Just the facts
Michael R. Lane
Friday, February 19, 2010
I have had several questions regarding the impact of the budget reductions at Emporia State University. I write this article to ensure that the information that is “out there” is accurate.
Yes, this budget reduction has had a significant impact on the University. That said, we will continue to move forward, look for additional efficiencies, and maintain a high-quality education for our students. I will format the remainder of this piece as questions and answers to make it easier to follow.
Q Exactly how much has ESU’s state funding been reduced?
A Between the budget originally approved for FY 2009 by the 2008 Legislature and the current operating budget (as of Feb. 10) our state general funding has decreased by $4,238,931. This reduction is partially improved by the additional revenue we received from our 4 percent tuition increase for the 2009-10 academic year.
Q How many people has ESU laid off or furloughed as a result of these reduction?
A We have been able to manage this reduction without any lay-offs or furloughs although some temporary positions were not renewed.
Q So where have the reductions occurred?
A As of today we have reduced employment at ESU by approximately 42 positions including 19.5 full-time equivalent (FTE) faculty positions; 22.5 FTE staff positions. In addition we have reduced graduate assistantships by 14 positions and we have eliminated 27 student jobs on campus. Without additional state revenue, these cuts are permanent.
We have also reduced several other budget lines impacting library resources, operating budgets (phone, supplies, travel, etc.) for all departments, part-time instructor budgets, as well as severe reduction of our educational equipment budgets (equipment used in our education programs).
We have reduced the number of classes we offered this fall by 25 and a similar number this spring. Class sizes have increased by an average of 10 percent, several faculty members are teaching overloads (extra classes) with no additional compensation.
Q What other decisions have been made as a result of this budget reduction?
A We have taken several actions to improve efficiency, maintain as much flexibility as possible, and meet the needs of our students. Here are some of the changes we have made:
• We will move to a four-day per week schedule for the summer. This will save significant costs of cooling as the temperatures will be set back (raised) in all buildings at 5 p.m. on Thursdays and not returned to lower temperatures until early Monday morning. We also believe there will be savings on fuel consumption for our employees as they will not have to drive to work on the fifth day of the week.
F In response to student demand, we have moved most of our summer school courses online. Students need to work over the summer and the online format provides them additional scheduling flexibility, which is not available in a traditional face-to-face classroom setting. The trend toward more online summer classes is something we have been seeing increase over the past several years. For many years, our primary enrollment in the summer session has been graduate students, and primarily graduate students in educator preparation programs. These students indicated a preference for online instruction several years ago.
• We have reduced the frequency of offering classes in many of our majors. This has the impact of reducing flexibility for our students and causing a need for very careful advising of our students.
• Although the cutbacks have resulted in not hiring for vacant faculty positions, we have also not filled several department chair vacancies after conducting national searches. Currently we have five departments being led by interim chairs (either a faculty member from within the department or by a faculty member from a different department who has previously served as a chair). Two departments have conducted internal searches to fill the chair position — which then leaves an additional full-time faculty position vacant.
Q ESU has received budget increases over the last 10 years, where has that money been spent?
A Since 2006, the total increase in combined state general fund and tuition funds has totaled $8.1 million. Much has gone for various staff/faculty salary increases and increased fringe benefit costs, items which cannot be readily handed back to the state. Here is the breakdown of where that money has gone:
• Salary increases for unclassified staff (including faculty), $3.7 million
• Classified staff increases (mandated), $1 million
• Classified staff market adjustments (mandated), $600,000
• Special faculty enhancements (awarded by the Legislature), $500,000
• Fringe benefit rate changes, $600,000
• Utility rate changes, $600,000
• Other operating expense increases, $700,000
• Total, $7.7 million
• New faculty, new program development etc., $400,000
Q So how does this impact the citizens of Lyon County?
A That is a more complex question. In order to provide a good response I asked Kalyan Chakraborty, a professor of economics in ESU’s Business School to conduct an economic impact study of the budget reductions. Chakaborty published the results of this study in the American Journal of Economics and Business Administration in 2009. He assessed the impact of these budget cuts on the businesses of Lyon County and of the state of Kansas. His conclusions were as follows:
• Impact on Lyon County, -$6.01 million
• Impact on Kansas, -$10.793 million
Q What does all that mean?
A It generally means that the reduction in employment at ESU has resulted in people spending less money in Lyon County. For example, we know there have been fewer homes purchased, fewer apartments rented, fewer groceries purchased, less gas purchased, fewer automobiles purchased, fewer appliances purchased, fewer people eating in restaurants, etc. In other words, fewer people living, shopping and dining in Lyon County.
Thank you for taking the time to read this information. I wrote it, not to complain about the budget reductions, but to let you know how we at ESU are dealing with the reductions and how those reductions impact our local community.
ESU is strong and will continue to do an outstanding job of educating Kansas students and providing an effective workforce for Kansas. We want you to understand the impact of the reductions that the university has experienced. Please know that we appreciate your continued support, not only demonstrated through your tax dollars but also through your community spirit by attending ESU’s many student activities.
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
Good article and this convinces me even more that we need to promote tourism. The trend for Kansas tourism will be Agri-Tourism and someday it will over take tourism as we know it today and it might happen inside the city limits. This will have a positive effect on all business.
February 19, 2010 at 10:07 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
My solution to this economic crisis is for people in the community to go back to school and find out what there teaching our young people. This would up the enrowment and it might even turn our country around and get a more conservative slant. The best thing that has ever happened to ESU is the Flint Hills Center for Public Policy which has changed to the Kansas Policy Institute. This institute promotes limited government and personal freedom. Last year the state of Kansas had 40,000 people on the payrole and this was an all time high.
February 19, 2010 at 10:25 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
admireed (anonymous) says...
Lets quit sending students out of county to other colleges. "Shop Emporia First!"
Edward McKernan
February 19, 2010 at 10:38 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
noel_stanton (anonymous) says...
ESU should see the school closings in North and South Lyon County as an opportunity to develop the technology and methods to provide online instruction for K-12 students. The demand for such a service in the increasingly depopulating areas of the Midwest or sparsely inhabited regions of Alaska, Canada, Australia, etc should be significant and might open a new source of income for ESU.
This suggestion is not to be confused with the online instruction in Kansas City that ESU provides for those doing mostly graduate work.
Such a K-12 service could improve educational quality for lone children on the Great Plains and perhaps even save local school districts substantial sums by reducing busing expenses.
February 20, 2010 at 4:31 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
Excellent thoughts noel!
Still curious if you are the same person that attended Emporia High during the late fifties. If so Preston Monroe says Hi!
February 20, 2010 at 5:50 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
I wonder how many kids are aware of the Jones Trust Fund? Does anyone know how many young people took advantage of this fund last year for ESU education. I would like to see ESU start an ROTC program.
February 20, 2010 at 2:18 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
admireed,
You got it!
Parents in Emporia should consider Emporia State 1st.
At least for the 1st year of the college experience.
Of the 8.1 million in increased funds since 2006 , 1.3 million went to operating expenses other than Wages and benefits?
6.8 million for wages and benefits?
Anyone else find this disturbing, or did I read it wrong?
February 21, 2010 at 9:57 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
Aug. 12, 2009 Flint Hills Center for public policy released research that over 1600 state funds were holding between 2 and 3 Billion dollars in excess balances, depending on the method used to determine resonable balances.
February 22, 2010 at 12:07 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )