The University Faculty recently released a whole bunch of transcripts from the faculty senate meetings, and I think one dialog by Provost Fuchs from last November is particularly telling: "I feel I have to manage the process. I don't think I'm going to do it perfectly, but we'll do our very best. In those areas where there's strong contradictions, it's likely -- and they affect the institution -- likely, the provost will have to make the final decision.One of the central issues is do we let individual colleges -- this is a fundamental issue going forward -- make decisions that impact other colleges or do we, in the provost office, to be straight-forward, manage that process?
He further elaborates on how much Reimagining Cornell will be sui generis, as opposed to being informed by outside factors:
We actually welcome external input from stakeholders, and our alumni, our friends of the university, sometimes companies, foundations, but they're not going to be making decisions. Sometimes they have valuable input. I just read a long letter today from a former faculty member who's no longer here, with a strong opinion about a certain area, and I learned a little bit by reading that; but I don't think any of us would allow it to be inappropriate. Their suggestions may be inappropriate, but the input will not be inappropriate.
So, for instance, the issue of AEM will not be settled at the college level. No surprise, but this all ties back into the University's proposed new budget model.