FROM:  Mary Spilde

DATE:   January 18, 2002

As we embark on the new year, I have been reflecting on the last four months and thinking a lot about our future.  I stated at in-service, the primary vision I have for Lane is to place students and their learning at the heart of what we do; and creating the conditions where people can do their best work.  As I also stated at in-service, it is clear that there is much work to be done to accomplish this and we need to work toward it.  This will be no small challenge.  The status of bargaining and the budget among other things hold very real challenges.  Yet it does not mean that we should forsake these goals.  I have to admit that the demands of doing my job are such that one could very easily lose sight of these overarching visions.  Yet, many of the activities outlined in the Work Plan are intended to lead us toward these goals and we are initiating these activities.  I am in this for the long term and I am committed to realizing these goals.  Of course, it won't happen overnight and it will take everyone working together, but I believe in our collective capability to achieve these goals. I am reminded of the Chinese proverb, "A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step." I remain hopeful that we can take steps to move forward with the vision that I know many of you share.

Also, as I have reflected on this new year, I am very aware of the challenges we are facing individually and collectively.  This will be a very difficult term for all of us. Our fiscal situation is real and serious.  I realize that you have heard from some quarters that the projections are not real and that there is money available.  I wish that were true. It certainly is not my preference to start as a new president by reducing our budget so dramatically.  I was well aware of the budget projections when I accepted the position but even I was hopeful that something would change and that we would not have to go down this road.  Unfortunately it is clear to me that we have been spending more than our revenues for a couple of years now and our reserves are not going to close the gap. Although I am confident that our budget projections are accurate (recognizing that we continue to refine them) in an attempt to dispel the belief that there is no problem I have asked the college auditor to conduct an independent examination of the budget projections.  I should have preliminary information next week

The state revenue picture continues to be bleak.  The Governor unveiled a "cuts only" budget two weeks ago that included an 8% cut for community colleges.  This would mean an additional $4 million cut for Lane for this year and next.  A legislative proposal that is supposed to be a "framework for discussion" is also on the table.  This included a 4% cut for community colleges.  I think it is realistic to expect that when all is said and done, the cut will be between 4 and 6%.  I will continue to work with legislators to tell our story, but they will be making very difficult choices over the next couple of months.

As a result we must take steps to reduce the scope of our work.  We have been trying to retain or expand services for too long and quality is suffering. It's time to reduce strategically so that whatever we do offer can be done in a way that provides the best learning and working environment possible.  I want to emphasize that no decisions have been made. I have received some letters from students that state they have been told their program is in jeopardy.  I would ask that we do not make students anxious in this way until we have made decisions.

Work has begun in divisions and departments to develop responses to the criteria.  The three work groups, Efficiencies, Transparency and Criteria Application, will begin to meet today.  The Budget Office continues to refine the projections. By the middle of February we will have a preliminary set of recommendations for budget reductions. Before publication of the reductions we will notify staff whose positions will be impacted.  Then we will hold staff and community hearings prior to finalizing recommendations for the Board of Education in March.  Between March and May we will be working with both LCCEA and LCCEF as called for in the collective bargaining agreements and reviewing the RIF grids to identify where lay offs will occur.  

This lay off process will be very hard on everyone.  I am very aware of the serious impacts they will have on people's lives and families.  If there was an alternative, believe me, I would be pursuing it. This will also be difficult for those whose jobs are secure.  We will see colleagues leaving the college and many will experience anxiety and stress.  It is likely that rumors will fly around the college at the speed of light. I say all of this because I believe it is my responsibility to prepare the organization for what is ahead of us.  This will be a painful, heart wrenching process.  All I can say is that we will do everything we can to make it as humane as possible.  We are working on setting up services to assist employees in transitioning from the college.  We will ensure that there is ample communication so that everyone knows where we are in the process.  

All of this needs to occur while we continue to serve students.  I think it is imperative that we do everything we can to limit the impact on students over the next two terms as they go about trying to meet their educational goals.  It is important also to take care of each other over the next few months.  People will be even more stressed which can lead to miscommunication and misunderstandings.  All of us are professionals at Lane.  I ask that everyone redouble his or her efforts to be patient with colleagues, to engage in problem solving and to focus on why we chose to work at Lane in the first place -to provide an excellent learning environment for students.  All of this will not remove the anxiety and stress but it will minimize its effects.

In spite of these troubling times, I know that great work in service to students is going on across the college.  As I work in the community, I hear story after story of what Lane faculty and staff have done to make a difference in students' lives.  We are engaged in significant work.  We sometimes lose sight of this in the daily business.  I do appreciate the dedication and commitment that you demonstrate every single day.  Despite the challenges, I still think Lane is the best place to be. Please do not lose heart. 

If you have any questions along the way, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Thank you.