Dr. Rala Diakite, MSCA Chapter President read a prepared statement:

The proposed AY 24 budget projects a deficit of almost 4 million dollars, as a result of continued enrollment decline and increased utility costs, plus the financial burden of underutilized dorms,  and our building debt payments. The budget narrative proposes few mitigations around those issues, but rather seeks the greatest savings from reductions in compensation costs, largely on the academic side of the house, along with some new revenues drawn from fee increases to students.

Other avenues for cost savings must be vigorously explored. We should be examining any large expenses to see to what degree they are serving and aligned with our mission - this could include services from EAB and other Ed Tech companies, the continual  purchasing of new properties with consequent debt load, and addition of upper management positions and inflation of their titles and salaries.

We should seriously consider putting the Theatre Block on hold - a suggestion made by many respondents to the Financial Sustainability Task Force survey. Given our current budget deficit, this huge project of regional economic development, with tenuous connection to our academic   programs   and student success,is a distraction that drains our energy, diverts fundraising efforts, and has cost us more than 2 million dollars in AY22, and probably more in AY23.

On the revenue side, we can seek increased profit from our buildings (dorms and other facilities), increased fundraising and grants, and a marketing plan. We could start by defining our unique value proposition and advertising that.

Allowing faculty/librarian positions to remain unfilled, as the primary method of achieving efficiencies, is a dangerous path. This will weaken the ability of Fitchburg State to deliver the high quality education that is our mission. Finding the proper student-faculty ratio for our current circumstances cannot be done simply by a mathematical equation. With the multiple demands on faculty/librarians, there is a tipping point, after which the student- focused work of teaching and advising can no longer be carried out in a satisfactory way by the smaller number of instructors and librarians.

Nor is the shrinking of faculty ranks through attrition a logical solution to our current issue. It cripples programs randomly, weakening even large programs, impeding the growth of small but successful ones and presenting obstacles to carrying out curricular renewal. It may have unintended consequences, which we will only notice when it is too late. In sum, when students can't find the programs they want, and courses they need to graduate they will go elsewhere.

MSCA encourages management to put academics first, teaching and learning first, students first. Academic Affairs should have a primary role in guiding our institution safely through this moment of change and uncertainty. We must prioritize our mission as an institution of higher learning.

The MSCA encourages management to develop a more holistic financial plan, one that will seek efficiencies and new revenue from all areas equally, so as to safeguard the vitality and viability  of our academic enterprise. The MSCA opposes any budget that blindly chips away at the academic heart of our university, without reflecting on the consequences of such a path.

The President reported the actions by the Budget, Finance and Facilities Committee.

E. Gregoire joined the meeting at 8:23 a.m.

The President talked about the Chartwells presentation that involved increased customization and various food options. The university would be the first in the system and in the New England area if this new model was implemented. Chartwell’s will contribute $5.5 million to the investment and another $880,000 over the ten-year process to build out the primary space. Modernization of Hammond Hall and McKay would follow.

The model works, as explained, if all students were included.  Commuters would be required to pay a mandatory fee of $120 per semester for 11 meals each semester. He asked the Board to approve the plan to allow for the project to begin and launch in fall of 2025. He reported that commuter group information sessions were held and that student commuter input was solicited on the required meal plan.

A vigorous discussion ensued. 

D. Tiernan asked if the estimate on the construction model was vetted. J. Bry responded that he was comfortable with the number. 

M. Fiorentino asked how the computer students were involved. L. Bayless stated that they targeted various groups, lots of different identities, there was a focus group set up just for commuters, and they talked with orientation leaders. She said virtually everyone was very enthusiastic. 

A. Turner expressed displeasure with the groups that were reached out to on this. She spoke about the online students and commuters and felt that there was not enough  effort to reach out to commuters. She stated that the administration has not reached out to the base majority of commuter students. L. Bayless acknowledged that what A. Turner said was true, that students who take online courses only would not come to campus and would not use the meal plan. 

D. Phillips said this was discussed at the finance meeting. 

E. Gregoire inquired if this would be the first model of its kind. The President responded that this is a model that Chartwells has used in Europe with success. J. Bry added that a required meal plan would be a first in the system. E. Gregoire expressed that he opposed  the plan at the finance meeting and remains opposed. E. Gregoire reminded the Board of the food pantry on campus and the numbers of commuters on campus that are struggling to plan for the tuition, fees and other related costs of attending college. An additional burden which they will not take advantage of seemed unreasonable. The students will feel the costs and this will be an additional barrier, and felt the messaging is troubling. 

A. Turner attended a recent Alumni Board meeting and stated that there was a unanimous resolution that the Alumni Board does not support the mandatory meal plan. She said that if the students were seeking this options that would be different. They are not opposed to dining operations; the financing should not be on the backs of commuter students. 

A. Turner read a prepared statement:  I ask that it please be stated on the record that I oppose a required commuter meal plan.With 50% of our classes now being online and an increasing number of transactional students, it is wrong for us to charge what is now the majority of our student body. Approximately 65% of our student body are commuters and they are commuters for various reasons. However, as a commuter you make the decision that you are majority of the time not going to eat on campus and if you do, you pack or buy your lunch. Approximately 46 commuters currently opt in to have a meal plan, 46. Furthermore, there was not seemingly increased efforts to reach out to commuters to see if they are interested in having a plan like this. A meeting with commuters was set up, cancelled and rescheduled for Friday and as most I am sure experience not many people come on to campus on Fridays so no one showed up. Furthermore, the groups that were contacted were majority residential student based. Orientation Leaders, members of SGA, and those who work for housing are on campus for large periods of time. The students  that are going to be affected by this are our transactional students who do not spend large periods of time on campus. As such, I ask that members of the Board vote no, on requiring a commuter meal plan.

