I*ll tell you briefly what happened in our meeting of two weeks ago, and then, with your forbearance, I*d like to share a few parting sentiments and perspectives.

We met December 1-2 at OHSU, and were given a very informative welcome by Provost Leslie Hallick and a fascinating orientation to a fascinating facility. We discussed legislative perspectives and the problems posed by term limits with Lynn Snodgrass, followed by a conversation about distance education techniques and issues with Katherine O*Meara, who operates the Distributive Education program for the School of Nursing. Our Board member guest this time was President Van Luvanee, and we enjoyed visiting with him about assorted matters for the better part of an hour. Of particular interest were Mr. VanLuvanee*s perspectives on similarities and differences between corporate management and oversight of higher education. We liked what we heard. Thanks very much, Don, for spending part of an afternoon with us. Finally, from Joe Sicotte and Denise Yunker, we heard forecasts and explanations of benefits changes which loom on the horizon, most of them not particularly appealing.

Our business meeting on December 2 included approval of the nominations slate of new officers, continued discussion of distance education (with special attention to the topic of intellectual property rights), and further review of the proposal for revised faculty grievance procedures. IFS meets next in February, either on the campus of Western Oregon University or, according to a custom begun last year for legislative years, in the Capitol Building in Salem.

I have pondered and pondered what personal message to leave you with - - and whether to make it deadly serious or light and fun. I have opted for something of a stylistic midpoint. As for a topic, what better, I concluded, than a Top Ten list of pointers from a faculty perspective, a la David Letterman, but not quite. Hence, here are "The Top Ten Things That OUS Board Members Should Consider," several of which may sound fairly familiar to you.

• #10: While it is no doubt considered poor form to applaud only one contender*s bid for a branch campus in Central Oregon, it is perfectly alright to cheer for the Ducks to beat Texas in the Holiday Bowl and for the Beavers to throttle Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl. Speaking of Central Oregon . . . .
• #9: Something doesn*t seem quite in balance to academic faculty when the budget for an entire branch campus equals the contract for one football coach.
• #8: Kindly help us educate the public that faculty do work more than the few hours per week they may spend in the classroom, that teaching and research are both vital enterprises, and that we provide immense service to the state.
• #7: There is precious little efficiency gain remaining or expenditure left to cut on our campuses. We have cut to the bone, at least down in the trenches of academic departments. In the department that I chair, for example, our annual services and supplies budget is equivalent to our telephone costs alone, leaving us hard pressed to cover the costs of paper, equipment upgrades, postage and mailing, copying, service contracts, etc.
• #6: When faculty mention salaries occasionally, try not to denigrate us or rebuke us with charges of "whining." The comments aren*t directed at you, and they*re not necessarily even selfish. They are a simple acknowledgment that OUS salaries remain a national embarrassment that prevents us from achieving all that we could.
• #5: Please don*t confuse "education" with "training." The economy is vitally important, and preparing young adults to perform well within it is a legitimate mandate of the university. But we do that best by providing broad knowledge and capability and by fostering creativity, communications skills, adaptability, and tolerance - - and by leaving "training" to the workplace itself, where it properly belongs. By the same token, please remember that a university is not a corporation and cannot be operated like one without severe jeopardy to its authenticity as an educational institution.
• #4: In the rush to serve high technology, please don*t neglect comparable support for the liberal arts and sciences, which are the vital center of any true university. An engineer who never reads a novel or attends a concert is still just a technician. A computer programmer who can*t distinguish between Justice Rehnquist and Judge Judy is a threat to the proper exercise of democracy.
• #3. We would like to see more of you on our campuses. Please try to visit now and then, so we can talk together and get to know each other better.
• #2: You might want to consider pooling your funds to purchase a new joke book for Mr. Lussier and maybe a book on Greek language and civilization for Mr. Aschkenasy.
• And the #1 Thing for OUS Board Members to Consider: Have a peaceful and happy holiday season and a prosperous New Year, as we arrive at the real new millennium on January 1, 2001.