NIU faculty voiced their concerns about Provost Kendall Baker’s “Working Priorities” paper at a forum Nov. 10.

One major faculty concern about the paper is that it is not very specific in regards to reallocation, former University Council Executive Secretary Jim Giles said.

“He (Baker) mentions reallocation of resources, but there is not a very specific sense about what exactly his plan is … when you mention reallocation to faculty without specifics you are going to make the faculty nervous,” Giles said.

Baker asked college deans for budget proposals in order to determine the resource needs of the colleges. They need to compile lists of strengths and weaknesses for both a 95 percent and 104 percent budget. Despite rumors, Baker said no decisions have been made yet in regards to reallocation of funds.

Baker will develop budget recommendations, which might include reallocations, in correspondence with the budget proposals from the colleges. Budget hearings are scheduled for Nov.

Another concern is to what degree the provost’s office intends to consult with elected faculty representatives about the priorities, Giles said.

Baker said he would present his budget recommendations to the Academic Planning Committee and the Council of Deans. He said it is appropriate to meet with the deans because they are the budgetary managers and they provide programmatic and budgetary leadership.

owever, Giles said he requested that Baker present his paper to the Faculty Assembly and the University Council for their members’ input and for “faculty morale and goodwill.”

A third concern is faculty members might not be getting any increments for professional activities. “There is a real uneasiness among the faculty that if there is a four or five percent cut, there will be no increments,” Giles said.

An increment is a reimbursement for any type of research conducted by a faculty member on behalf of the department.