February 14, 2012
Institutional Priorities Committee
Minutes of February 14, 2012
3:30pm - 5:00pm Library Community Room
Present: Brodnick, Cavanaugh, Ciccolella, Datcher, Duzgunes, Eibeck, Gale, Giraldez, Gong, Griego, Johnston, Lackey, Luu, Meyer, Murta, Pallavicini, Pearson, Perrot, Shipp, Wright
Absent: Leland, Page
Guests: Rob Alexander, Lynn Fox
Call to Order: 3:35pm
Minutes: Minutes for the January 24, 2012 meeting were approved.
President Eibeck opened the meeting and explained that she would like IPC to continue the FY13 budget recommendation process. She asked that IPC submit a written recommendation regarding the FY13 budget with the assumption that no changes will be made in the Cal Grant Program. She also asked that IPC then submit recommendations based on the assumption that there will be changes in the Cal Grant program.
President Eibeck will review IPC input along with other input and develop a budget proposal to be presented to the Board of Regents in April. President Eibeck stated that she will likely hold a Town Hall meeting regarding budget recommendations in late March.
Contingency Planning for Changes in Cal Grant Program
Vice President Lackey outlined the current initiatives to educate legislators about the role Pacific and other private universities in California in educating financially needy students. Lackey stated that a group at Pacific who is currently working to put together a comprehensive approach; this group is working largely through AICCU (Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities), which represents about 75 non-profit, independent institutions. As the closest private university to Sacramento, Pacific plays a very important role in this process. There has been a heavy emphasis on the involvement of students. AICCU has a Student Day in the Capitol every year, and this year they are hoping it will be of a larger magnitude. Pacific is looking at having two busloads of students attending this event on March 7.
Associate Provost Rob Alexander and Director of Financial Aid Lynn Fox reviewed the Governor's proposal information on Pacific students who currently receive Cal Grants. The Governor has proposed that the Cal Grant award for students attending private, non-profit universities be lowered from $9708 to $5472, the amount awarded students attending California State Universities. The Governor has also asked the HS minimum GPA requirement for Cal Grant A be raised from 2.00 to 2.75 and for Cal Grant B from 3.00 to 3.25. Currently 1346 Pacific students are Cal Grant recipients, approximately 33% of Pacific's undergraduate enrollment. It was further reported that of this year's 322 first-time college students, 65 of the 322 Cal Grant recipients would not have met the proposed GPA requirements. Fox reported that the award packages for fall 2012 first-time college students should be going out by April 1. These packages will include a statement that explains Cal Grant awards may be reduced depending on budget cuts that may be enacted by legislature.
Vice President Cavanaugh reviewed several models that illustrated the possible impacts of alternative scenarios, taking into account different potential Cal Grant reductions.
Adjourned: 4:58pm