Eastern Ad-Hoc Budget Committee
Minutes
March 22, 2010
Connecticut Room, Gelsi-Young Hall

Attendance: Dave Bachand, Karyl Bulmer, Karen Collins, David Cummings, Dennis Hannon, David Mariasi, Diane Moore, Elsa Núñez, Dimitrios Pachis, Michael Pernal, William Salka, Gisele Stancil, Joseph Tolisano

Absent: Grace Enggas, Pat Christadore, Drew Hyatt, Kristin Jacobi, Douglas Lussier, William Newell, Bruce Tyler, Robert Wolf

Meeting commenced at 2:00 pm

TouchNet upgrade and BlackBoard Pay software prospects

J. Tolisano came as a guest speaker to talk about the TouchNet upgrade. Beginning July 1, 2010, Eastern will no longer process credits cards in Banner because we would not be considered to be PCI (Payment Card Industry) compliant. Besides credit card payment processing, TouchNet also offers electronic billing, electronic transfers, and opportunities for alumni donations and event ticket sales. Paper usage and postage will be reduced. Refunds from financial aid awards can be processed electronically, which will reduce the costs of printing checks.

G. Stancil came as a guest speaker to discuss the BlackBoard Pay software. BlackBoard is currently used for vending, laundry, and dining transactions with the Express Card (student ID). The BB Pay software gives a Discover card to everyone receiving a refund. The Discover card is like a pre-paid debit card that comes with checks. If there is no money on the card, the transaction is declined. Refunds can be retrieved easier than through TouchNet or accounts can be frozen. We may be able to implement BB Pay next year, but more homework needs to be done.

Voice over IP

J. Tolisano also spoke about moving towards VOIP (Voice over Internet Protocol), which would involve removing several telephone jacks in the residence halls which are no longer used and allowing students to use their data ports to connect their computer to and use the internet to place their calls. Many students have their own cell phones and therefore do not use the phone jacks in their rooms anymore.

FY 2011 Spending Plan

The FY 2011 Spending Plan package was received March 15. The letter from Chancellor Carter discussed what to expect for this fiscal year and next, the deficit projected for Connecticut for these years, the 27th payroll to be paid in FY12, and the union raises.

We began preparing for these things in FY09 through hiring freezes, restrictions on outof-state travel, reducing management by four people, and other cost saving measures. The System Office was hit with a $1.5 million transfer from its reserves to the State of Connecticut this fiscal year, and will be hit again next fiscal year for $3 million. Eastern’s share of the hit in FY10 will be about $150,000 and about $300,000 in FY11. On the accrual basis, our reserves are $1.2 million in the hole. We need a reserve to be ready for next fiscal year and for the NEASC requirement.

Letter to University Community on controls for continuing savings

VP Hannon shared a draft memo to the University community about continuing savings efforts and letting them know what we have ahead of us. He will work with Dr. Nunez on the final memo to be sent out by the middle of next week.

Other

A summary report of departmental budgets by Vice President will be sent to each VP for them to identify any savings or expenditure deferrals. The bid for the dishwasher in Hurley Hall came in at $250,000-260,000. This is under the $300,000 we were expecting

Next meeting – Monday, April 19, 2010 at 10:00 in the Connecticut Room, Gelsi-Young Hall

Meeting adjourned at 3:30 pm

Respectfully submitted,

Karyl Bulmer

Financial Specialist