Post by Bornthrilla on Nov 5, 2010 9:00:51 GMT -5
UNCG, A&T plan for faculty, class cuts
Friday, November 5, 2010
(Updated 7:56 am)
By Jonnelle Davis
Staff Writer
CHAPEL HILL — UNCG and N.C. A&T are once again bracing for cuts to the classroom as the UNC system completes a budget to forward to the governor.
The UNC Board of Governors’ budget and finance committee on Thursday approved President Erskine Bowles’ recommended budget for the next academic year, which only includes funding for the system’s highest priorities, totaling more than $105 million.
That budget does not include money for enrollment or need-based financial aid, which will be discussed at a later date. The full board is scheduled to vote today on the proposal.
Gov. Bev Perdue has asked state agencies to prepare budgets that take into account cuts of 5 and 10 percent.
The General Assembly will consider the budget during its next session, which begins in January.
The state is facing a $3.2 billion budget gap fueled by an economy that continues to struggle, the loss of stimulus money and temporary taxes that are set to expire.
For the university system, a 5 percent budget reduction means $135 million in cuts. Cuts rise to $270 million with a 10 percent reduction.
“These are substantial sums of money,” said Jeff Davies, the UNC system’s chief of staff, during Thursday’s meeting.
As many as 1,700 positions across the UNC system would be eliminated if cuts reach 10 percent.
Both UNCG and A&T have made most of their cuts in recent years in administrative areas rather than academic ones. But officials say additional cuts will have to extend to the classroom next year.
UNCG is looking at a loss of 49 full-time faculty and as many as 560 class sections with a 5 percent budget cut. At 10 percent, the university risks losing 103 faculty members and more than 1,100 class sections, Chancellor Linda Brady said.
A&T faces similar problems. A 5 percent cut translates into 51 positions lost. A 10 percent cut could mean 100 positions slashed, said Robert Pompey, A&T’s vice chancellor for business and finance. In both cases at A&T, half of the positions would be faculty.
The elimination of course sections would prevent students from enrolling in the courses they need, possibly delaying their graduation dates.
Brady said she has had campus discussions with student, faculty and staff groups to alert them to what potential cuts could mean.
“The uncertainty is really very difficult for everyone,” Brady said “We’re trying to communicate the seriousness of the situation.”
Read more:
www.news-record.com/content/2010/11/04/article/uncg_at_plan_for_faculty_class_cuts
Friday, November 5, 2010
(Updated 7:56 am)
By Jonnelle Davis
Staff Writer
CHAPEL HILL — UNCG and N.C. A&T are once again bracing for cuts to the classroom as the UNC system completes a budget to forward to the governor.
The UNC Board of Governors’ budget and finance committee on Thursday approved President Erskine Bowles’ recommended budget for the next academic year, which only includes funding for the system’s highest priorities, totaling more than $105 million.
That budget does not include money for enrollment or need-based financial aid, which will be discussed at a later date. The full board is scheduled to vote today on the proposal.
Gov. Bev Perdue has asked state agencies to prepare budgets that take into account cuts of 5 and 10 percent.
The General Assembly will consider the budget during its next session, which begins in January.
The state is facing a $3.2 billion budget gap fueled by an economy that continues to struggle, the loss of stimulus money and temporary taxes that are set to expire.
For the university system, a 5 percent budget reduction means $135 million in cuts. Cuts rise to $270 million with a 10 percent reduction.
“These are substantial sums of money,” said Jeff Davies, the UNC system’s chief of staff, during Thursday’s meeting.
As many as 1,700 positions across the UNC system would be eliminated if cuts reach 10 percent.
Both UNCG and A&T have made most of their cuts in recent years in administrative areas rather than academic ones. But officials say additional cuts will have to extend to the classroom next year.
UNCG is looking at a loss of 49 full-time faculty and as many as 560 class sections with a 5 percent budget cut. At 10 percent, the university risks losing 103 faculty members and more than 1,100 class sections, Chancellor Linda Brady said.
A&T faces similar problems. A 5 percent cut translates into 51 positions lost. A 10 percent cut could mean 100 positions slashed, said Robert Pompey, A&T’s vice chancellor for business and finance. In both cases at A&T, half of the positions would be faculty.
The elimination of course sections would prevent students from enrolling in the courses they need, possibly delaying their graduation dates.
Brady said she has had campus discussions with student, faculty and staff groups to alert them to what potential cuts could mean.
“The uncertainty is really very difficult for everyone,” Brady said “We’re trying to communicate the seriousness of the situation.”
Read more:
www.news-record.com/content/2010/11/04/article/uncg_at_plan_for_faculty_class_cuts
