Olivia Arbogast • For The Post • oa191109ohiou.edu
At last night's meeting, Ohio University's Graduate Student Senate questioned the ambiguity of the recent budget cuts draft document produced by the university last week.
The draft presents a breakdown of the proposed budget cuts for the 2010-2011 academic year. The ultimate target is a $13.75 million reduction spread across all areas of the university.
In terms of the Graduate College and Graduate Research, the university is proposing a 7 percent reduction equal to $610,000. Also, approximately $90,000 in graduate stipends may be cut, Senate President Tracy Kelly said.
The biggest concerns among the senators include the reductions of graduate and teaching assistantships and the allocation of external funds toward the deficit.
Cuts in the Graduate College doesn't seem consistent to me with the VisionOhio priority of graduate education
said Kelly in response to the proposed cuts for the Graduate College. I guess I'm having trouble reconciling that right now.
Women's Affairs Commissioner Chelsie Wollett questioned what would happen if the university increased enrollment, which is a part of its smart growth plan, while also decreasing numbers in faculty and graduate assistants. The already-large class sizes would increase, Wollett said, especially in the general education classes, which the university requires for the majority of students.
Senators also asked whether the university plans to use the profits from the sale of Diagnostic Hybrids or from endowment funds to offset the cuts. On a similar note, Craig Meyer, a senator from the College of Arts and Sciences, pointed out that the entire university budget is $600 million, while only $280 million is accounted for in the draft document.
With the feedback she received last night, Kelly said she would compile the information and then share it with the Budget Planning Council at its next meeting, which is scheduled for March 5. Kelly also plans to use the compiled information for the various budget forums throughout the rest of this week. The student specific forum is on Thursday from 6:30-7:30 p.m. The location is to be announced. 1
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Rachel Ferchak
