Dr. Van Vleet, Dean of Nursing, was the first to speak up. “Our clinical simulation labs are outdated. We’re due for an accreditation review next spring. I’m afraid if we don’t upgrade our equipment, we’re at risk of probation.”
It seemed like every eye in the room turned in my direction. They all knew how seriously I took accreditation.
“Cost?”
“Six hundred forty thousand for full upgrades,” Dr. Van Vleet answered. “We can phase it, but we’ll risk partial compliance.”
“Accreditation is nonnegotiable,” I replied. “Finance—find me the money. Reallocate from nonessential operational expenditures.”
Dr. Bolder shifted. “We can try, but that means cutting?—”
I held up a hand to stop him. “I said find it. Not argue with me about it.”
“Y-yes sir,” he stammered and wrote down some notes.
I moved onto hearing from the Dean of Business, Dr. Howell, who was asking for more funding because they’d exceeded their budget by eighteen percent due to faculty turnover.
“Unexpected or unmanaged turnover?”
“Sir, with all due respect?—”
“That’s not an answer,” I said evenly. “If you want more funding, you have to justify it with performance and planning. Not excuses.”
He looked defeated but mumbled a low ‘yes sir’ before taking his own notes so I moved on to hearing the other departments. Mel leaned over to let me know the donor packet that I’drequested was ready for me to review, but I let her know I’d do it later. My attention was on the text that I’d gotten from Janet about a car parked at the bottom of my driveway.
Going to the app for my security system, I pulled the camera feed up and selected the camera that gave me the best view. The windows on the car were fogged, so I couldn’t see who was inside, but I did notice that it was running. I watched it for a minute then texted her back to let her know to stay inside until I got home. The car could have been idle while the driver handled something, but they could also have other motives. I didn’t want to chance anything happening to her while she was there working for me.
I took one final look at the car before closing out of the app and focusing back on my meeting. The Dean of Arts was asking for studio funding, updated equipment, and restoration for the recital room. I asked for the amount and had to bite back my immediate response when he asked for three hundred thousand dollars. When I asked what measurable return he could show with hat investment, he started to stutter and fall over his words claiming that creativity and expression weren’t as measurable as other things.
“So no numbers?” My brows lifted then I chuckled lowly. “Bring me a revised proposal with outcomes. I need to see enrollment boosts, performance metrics, donor attraction—something quantifiable. I don’t approve spending based off vibes.”
A few people laughed, but I didn’t. I leaned forward, folding my arms on the table in front of me.
“We’re not running a passion project here, we’re running a university. If you want money, you have to show me impact. All of you.” My eyes scanned the table as I spoke. “Student success. Growth. Efficiency. Those are the metrics we live and die by.”
I was done with my spiel, so I nodded for Melonie to finish up. While she did, I checked my camera to see that the car was still parked there and my brows furrowed even more.
What the fuck are they doing.
Once we wrapped the meeting up, I thanked everyone for their time and began to collect all of my things. I needed to get to my house to see what was going on and who was parked outside. It hadn’t started to snow, but it was definitely freezing temperatures, and too cold for someone to be in their car.
“Where are you in a hurry to?” Melonie caught up to me and asked.
“I need to handle something at the house.”
“Is everything okay?”
“Yeah, I just had some contractors by earlier. I need to look at their work before the daylight goes away,” I lied.
I didn’t need her calling my mother to tell her anything to get her worked up. She’d lose sleep if I told her an unknown car was parked outside of my house for an unknown amount of time.
“Oh, okay, well, I have to get to my hair appointment, but I’m cooking after, so I’ll bring you a plate if the weather isn’t too bad.”
“You know I’m capable of cooking for myself, right?” I chuckled, stopping at her car first when we made it outside. “I don’t need Mamaor youto worry about me eating.”
“I’m aware.” She grinned, putting her ridiculously large purse in her car after I opened the door for her. “But you need something other than Hot Pockets and cold cuts, cousin.”
I laughed and waited for her to get in the car. “I got it under control, lil’ homie. Trust me.”
