Department heads were forced to make tough decisions about their budgets last week, submitting recommendations as to how they would slash 5 or 10 percent of their funding. Now, two of Ohio University's top administrators must choose which of those recommendations to pass on to the president.
The provost and head of Finance and Administration will be making initial recommendations about cuts to the president early next week. The university needs to cut about 7 percent from the $684 million budget, but the level of cuts will vary by department.
There was a point at which
maybe last year you could easily identify things that would be nice to have but weren't necessary but we're beyond that point
said Mike Angelini, interim senior vice president of Finance and Administration. I didn't find any easy decisions within those responses.
Administrators received proposals from 31 units last Monday, including all the academic colleges, each administrative office and other units, including Intercollegiate Athletics and the library.
For the College of Arts and Sciences, the 5 percent cut would shave $2.6 million, and a 10 percent cut would double that - slashing $5.2 million from the college's $52,037,440 budget. One cut would include offering fewer course sections - a 5 percent cut would mean offering 169 fewer course sections a year, while the 10 percent option would eliminate 369 course sections.
Executive Vice President and Provost Pam Benoit said some proposals suggest a completely new structure for the university budget.
There are attempts to think about rethinking the way planning units are doing things
she said, praising departments for keeping in mind the university-wide priority of preserving academics and the student experience.
If the president accepts budget recommendations from the Budget Planning Council, OU will face a $15.7 million hole in the budget for fiscal year 2011. The council, an influential advisory committee, recommended a 2 percent merit raise pool for faculty and administrators and an across-the-board, 2 percent rise for non-union classified employees.
OU could face up to 15 percent cuts in fiscal year 2012, depending on Ohio's budget and federal stimulus money.
Angelini said the prospect of those further cuts on top of dealing with the current scenarios is difficult.
It's a bit overwhelming to look at the reductions
he said. And just to think that we'll be back at it next year - it's extremely disconcerting.
President Roderick McDavis hopes to receive the recommendations by Monday.
(The president) feels the way Dr. Benoit and Mr. Angelini have set this up really very closely works with the units to identify top priorities and preserve the things that are most essential to the mission
said Becky Watts, McDavis's chief of staff.
Along with the cutting scenarios, units were invited to submit any possible new sources of revenue they plan on beginning. Several departments took advantage of that option, including the College of Health and Human Services, the College of Education and the Center for International Studies - which recommend creating new summer and co-op programs.
Administrators say some items listed in various reports are unlikely to be cut at all, but warn some units might need to find other options for reductions. They add that it is highly unlikely any units will see more than a 10 percent cut, but it's possible some units would see less than a 5 percent reduction.
In upcoming weeks, there will be four budget forums aimed at students, faculty, staff and local residents. Benoit and Angelini, along with some of their staff, plan to attend to explain the budgeting process and hear suggestions for future planning.
McDavis plans to present his budget recommendation to the Board of Trustees in April.
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Emily Grannis
