Ohio University released its budget reduction targets Friday, moving one step closer to finalizing its budget for fiscal year 2012.
Scenarios from OU’s academic colleges and non-academic support units propose eliminating some electives, offering classes less frequently, increasing some class sizes and laying off a total of about 13 university employees.
Administrators at a news conference Friday praised the creative budget planning exhibited in the reduction scenarios. Benoit cited staff restructuring, class reorganization and non-personnel savings as examples of creative budgeting.
“One of the themes (of these scenarios) … are the deans and chairs are trying to reduce impact on students as much as possible,” said Executive Vice President and Provost Pam Benoit.
The College of Arts and Sciences indicated it might increase some class sizes and cut some elective courses, Benoit said.
The Scripps College of Communication also suggested eliminating certain electives because an estimated seven faculty members could retire after this academic year, according to the budget scenario document.
“There might be fewer courses, but the most important ones are still there,” Benoit said, adding that some courses might be offered less frequently as opposed to eliminated altogether.
As a means to generate revenue and soften the blow of its unit’s cuts, the Division of Student Affairs proposed adding and resizing judicial fines and raising the price of tickets for Family Weekend events.
“Our main objective was to save anyone’s job that we could save … and at the same time at least try to maintain the services that we offer to students,” said Kent Smith, vice president for Student Affairs. “… All students have to do is follow the rules that are in place and … they won’t have to see these (judicial) fines.”
The university will host two budget forums this week: The first is today from noon to 1:30 p.m. in 024 Ellis Hall, and the second is Wednesday from 4 to 5:30 p.m. in 194 Clippinger Laboratories. McDavis is scheduled to release final budget recommendations May 12, and OU’s Board of Trustees will approve a budget at its June 24 meeting.
Although the university projects it is facing a total deficit of $9.6 million for next fiscal year, that number will not be final until a state budget is approved by Ohio’s legislature.
“We have to continue to pay attention to what is happening in Columbus,” said Stephen Golding, OU’s vice president for Finance and Administration. “While we think we are within a reasonable tolerance of where the budget will end up, we also have to remain cognizant that there could be changes.”
The number of layoffs could also change depending on the amount of OU employees who choose an early retirement option, OU President Roderick McDavis said.
Currently, 40 employees have accepted early retirement or voluntary separation plans. OU officials are estimating between 20 percent and 22 percent of the 1,197 eligible employees will accept a buyout plan.
Final deadlines for accepting a buyout plan range from June 30 of this year to June 30 of 2012. Throughout the next year to 18 months, OU plans to hire back about 60 percent of employees who accept buyouts, Golding said.
The budget reduction scenarios for both academic colleges and non-academic support units indicate an additional 13 employees could be laid off.
“(Layoffs) are never a happy scenario, but we’re pleased that it’s not more,” McDavis said.
— Pat Holmes contributed to this article.
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