proposal was reviewed by and approved by the Speed School’s Industrial Engineering Committee and the Graduate ����ֱ�� Committee.

President search follow-up

In his report, Faculty Senate President Eugene Mueller provided a follow-up to the Nov. 30 announcement of Kim Schatzel as the university’s new president. Mueller, who served on the Presidential Search Committee, emphasized that the university “will be in excellent hands” when Schatzel begins her service on Feb. 1, 2023.

Mueller also acknowledged some concerns by the faculty about the access to presidential candidates throughout the search process. He said that the need for confidentiality among the candidates was necessary to avoid any potential issues with the candidates’ current employers and assured senators that he “represented strenuously” the faculty’s needs, interests and concerns throughout the screening process.

Part-time faculty resources

Part-Time Faculty Committee Chair Roy Fuller announced that Rose Mills is retiring from teaching. As such, her vacated Faculty Senate seat will need to be filled. Mills has been a longtime instructor in the English Department and has served for many years as a part-time faculty senator. The committee agreed to invite Tim Roberts, also from the Department of English, to rejoin the committee. Until this past May’s election, Roberts had been a part-time faculty senator.

Fuller also announced that the Office of the Provost will soon hire a faculty affairs department coordinator tasked with supporting part-time faculty.

AAPI at UofL

Andrew Zhao, an associate professor in the Department of Anthropology, was among the guest speakers at the meeting. Zhao was on hand to share the successes of the . The employee resource group was established in 2021 to build community, address the needs and lift up the unique perspectives and experiences of UofL’s AAPI community. According to Zhao, more than 700 UofL employees identify as AAPI. Over the past year, the group hosted several events including the AAPI Heritage Week in April, the Welcome Back event at the Health Sciences Center in September and the . Zhao��said the AAPI leadership team is growing and looking for leaders to take the employee resource group to the next level. Those interested in joining must complete the online interest form by Jan. 17, 2023.

The next meeting of the University of Louisville Faculty Senate will be held Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2023, in the Ekstrom Library Chao Auditorium on Belknap Campus. The meeting is open to the public. Committee reports, meeting minutes and other information from the Dec. 7, 2022, faculty Senate meeting are available on the .

Gosser provided an overview of the certificate program to senate meeting attendees.

“This aligns with our university’s strategic plan, specifically where our priorities focus on being a great place to learn and a great place to connect,” said Gosser, who is also director of the Yum! Center for Global Franchise Excellence, Management & Entrepreneurship. “UofL is the first university in the country to offer such a program. Only one other university has a franchise management minor, while others have only one class in the subject.”

The 12-credit-hour program will begin in the spring 2023 semester and will be fully online. Gosser added that, while there is potential for growth, especially given the growth in the franchise industry, the certificate program will initially be offered to those currently enrolled in a UofL degree program (not offered as a standalone certificate).

Course content will focus on all elements of the franchise model that are not taught within the industry such as legalities, relationships, funding models, growing a franchised business as well as building and human resources infrastructure for a franchised business.

Details about the undergraduate certificate program in franchise management are available .

President Updates

The ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Center for Engaged Learning will take place Tuesday, Oct. 18, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Located on the bottom floor of the university’s new residence hall, the CEL will serve as a resource for students who are interested in engaged/experiential learning opportunities.

The number of interim positions at the senior leadership levels generates concerns throughout the university community. Interim President Lori Gonzalez and Interim Provost Gerry Bradley have been posting monthly messages to the community and have been hosting informal conversations with faculty and staff. The Office of the President is working with the Kent School of Social Work Center for Family Well Being to identify strategies for building trust throughout the community. Town hall meetings with senior administration to address concerns as well as other strategies are being planned as well.

The strategic plan co-chairs, board of trustees, president’s and provost’s leadership teams and university deans have rescheduled the release and implementation of UofL’s new strategic plan to January 2023. This change in release date will allow the necessary time for all to consider our community’s suggestions and questions carefully and respectfully.

Kudos to the UofL community for once again being named one of America’s “Best of the Best” LGBTQ-friendly universities, according to Campus Pride, a national nonprofit organization that rates colleges and universities according to their support of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues.

UofL has joined JED Campus in support of student well-being and mental health. The program is a nationwide initiative of The Jed Foundation (JED) to help schools evaluate and strengthen their mental health, substance misuse, and suicide prevention programs and systems to ensure that schools have the strongest possible mental health safety nets.

The university received a $600,000 appropriation from the Kentucky General Assembly to renovate space for military-connected students. Renovations are underway at the space formerly occupied by the university’s International Center, which has moved to Jouett Hall.

Provost Updates

At 2,944 first-time students, this year’s freshman class is the largest in recent history and more students – about 3,700 – are living on campus than ever before, now is the time to identify new and creative ways to keep students enrolled. The provost’s office is working with the deans to build on one another’s retention efforts. Details about the faculty’s role in those efforts are forthcoming.

Searches for new deans of the College of Arts & Sciences (Libraries Dean Bob Fox, search committee chair) and the Raymond A. Kent School of Social Work and Family Science (School of Music Music Dean Teresa Reed, search committee chair) are underway with anticipated completion by the end of 2022. Searches for the deans of the College of Business and School of Nursing will begin in the spring of 2023. The search for the dean of the School of ����ֱ�� will begin in the fall of 2023. Other searches include a vice provost of online strategy and teaching innovation and a chief cyber security officer.

The UofL Demographic 25 committee was formed to address the projected sharp decline in traditional college-age students (18 years old) by the year 2025. The committee, comprised of about 80 people, developed strategies to help mitigate challenges posed by the decline. On August 19, the committee presented their action plans to both Interim President Gonzalez and interim Provost Bradley. The proposals tackled several different topics, including online learning, academic program quality, institutional aid, recruitment and more. The president and provost are now reviewing those proposals and will determine what the university will prioritize in both the long term and the short term.

