Faculty Senate Resolution

RGC Faculty Senate Recommendation With Respect to Centralization of Administrative Functions--11/08/02

As instructed, the senate did not consider or review any changes with respect to academic programs.

I. We should centralize selected administrative functions.

For purposes of illustration only, Uvalde is assumed to be the central location throughout this analysis.

II. Details

1. The Title V Director and all staff personnel would remain as is—with the director in Del Rio and other officers dispersed.

2. The Director of Business Operations and the administrative secretary would relocate to Uvalde. A business operations clerk would remain in Del Rio and one business operations clerk would remain in Eagle Pass.

3. The Chairs of Liberal Arts and Business Administration and the Director of Nursing and secretary would remain in Del Rio. For the department of Education, one Field Experience Counselor would remain at each site. One faculty secretary and the Learning Resource Specialist would remain in Eagle Pass.

4. Public & Media Relations would remain in Uvalde.

5. The Director of Academic Support Services and the Director of Counseling & Career Services would remain in Eagle Pass. One student advisor would remain at each site.

6. Student Affairs would remain in Uvalde

7. Admissions and Records would move to Uvalde. One ? time admissions clerk would remain in Eagle Pass and in Del Rio.

8. The Small Business Development Center would remain as is--in Eagle Pass. One Business Development Specialist would remain in Eagle Pass and one in Del Rio.

9. Financial Assistance would relocate to Uvalde. One ? time financial aid clerk would remain in Del Rio and Eagle Pass

10. Institutional Research would remain as is in Eagle Pass.

11. The Special Projects Director would remain as is.

12. The Title V Coop Grant department would remain as is in Eagle Pass.

13. The Office of Information Technology would remain as is.

III. Strengths and Weaknesses of the Plan

A. Strengths

1. Travel costs may decrease when administrative officers are called to meetings.

2. Since more administrative functions will be centralized, these functions should achieve more effective communication and coordination

3. Better coordination between administrative functions should result since five administrative functions will be centralized.

B. Weaknesses

1. Moving functions to another site will produce few economies of scale. Most departments are already centralized to the extent practicable, i.e., most admissions and records personnel are already centralized in Eagle Pass. Even with this model, some administrative personnel will have to remain at the other two sites. Cost savings will result only if administrative jobs are cut. Cost savings could result simply by restructuring the departments in their current locations.

2. Significant discord could result if administrative personnel are required to relocate after having established important relationships in the communities in which they are now located. This could be especially true if these personnel do not believe that major cost savings were achieved by the move.

3. Students at 2 of the 3 sites will have to contact an offsite for information and some services. They may perceive that the level of service has fallen. For example if admissions and records are moved to Uvalde, students in Eagle Pass would definitely feel a decreased level of service.

4. The local communities at 2 of the 3 sites may believe that Rio Grande College is lessening its commitment to their area. This may increase political turmoil and increase the sense that Sul Ross University has not adequately served the higher education needs of their area.