TO:  University of Idaho Community
FROM:  Chandra Zenner Ford, Strategic Initiatives
Office of the President
DATE:  Sept. 5, 2019
SUBJECT:  University Working Groups

Welcome back! The president and I look forward to working with you to make 2019-20 a great academic year for our students, faculty and staff. As many of you have learned from President Scott Green’s early communications, he intends to use a working group model as a way to garner input to address some of the bigger challenges we face. The process is intended to take a deep look at all aspects of the strategic areas of focus for this first year and beyond. We know there are many questions about the working groups and the sustainable financial model working group in particular, and we want to answer those questions.

The working groups are a tool for informed, transparent decision-making on issues where we can benefit from an inclusive process representing all stakeholders. Our first working group this fall will address our desire to implement a sustainable financial model. The university has been unable to balance its operating results in seven of the past 10 years, resulting in dangerously low reserves. John Wiencek, provost and executive vice president, and Brian Foisy, vice president for finance and administration, will co-chair the sustainable financial model working group. We intend to select appropriate leaders to chair the other working groups as they are formed. For instance, our new athletic director, Terry Gawlik, will chair the sustainable athletics model working group. We expect to also form working groups for enrollment management, student experience, Idaho Central Credit Union Arena, the Center for Agriculture, Food and the Environment, as well as online education. This list is not exhaustive.

We plan to engage a facilitator to help our working groups stay focused, to prepare communications during the process and to create roadmaps for implementation of the recommendations. The working group conclusions will be shared with the cabinet, Faculty Senate and Staff Council for feedback before roadmaps are finalized and recommendations implemented. The groups will be made up of a diverse and representative group of administration, faculty, staff, students and external experts. The sustainable financial model working group will begin meeting in early October and complete its work by early 2020.

We want to thank the following members of our internal and external U of I community for accepting the invitation to serve:

Sustainable Financial Model Working Group

• John Wiencek, Provost and Executive Vice President, Co-chair
• Brian Foisy, Vice President for Finance and Administration, Co-chair

Internal Representation

• Margarita Cardona, Director, Administrative Services, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences
• Cari Espenschade, Vice Chair, Staff Council; Administrative Coordinator, College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences
• Stephanie Fox, Manager, Facilities and Operations, U of I Boise
• Terry Grieb, Chair, Faculty Senate and Faculty, College of Business and Economics
• Patrick Hrdlicka, Faculty, Chemistry
• Brian Johnson, Faculty, Engineering
• Jerrold Long, Dean, College of Law
• Jacob Lockhart, President, Associated Students University of Idaho
• Alexis Murray, President, Student Alumni Relations Board
• Brad Ritts, Associate Vice President, Office of Research and Economic Development

External Representation

• Sharon Allen, (retired) Chairman, Deloitte
• Annette Elg, (retired) CFO, The J.R.Simplot Co.
• Craig Olson (retired) CFO, Albertsons
• Carson Howell, CFO, Idaho State Board of Education

We deeply appreciate the dedication, expertise and service each of these members bring to this complex issue.

The president and I recognize that our budget issues create anxiety and concern about our future. We will endeavor to keep you abreast of the working group’s progress and are committed to moving beyond our financial issues. We appreciate the effort by all to put the university first. While we have some hard decisions to make, we will do this together and ultimately establish a sustainable financial future. Please feel free to reach out to either the president or me with any questions.

Office of the President
Strategic Initiatives
Chandra Zenner Ford

chandra@uidaho.edu
uidaho.edu/president