Ohio University officials have decided how programs receiving special state funding will sustain last month's budget cut, but the future could be grim.
The Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs, the College of Osteopathic Medicine and the general operating budget will absorb a 4.75 percent budget cut in special state funding spread throughout the year, said Rebecca Vazquez-Skillings, assistant vice president of budget planning and analysis.
The College of Osteopathic Medicine will offset the cut in state money by leaving unfilled positions vacant, said Jack Brose, dean of the College of Osteopathic Medicine. These unfilled positions were part of OU's hiring freeze announced two weeks ago.
The state contributes funding to the college's family practice, the primary care facility, geriatrics and clinical teaching program.
The college has combined positions to cover those left unfilled, Brose said. -
he said. Any future cuts would mean a very significant impact.
The College of Osteopathic Medicine and the Voinovich School will absorb a $458,112 cut.The Voinovich School will look to external grants and the efficient use of resources to offset state cuts, said Mark Weinberg, director of the school. The school is planning scenarios to deal with likely future cuts, he said.
I don't think this is going to get better Weinberg said.
Two line items from the general budget, Access Challenge and Success Challenge, will absorb the remainder of the cuts. Stephen Flaherty, senior associate vice president of University Outreach, said that regional campuses will turn to this year's enrollment growth to absorb the cuts to Access Challenge ' state funding used to defer fee increases on branch campuses. The university will tap the regional campus funding reserves if needed, he added.
Access Challenge and Success Challenge will absorb a $386,888 cut. Vazquez-Skillings said the university is confident that income from increased enrollment will cover the cut to Success Challenge, state funding based on graduation rates and the number of students receiving financial aid on Athens campus.
Gov. Ted Strickland announced the $540 million state budget cut, a 4.75 percent across-the-board cut to state agencies, in September ' nine months after announcing a $733 million cut. Both cuts largely exempted state schools. Emily Grannis contributed to this story.
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