The Marshall University library's budget lags behind peer institutions' and faculty are looking for an increased budget.
Library representative David Winter reported at Thursday's Faculty Senate meeting that the library's base budget hasn't been increased in at least five years calling it "bare bones." He said there's been no money allotted for new books or serials and the administration has been trying to cope by using programs like EZ Borrow which don't require the purchase of materials.
"We're in a point of crisis right now," Winter said.
Winter said he recognized universities across the country are facing similar problems but that something had to be done soon, and that $1 to 2 million was needed just to close the gap.
Marshall University President Stephen Kopp reported on current legislation that would affect the institution including House bill 3215, which would separate the Community and Technical College from the rest of the university.
It hasn't cleared either the House or the Senate yet.
Kopp also mentioned House bill 4623 which would remove the cap on retirement contributions and also that the West Virginia Trust Fund Bill had cleared the Senate.
When Kopp asked for questions, a representative from The College of Science read a colleague's e-mail about Marshall's low salaries in comparison with national universities.
President Kopp answered by citing dropping enrollment and subsequent lost revenue.
"We did everything we could. Ever since I've been here I've done everything I can within the means of the university to approve the salaries of faculty and staff," Kopp said.
Kopp said he is continually looking for alternatives and resources but is hesitant to put it "on the backs of students" in the form of tuition increases.
"We definitely need to bring up the salaries of faculty and staff," Kopp said.
Chairman Larry Stickler closed the meeting with an outline of new general education requirements meant to teach critical thinking skills amongst content.
"We may be training students for jobs that do not exist or that we've never heard of," Stickler said. "It has to do with how the course is taught, not the course itself."
Stickler said that the next step is to ask individual majors to look at their required courses.
The new plan has not yet been proposed to the Faculty Senate.
Morgan Unger can be contacted at unger6@marshall.edu.
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