ISU President Gregory Geoffroy addressed the Faculty Senate Tuesday night, informing the senate on the latest budget issues and outlining the university’s plan for a new academic calendar.

Geoffroy said he appointed an Academic Calendar Task Force in response to senate action taken last spring asking for changes in the calendar.

The task force came up with four proposals offering varying calendars. The calendars differ in length of class periods and length of winter break and summer semester. The option of a mini-session to occur during winter break is also being considered.

“There are a number of creative ideas, and two options appear to meet the interests and needs of faculty and students,” Geoffroy said.

He said he will be soliciting input from key campus groups. A broad survey will also be conducted in the next few weeks to gather input from the university at large. The survey will be conducted on-line using AccessPlus. The results of the survey will be reported before the spring semester ends.

“I strongly encourage the entire campus community to respond because the university calendar is important to all,” Geoffroy said.

All input will be evaluated over the summer and next fall the administration will present its recommendations, Geoffroy said. He hopes to have a decision made by the middle of next fall semester.

Arne Hallam, chairman of the Academic Calendar Task Force, said the task force was comprised of 12 members from all areas of the university.

“I’m very comfortable that it was an unbiased committee and the proposals try to meet the needs of all groups,” said Hallam, professor and chairman of the economics department.

Geoffroy also addressed the senate on the budget for fiscal year 2004 that is beginning to move through the legislative process.

“[This year’s budget] looks stable; there are not likely to be any reversions,” he said.

Geoffroy said the university is interested in the capital, operating and salary budgets that are going through the Legislature.

He said there is little new capital funding being offered, and Iowa State did have some requests in for that money. The state House of Representatives voted to maintain the operating budget at the same level and the salary budget likely won’t contain allocation for regent institutions.

Geoffroy said he wants to give faculty a salary increase using new tuition money.

“As the Legislature winds down … it is quite possible we might end up with a budget that is not balanced,” he said. The Legislature would apply an across-the-board cut, up to 3 percent, to balance the budget. He also said if there is a cut, the university would have to again do budget reductions.