Units strive to preserve academic core amid state funding cuts

Updated 12:00 PM February 9, 2004

Units strive to preserve academic core amid state funding cuts

By Nancy Connell
News Service

The 5 percent reduction in state appropriation enacted by the state in December has required many units to make program cuts, according to information gathered from around campus by the Office of the Provost.

"The effect of the latest budget cut is being felt across campus, even though units are doing what they can to preserve the core academic enterprise," says Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Paul N. Courant. "Faculty and staff are experiencing greater demands on their time and working with less support in order to make it possible for the University to continue to offer students the quality education that Michigan is known for."

The state has reduced the University's appropriation by $53 million in the last 18 months, from the start of fiscal year 2003 on July 1, 2002, through the cut in December 2003. During that period, U-M's state appropriation decreased 15 percent, from $364 million to $311 million. The December reduction was contained in an executive order issued by Gov. Jennifer Granholm to close a state budget gap of almost $1 billion.

In the last five years, the percent of the University's general fund covered by the state appropriation dropped from 36.5 percent in FY 2002 to 27.9 percent in December 2003, a 23 percent decrease in the extent to which the state supports U-M's general fund spending. The general fund is that part of the budget that covers the University's educational enterprise.

In her State of the State address, Granholm proposed that institutions could mitigate the December reduction by agreeing to hold tuition for the next academic year (beginning September 2004) to the rate of inflation. The governor said that the state would roll back the size of the December reduction to 2 percent for universities that agreed to the proposal, and would issue them a rebate for the difference.

The proposal also indicated that the institutions would have their FY 2004 base appropriations readjusted (to reflect a December reduction of 2 percent rather than 5 percent), and would not experience any further cuts in the FY 2005 budget.

Although the effect often is not visible to students, faculty and staff are feeling the impact of cost-savings realized when vacant positions remain unfilled, Courant says. The workload for teaching, advising, student mentoring and committee work all has increased because departing personnel are not always replaced, he says.

In addition, programs have been reduced and eliminated. For example, the College of Engineering, School of Information and Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy have reported that they reduced funds for visiting scholars and distinguished lecturers; the Law School has reduced support for internships; and the Center for the Education of Women (CEW), Engineering and the Division of Kinesiology have cut back on workshops.

Technology also has been a target for spending cuts. The Taubman College of Architecture Urban Planning, the School of Art & Design, Law, the Medical School, the Media Union, the School of Music, the School of Natural Resources & Environment, and the College of Pharmacy, the Registrar, Financial Aid, New Student Programs, CEW, Evaluations and Examinations, and the Chief Financial Officer all are slowing replacement cycles, and some are eliminating staff positions.

Among the technology projects being delayed are patient simulators for clinical training in the Medical School and a digital archive of the proceedings of the Board of Regents in the Office of the Vice President and Secretary of the University.

The Business School, LSA, Medical School, Information, School of Nursing and Engineering have reduced special funds for faculty research, and the University Library has reduced the acquisition of back issues of certain publications and reduced new title acquisitions by 4,500 titles.

The governor on Feb. 12 will announce her proposed budget for FY 2005, which will contain measures to close a projected state deficit of $1 billion. As part of the legislative process, President Mary Sue Coleman is scheduled to testify before the Senate Subcommittee on Higher Education at 10 a.m. Feb. 27 at U-M-Flint.

Units strive to preserve academic core amid state funding cuts

More Stories