The Emporia Gazette

May 28, 2012

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Emporia State University is looking at deeper budget cuts than it had originally planned for in the face of significant reductions in state revenues, and a hiring freeze will go into place to make up for the additional cuts.

Responding to a request by Gov. Kathleen Sebelius last fall, Regents universities had originally planned for a 3 percent cut for Fiscal Year 2009, along with an additional 4 percent for 2010.

But with revenues in the state dwindling further, the 2009 budget signed by the governor calls for an additional 1.25 percent to be cut this year, amounting to $420,000 for ESU, and possibly 4 to 6 percent in further cuts for 2010.

According to ESU president Michael Lane, the hiring freeze is being instituted to make up for part of the additional cuts. The freeze will affect openings for which offers have not yet been made.

“Basically, if we have positions that are currently being recruited, if we have not made an offer at this point, the department will have to justify any offer to the appropriate vice president, and the department’s dean will have to justify whether a position should be filled,” Lane said.

Campus interviews that have not been scheduled will remain unscheduled unless the department’s vice president has deemed the position “strategically critical,” according to an announcement on BuzzIn, the university’s e-mail notification system.

Lane said in the announcement that the school is dedicated to protecting the jobs of its staff members, and if the budget reduction for 2010 is less than what is being projected, money will be released to fill positions “as soon as possible.”

Enrollment is down

In addition to further budget cuts, the university is facing a drop in enrollment.

ESU’s on-campus enrollment this spring stands at 4,380 students, a drop of 164 students from spring of 2008.

University officials are attributing the .6 percent reduction to “economic uncertainties,” according to a press release.

ESU is the only Regents university in the state whose enrollment numbers have dropped from last year. Statewide, universities this spring have seen a 1.5 percent increase in enrollment numbers.

Tes Mehring Provost and vice president for academic affairs emphasized the university’s focus on student retention.

“Retention is more on the minds of faculty and staff now,” Mehring said. “In his general assembly address, President Lane talked about recruitment and retention being a general responsibility of the whole campus, and I think there are several departments that have really taken that to heart.”

Lane added, “Even though we’re not as far as we need to be, I think the faculty are starting to recognize their role relative to recruitment and retention, and are putting forth some good efforts in that area.”

One reason for the drop in enrollment could be a result of the increase in the school’s off-campus student numbers. ESU’s off-campus enrollment this spring is 1,735 students, an increase of 125 students from last spring. ESU’s Metro Learning Center in Overland Park has seen an increase in enrollment as well as the school’s online course offerings.