Workday

Melissa Shuter, executive director of Operation Support Services, provided an update on the Workday implementation progress. Workday HR will replace Peoplesoft HR. Quick reference guides and other resources are in development. Training will be provided for those who hire or do job recruiting. User acceptance testing was recently completed, which generated helpful feedback on further development and smooth transition to the new system. More than 180 different training materials will be released in early November.

Learn more about Workday at UofL .

In Memoriam

Faculty Senator Joseph Guttman delivered a memorial tribute for Michael Francis Hottois, who died May 22, 2022, at age 76. Hottois retired from the University of Louisville after more than 40 years teaching scenic and lighting design. He was a full professor and former chair of the theater department and designed sets for local, regional and national theatres, including the Louisville Ballet and HBO.

Read the full memorial presentation .

Committee Reports

Committee reports from the Sept. 7 Faculty Senate meeting are available . A recording of the senate meeting is available .

The next UofL Faculty Senate meeting will take place Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2022, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the Clinical Translational Research Building, room 101/102, on the Health Sciences Campus.

Interim Provost Gerry Bradley addressed the faculty senate with information on student enrollment and departmental budgets. Data collected through last fall semester revealed student enrollment was under projection for both undergraduate and professional students. For this reason, the university entered the spring 2022 semester with roughly $4 million less than anticipated. Although a similar budgetary loss was anticipated for this spring term, strong enrollment and retention rates mitigated this effect, leaving the spring semester budget at a deficit of $1.5 million.

“All in all, we were down about $5.5 million dollars. The budget teams, especially in the units that have been impacted by lower enrollment than expected, have carried a lot of weight trying to work through that. We also made adjustments centrally and allocated discretionary funds to support those units,” Bradley said. “Overall, we are confident we can go forward, finish out the budget year and break even as we do every year.”

Bradley attributed this confidence to an overall increase in first-year student applications and admits for next academic year. All budgets for the next academic year are currently being developed, and increases to employee pay have been identified as an institutional priority.

“As we are developing our budgets now, we certainly want to build in things we know are important. We need to build in a pay increase, and we are committed to that. That is certainly critical for us to recruit and retain our faculty and staff here in this institution, who we know have gone through a trying two years with COVID-19,” Bradley said.

Faculty members Lauren Freeman and Avery Kolers presented senators with the proposal for a new academic program, the . The proposal moved for transition of the current master of arts in interdisciplinary studies-health care ethics, which is housed in graduate school, to the department of philosophy under the rubric of applied philosophy. The 33-credit hour program offered through the College of Arts and Sciences was proposed for implementation during the fall 2022 semester. Senators unanimously approved the proposed academic program.

Committee reports and a of the meeting can be accessed on the . The next Faculty Senate meeting is scheduled for April 6 via a hybrid format with the option of remote attendance via Teams, or in-person attendance at Ekstrom Library’s Chao Auditorium.

Interim President Lori Gonzalez provided senators with current student enrollment and retention figures. A decline in undergraduate enrollment compared to last year was reported. Gonzalez said that administration anticipated this decrease and despite the current dip in student enrollment, current figures for the fall 2022 term show promise. Figures for the fall 2022 semester include a 6% increase in student applications, 14% increase in admissions and 30% increase in deposits.

Gonzalez further reported an increase in student retention rate of 91% from the fall 2021 to spring 2022 semester, improving upon the 86% student retention rate reported the previous year.

“Our fall to spring retention for first-year students is back to pre-pandemic levels, which is pretty amazing,” Gonzalez said. “Getting back in class and having the right kind of experience, I think, has made a big difference.”

Dan Durbin, executive vice president for finance and administration, and Keith Sherman, executive director and chief operating officer of the , presented information on the university budget and available funding currently offered through the foundation. Durbin provided an overview of the university’s $1.3 billion budget for fiscal year 2022. General or unrestricted funds are used to cover the unrestricted operating expenses incurred by the university; this funding accounts for about 40% of the institution’s total budget.

“Our unrestricted funding is made up of tuition, fees and state appropriations. Tuition and fees are influenced by external and internal factors, so we have very limited latitude when it comes to increasing unrestricted operating funds from tuition and fees,” Durbin said. “Our state appropriation is about $130 million a year; $127 million of that is base, and we have to earn the other $3 million through the Performance Funding model, so that $3 million is always at risk.”

Performance funding is reallocated each year based on each university’s performance relative to other institutions in the state. UofL performed better than the sector average in seven of the 11 performance metrics used to determine state performance funding. Despite a slight increase in 2022, state funding for the university has generally declined over the past decade.

The university’s general fund budget will soon face several significant challenges, including inflation, employee compensation increases and the 2025 demographic cliff projected to impact higher education enrollment and institutional aide nationwide. As neither state allocation nor tuition increases can meet these financial obstacles fully, units have been encouraged to take advantage of the $82 million that is currently available through the University of Louisville Foundation.

Sherman reported the total foundation funding, which includes both endowment and current use funds, is available to each UofL school and college. Senators were also provided with a recommended order of spending for all funding, both restricted and nonrestricted, to reduce general fund spending and maximize UofL’s budgetary efficiency.

“Grant monies typically need to be returned to the grantor if you don’t spend them, so you should spend those funds first. Then go to your restricted endowments and your restricted non-endowed gifts [before spending] your unrestricted money. Your unrestricted money is gold because you can do anything you want with it. We recommend spending unrestricted gifts before your unrestricted endowments because non-endowed gifts don’t grow.” said Sherman.

Committee reports and a of the meeting can be accessed on the . The next Faculty Senate meeting is scheduled for Feb. 8 and will take place remotely via Microsoft Teams.