Higher education seems to have escaped the worst of the budget cuts. According to the governor’s Web site, the Regents system will see a reduction of $1,998,000. Applied proportionately, that would mean a reduction of slightly under $100,000 for ESU, according to Ray Hauke, vice president of administration and fiscal affairs.
That comes on top of multiple cuts this year that amount to 12.7 percent, but Hauke said it could be worse.
“Under the circumstances, it’s better than perhaps we had guesstimated it might be,” he said.
The current budget reduction won’t lead to layoffs or furloughs, but that depends on further cuts that might take place when the Legislature reconvenes in January.
ESU started the fall semester almost $4 million behind where it was in fall 2008. To deal with the cuts, the university has reduced departmental budgets, instituted a hiring freeze, cut graduate positions and electives, canceled courses, increased class sizes and reduced library resources.
Deepthoughts (anonymous) says...
How much money was wasted on the current President's parade, dinners, welcome, etc. when he arrived? I bet it would be nice to have that 'fluff' money back in the budget now. Also, didn't President Lane take a raise this year?
November 24, 2009 at 3:40 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Corkyfan (anonymous) says...
How much are they paying the football coaches?
Now that Football is over can't they fire all the coaches?
The football program is a joke anyways!
November 24, 2009 at 4:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Beo_Saoirse (anonymous) says...
Dear Gov.,
I rather see you take less money from K-12 schools and more money from higher institutions of learning. You can start by asking KBOR to cut the salaries of university administrators and athletic coaches. That would save a bunch.
November 24, 2009 at 4:22 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
MelissaGarrison (Melissa Garrison) says...
$2,000 for tuition, $550 for my books this semester...and now we have to bring our own printer paper for the computer lab. Seriously. :(
November 24, 2009 at 4:24 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ESUGrad77 (anonymous) says...
Make it a requirement that the football and basketball coaches teach classes, just like the high schools do!
November 24, 2009 at 4:26 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ESUGrad77 (anonymous) says...
Freeze wages, cut benefits, cut expenses, turn out the lights in the empty rooms hallways and bathrooms, install water saving toilets, (only $100.00 at Sam's) lower the thermostats, shut vehicles off instead of letting them idle for hours. This is what private sector businesses do to save money, and it works!
November 24, 2009 at 4:35 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
kira002 (anonymous) says...
ESUGrad77, we already have hiring freezes, benefit cuts, and every department is cutting expenses wherever possible while trying to have the least impact on the students as we can. We'll be switching to a 4/10 work week for the summer - working 10 hours, Mon-Thurs with the campus shut down Fri-Sun. Supposedly the energy savings from doing this will be significant. Spending 10 hours in the office is going to be a challenge, but it's better than not having an office to go to!
November 24, 2009 at 8:17 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Wasp (anonymous) says...
Kira002 - I worked 4/10 and loved it. I did not notice the extra 2 hours each day, especially when busy and I loved the 3 day weekends. I would not want to go back to 5/8, although it would not be as much of a headache as being self-employed and working 7/24
November 24, 2009 at 10:22 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
emporiateacher (anonymous) says...
Deep thoughts, I am in total agreement with you. You must also keep in mind how much each month he and his wife are paid monthly on top of their all inclusive lifestyle.
ESUGrad77, Do you realize you are talking about real people? My husband has worked for ESU for a long time. They have instituted wage freezes and hiring freezes. We have two children. I am all for cutting expenses believe me, but it seems like here lately every year there is another financial crisis. When you look at a budget on paper it is really easy to forget that decisions made effect real people and their families.
Another possible reason for budget shortfalls is enrollment. Unless there are a ton of people taking online classes (which I highly doubt because of the lack thereof) it seems that enrollment might be down. Driving through the parking lot this semester, I noticed that the lot was half empty. Where a few years ago there were cars and hardly anywhere to park, it now looks like a ghost town.
November 25, 2009 at 4:42 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )