After eliminating four sports earlier this year to combat a $4 million deficit, Ohio University's Athletic Department appeared before a general fee committee last night to ask for increased funding of more than $425,000.
For 2007, the department is budgeted to receive $13.6 million ' about 43 percent of the net general fee revenue ' from general fee funds, not counting the $425,000 proposal.
The Athletic Department originally budgeted in fiscal year 2006 for $14.3 million from student general fee revenue but actually received $13.7 million after the university fell short of enrollment targets. The program cuts will save the department an estimated $685,000.
Honestly
we cannot sustain another reduction like we've experienced the past two years said Kirby Hocutt, director of Athletics. At a time when university support has declined the last two years salaries have increased and normal inflation rates in certain areas have increased well over 3 percent.
Starting in 2004, the Athletic Department budgeted based on a promised university increase in funding of $1.5 million over three years. They only received $800,000 and this year faced an additional $241,000 reduction.
While Hocutt said the department has had success in generating revenue from other sources, such as marketing, royalties and concessions, it isn't enough.
There is nothing with (the budget presented to the committee) that we think is excessive or out of line
he said.
Hocutt said the more than $425,000 increase would improve student-athlete welfare, especially in Title IX equivalence sports such as field hockey, women's soccer, baseball and softball.
Some programs
when they travel
they'll put four student-athletes to a hotel room
he said. It's common with many of our teams that two people will share a bed. We want a student-athlete to have the same accommodations on the road as they have at home.
Joe Carbone, OU's baseball coach, also played for the university in the late 1960s. He said at the meeting that his players are not having the same quality experience that he had as a player.
We stay in the cheapest hotels around
bottom dollar
he said. We're just hanging by a string. Nobody spreads a dollar as well as we do.
Generally speaking
General fee money is divided among athletics, student enrichment and campus life, and health, wellness and safety. Until recently, the university had no documents to show specifically where the money went.
In the past, OU collected students' tuition and general fees, combined them into a general fund and did not track what each program received. The Ohio Board of Regents mandates that general fees should be used to fund only non-instructional student services and programs.
The Student General Fee Advisory Committee has already met with the Office of Education Abroad, Campus Recreation, Graduate Student Senate, The Post and the Kennedy Museum of Art.
The committee ' composed mostly of students ' is meeting with all organizations that receive funding from the general fee pool and will present recommendations to Budget Planning Council. BPC will eventually make a proposal to OU President Roderick McDavis, who has the final decision about where general fee revenue should be spent.
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