J. Bry presented and discussed the FY2024 Budget Narrative. He highlighted the differences in the budget from earlier this year, and stated that there will be no state fair share monies at this juncture. He noted that there is an expectation that something will come out of the fair share act, but that it is uncertain at this time.  He indicated that the state will fund a larger portion of collective bargaining. There is a fee increase included in this budget and he predicts that it will be the lowest compared to our sister schools. He discussed the fund balances and stated that they are sufficient to pay our debt service out into the future. He next talked about the unknowns of the state budget. He talked about the day salaries, showing an increase in collective bargaining which is still not finalized. The budget is based on the 4% pay raises in the fall and 4% at the beginning of the new year. He talked about fringe benefits. Operating funds were discussed and that the Recreation Center debt was paid off.  He noted that both innovation funds were funded. He talked about rising utilities and fuel costs. He reported on the finances of the School of Graduate, Online and Continuing Education. There were two positions added to SGOCE given the increase in international students to support admissions and the computer science program. All other budgets were level funded. He talked about deficits expected over the next few years. The enrollment number is budgeted at 2193, which is down from last year, but currently on target to be reached. Residence Halls are operating around 60% occupancy. He talked about moving Herlihy Hall over to the Commonwealth books although we are still carrying approximately $2 million of debt. The university continues to work on Residence Hall vacancies. Further detail on individual funds was presented.

A discussion ensued regarding consultant services, Academic Partnerships, operating expenses, gas, utilities, construction and deferred maintenance, salaries and fringe benefits. 

This was discussed during the presentation. 

This was discussed during the presentation. 

The President presented and discussed the Financial Sustainability Plan - Phase 1 report. At the beginning of the spring semester the administration convened a taskforce of faculty and staff to review options for cost reduction and suggestions for revenue generating activities. The president indicated that he thought the report was well done and reasonably comprehensive with input from all campus constituencies. He briefly highlighted the five categories that were examined. The report reflects that the next step is refinement and the identification of items in each of the five categories that have a chance to move the needle.  He noted that the range of ideas included those that were very complex to items that were relatively small. The next taskforce will take a look at everything. People will be asked to work through the summer and continue in the fall semester. A report will be due at the conclusion of the fall semester.  

M. Fiorentino first thanked the taskforce, and stated that they did a great job. He remarked that he got a sense of three themes repeated throughout the report: planning, transparency, and communication. Again, he appreciated their work. 

E. Gregoire expressed the same conclusions from reading the report. From his vantage point, he stated that we are confronted with enrollment challenges, and we are seeing this now. We are still in stiff headwinds in this region. Some of these items suggested in the report would be easier to implement. The reality is that enrollment is not going to become easier, further declines are expected and we need to become more agile, we need to be a lot more flexible. 

The President added that there are already of number of items proposed in the report that are already in process.  

M. Fiorentino commented that at some point, as these activities continue, there will be a meeting of the minds. The President agreed. 

The dashboard was submitted for informational purposes. 

The committee met this morning and discussed the slate of officers for the next fiscal year. 

 D. Phillips stated that NECHE asked that the Board commit to reviewing the by-laws on a regular basis and that a formal statement should have been included when the most recent by-laws were adopted. 

The notifications were presented for informational purposes. 

The Financial Statements were presented for informational purposes. 

There is a correction to the statements that will be circulated at a later date. 

A. Turner read her report: 

I have a few quick updates about SGA Elections, as well as a quick thank you.

Student Government held our annual elections and we welcomed in a new executive board led by President Kervance Blanc. For those who do not Kervance, he is a rising star and student leader as he is only going into his Sophomore year. I am truly excited to see what Kervance brings to the table and how he leads the Student Government Association. Potentially good news also potentially bad news depending on how you take it. I was elected to continue in my role as Student Trustee. I hope that by continuing in this position, myself and members of this board can continue to work to make sure that Fitchburg State is the best possible environment for our students. I did not get to accomplish it as much as I would like, but I truly believe that as a member of this board, we must have an understanding of the students that attend our institution. As such, I hope that we can please work together in the creation of opportunities for this board to get to know our students.

Lastly, I wanted to thank the board of trustees for an excellent year. I have learned so much about how our university functions and higher education in general. There are so many more people that I could thank and have helped me grow and develop. However, I am going  to save that for when you are truly done with me next spring.I look forward to continuing to work with you all this next semester.

The Chair had nothing to report. 

The President reported that we concluded the year with low COVID activity. The COVID memorandums of understanding have or will expire. The university will transition back to pre-COVID days. 

The President reported on the end of year activities that included Convocation, Nursing Pinning and Commencement. All were well received and it was wonderful to see the community come back together. It appears we are returning to normal activities. 

The academic calendar was presented for informational purposes. 

The news articles were presented for informational purposes. 

Open session reconvened at 10:39 a.m.