The weakened state of the American economy was a central issue discussed at the General Faculty Council meeting yesterday afternoon. Several council members expressed concern about the possibility of layoffs, but for now — as a recent e-mail from President John T. Casteen, III, states — the University has no plans for layoffs.
Although the University is faring better than many institutions, council members addressed the fact that the future of the faculty and staff is not immune to the effects of the nation’s economic downturn. Asst. Engineering Prof. Peter Norton said faculty are now less likely than in previous years to receive federal funding for their work, and instructors have started to feel that they are expected to commit more and more time to their jobs without any hope of higher pay.
Some members raised concerns about the effectiveness of faculty evaluation methods that influence issues that are particularly pressing during a time of economic stress such as tenure and salary level.
Philip Balestrieri, associate anesthesiology professor and director of obstetrics and gynecology, explained that even in his department, which normally stresses the need for hard evidence and accurate statistics, evaluations are often filled with misreported data from students.
He said he feels evaluations should be based more on “fairness, accuracy, honesty, and clarity,” given the fact that they are taken into consideration for raises and promotions.
Other council members suggested broader strategies that the University as a whole could use to protect faculty from economic troubles. Jim Fitzgerald, associate director of community relations for the Office of Public Affairs, suggested the possibility of raising tuition.
“U.Va. did this in the early 1990s,” Fitzgerald said, “and it allows us not to make job cuts.”
Most council members agreed that this was a reasonable course of action.
Council also discussed the possibility of admitting more international students — almost all of whom pay out of state tuition — to significantly increase the funds that the University has at its disposal.
Athletic department representative Kelly Jordan, meanwhile, said she feels that working on green sustainability at the University is important because it is the longest-term solution.
The economic problem is “part of a cycle,” she said, noting that cutting back on power use would help break the cycle of financial ups and downs and ensure that the University can remain stable for years to come. She emphasized that although implementing technology such as motion sensors and “green” light bulbs might cost the University now, decreasing the University’s power consumption would provide a long-term benefit.
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