Williams asks for support from faculty as campus
begins budget reductions
Members of the Faculty Senate discussed the campus budget with interim Chancellor Marcellette G. Williams at the senate's 600th meeting, Dec. 13.

Student fees raised; system expected to trim 275 jobs
In the wake of a state funding reduction in the University system's budget totaling $25.5 million, the Board of Trustees voted Dec. 10 to add $495 to undergraduate student fees for the spring semester on the Amherst campus and approved plans to reduce staff size.

Lawmakers override $150m in vetoes, restore pension payments
Lawmakers last week restored more than $150 million of the $271 million trimmed from the fiscal 2002 budget by Acting Gov. Jane Swift, but virtually all of the money returned to the budget was in the form of state payments to the pension fund for public employees.

No action taken on pay raises
Five campus collective bargaining agreements stalled in the State House last Wednesday as the Senate approved funding for the contracts, but the House failed to act before adjourning.

Library staff grapple with loss of $3m
An already grim outlook for campus libraries worsened last week as the final fiscal 2002 state budget was passed, reducing the Educational and Reference Materials (ERM) line item by 64 percent, or $9 million, from last year's appropriation of $14 million.

External funding may top $100m
One-third of the way through FY02, the campus is on track to receive more than $100 million in external support by the end of the fiscal year, according to interim Vice Chancellor for Research Fred Byron.

Senate considers pluses and minuses of grading changes
Members of the Faculty Senate discussed a possible change in the campus's grading system at the senate's Nov. 29 meeting.

Davis Educational Foundation grant funds redesign
of large lecture classes
The campus has been awarded a $460,000 grant by the Davis Educational Foundation to support the redesign of five large lecture courses.

Music faculty perform at Kennedy Center
Jazz in July instructor Billy Taylor teamed with Music professors Estela Olevsky and Jeff Holmes for two concerts last week at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington.

Carl Allen, ’14, oldest alumnus, dies at 108
The University's oldest alumnus, Carl Allen, Class of 1914, died Dec. 8 in his sleep at a continuing care facility in Westborough. He was 108.