President George Benson announced to students on Feb. 4 that the College would be implementing a five percent cut in all campus operating budgets, with the exception of core operating areas, according to his e-mail.
State government budget reductions led to the College’s cuts, according to the e-mail. The most recent cut was $1.25 million in December, and more decreases are expected by July. The College must cut expenses in certain areas in order to make up for this loss.
“On Dec. 15 the State Budget and Control Board cut five percent from the state-appropriated operating budgets of all state agencies,” said Benson and his executive team in an e-mail. “As a part of absorbing this mandated decrease, the College was forced to implement a five percent reduction in all campus operating budgets, except those that are earmarked as core operating areas or are subject to contractual obligations, such as insurance, electricity and leases.”
Benson and his team said this latest cut from the state government continues a long decline in state support for higher education.
“Through the 1990s, the state’s contribution shrunk to about 30 percent of the College’s operating budget,” Benson said. “Over the past two years, the state has cut $11.2 million from the College’s budget and now provides only 11.6 percent of the College’s total operating budget.”
The executive vice presidents of each area of the College must decide how to absorb the cuts in their respective divisions, Benson and his team said. The College is trying to make the cuts in areas that least affect students.
“Budget cuts to operating budgets tend to affect areas such as faculty research and travel, supplies, equipment and purchases, all items that have limited direct impact on students,” said Provost George Hynd and outgoing Interim Provost Beverly Diamond in an e-mail. “A department or school that might normally provide a summer research stipend for a student might no longer be able to do so.  Still, effects on students are mostly indirect at this point.”
Executive Vice President for Student Affairs Victor Wilson also said he doesn’t expect cuts to directly affect students too much.
“[I do] not expect the cuts to negatively impact any student programs or services outside of the classroom,” Wilson said.
Changes as a result of these cuts aren’t drastic, but areas will need to be restored.
“Funding for faculty travel and research, equipment and supplies will need to be restored, but as a temporary measure, the changes are not drastic,” Hynd and Diamond said.
Benson said cuts might affect certain things in the future.
“Over the long-term, however, continued state budget cuts could begin to affect quality in terms of what the faculty bring to the classroom, being up-to-date with their disciplines and the ability to work with students in advanced areas,” Benson said.
The College is expecting more cuts in the future, Benson said.
“Unfortunately, given the slow pace of the state’s economic recovery, additional state budget cuts are likely within this fiscal year or during the fiscal year that begins on July 1,” Benson said.
In the meantime, the College is continuing to look for alternative funding sources, Benson said.
“The College will continue to seek efficiencies and alternative sources of funding in an effort to minimize any impact on students, faculty and staff,” Benson said.  “Through careful fiscal management, the College has avoided the furloughs and layoffs that other state-funded institutions have been forced to implement.  At this point, there are no plans for furloughs or reductions-in-force at the College.”
Benson says he is confident that the College will get through this and continue to implement its new strategic plan.
“The College can and will emerge from these difficult economic times as a strong and viable institution of higher education,” Benson said. “The implementation of the College’s new strategic plan will continue, enabling us to achieve national and international distinction and a more secure financial future.”