Faculty Senate introduced to “Budget Redesign” - Tim McDonnell, Arizona Wildcat

Money was on the minds of members of the Faculty Senate at its meeting last night, with informational briefings from a number of administrators on issues related to the UA’s budget.
The budget is “the not-quite-four-letter word that’s on all our minds these days,” President Robert Shelton said. In her opening address to the Senate, Provost Meredith Hay introduced a large-scale reformation of the UA’s budget management process known as the “Budget Redesign,” which Hay called “probably the most complicated, in-depth redesign of the university’s budget ever.” The plan, which Hay said will take many months to put in place, would involve funneling available dollars more directly to the colleges, especially the tuition money those colleges are responsible for bringing in.

Demonstrators Hold Funeral-Themed Protestagainst Budget Cuts - Cristian Macavei, Daily Californian

Dozens of UC Berkeley students, faculty and staff gathered in front of Sproul Hall for the Mexican Day of the Dead holiday to mourn the "death of public education" and its impact on minority students at the university. Members of Berkeley Students Against the Cuts, university employee unions and other members of the campus community marched from Upper Sproul Plaza to California Hall where they enacted a funeral for those affected by university budget cuts. Organizers said the funeral motif was spurred by a comment UC President Mark Yudof made in a Sept. 24 interview with The New York Times Magazine.

Revenue Dip for Private Colleges - Jack Stripling, Inside Higher Ed

Private colleges bolstered financial aid and decreased selectivity to help sustain enrollment in a downward economy, but a significant number still expect tuition and fee revenues to decline this year, according to a survey released today by Moody’s Investors Service. Nearly 30 percent of the 100 private colleges that responded to Moody’s survey project their net tuition and fee revenues to fall in the 2010 fiscal year, which began in July at most institutions. The percentage of colleges reporting anticipated revenue declines is higher than in recent years, when an average of fewer than 10 percent of those surveyed recorded decreases.

Economy sending more students to community college - Zack Harold, Charleston Daily Mail staff

West Virginia's community and technical colleges are benefiting from enrollment bumps as students seek shelter from a shaky economy. "Typically when the economy dips, community college enrollment increases," said Jim Skidmore, chancellor of the West Virginia Community and Technical College System. "With the downturn in the economy, tuition rates are lower and kids are staying closer to home with plans to move to four-year institutions later." West Virginia State University Community and Technical College's enrollment is up 28 percent with 2,227 students this fall, 490 more than last year.

Higher education tuition continues to inflate - Lyle Moran, Daily Free Press

Announcements of rising tuition rates have become a rite of passage every spring at colleges and universities across the country. Tuition at Boston University jumped from $36,540 to $37,910, an increase of $1,370, for the 2009-10 academic year. The change in tuition represented a 3.75 percent increase over the previous academic year. BU was not alone in raising tuition. Private not-for-profit universities in the U.S. raised their tuition an average of 4.4 percent in constant dollars according to the College Board’s “Trends in College Pricing” report released on October 20.

Club demands University budget transparency - The Progressive Student Center, Hofstra Chronicle

As evidenced through our numerous interactions with the University student body, there exists a serious level of mistrust between students and administration. The Progressive Student Union is deeply concerned with this mistrust, and in an effort to improve relations between students and administration, is proposing that the University make the budget public information that is readily viewable. Our story begins when we identified, through past campaigns and petitions, a feeling shared by a majority of students that there is an inadequate amount of information available regarding the current spending of the University tuition and fees.

Higher ed cuts: Officials see possible tuition, fee hikes - Karina Donica, the Town Talk

Louisiana state leaders have begun talks about the next round of budget cuts to higher education student, and higher student fees and tuition are among the ways being discussed to help lessen the impact on the institutions.Louisiana higher education institutions could face approximately $150 million in cuts for fiscal 2010-11, according to the Board of Regents.

Obama community college proposal may not be enough - DEANNA MARTIN, Associated Press

Arthur Call commutes three hours roundtrip to his anatomy class at community college because similar courses on campuses closer to his Indianapolis home are packed this semester. "Classes around the state were just full," says Call, a full-time student who takes the rest of his classes in Indianapolis. "Thank God it's only Tuesdays. I just have to drive there once a week." President Barack Obama wants to invest some $12 billion in community colleges with the aim of seeing an additional 5 million students graduate by 2020. This goal comes while many schools are already bursting at the seams with droves of displaced workers hit by the recession competing with traditional students seeking an education bargain.

S.C. State faces $6M shortfall - WAYNE WASHINGTON, the State

Roughly 300 new and transfer students who were expected to enroll never did, said Charles N. Davis, S.C. State's vice president for student affairs. Another 900 full-time and part-time students - including 118 seniors - who were expected to return to school did not, David said.
University officials scrambled to figure out why. Employees from various university offices - admissions, registrar's, financial aid, business and finance - worked in what Cooper called a "triage unit" to call students who had not completed the enrollment process.

Budget Cuts Hurt MSU - Brittany Gray, WLNS

It seems no one can hide from state budget crisis and that's certainly the case for Michigan State University. Budget cuts have forced MSU to consider restructuring or eliminating several programs. University officials met with a room packed full of students, faculty and staff to discuss possible departments and programs on the chopping block. As you might imagine, emotions ran high, but the MSUu administration says there's not enough money and not enough support for higher education.

Missouri State University board hears plans for budget cutbacks - Amos Bridges, News-Leader

Preliminary plans for cutting about $5.5 million from Missouri State University's 2010-11 budget appeared to have the tentative support of MSU's board of governors. No board members voiced serious opposition to the cost-saving plans outlined by MSU President Mike Nietzel, and several members said they were glad the university was planning ahead for anticipated cuts in state funding in coming years.

MSU considers academic, operational cost-cutting measures

As Michigan State University continues to shape its future and look for ways to reduce expenses while maintaining quality, efficiency and effectiveness, the MSU Board of Trustees received a report outlining a series of recommendations that could do just that. At its Oct. 30 meeting, the board was presented outlines from Provost Kim Wilcox and Vice President for Finance and Operations Fred Poston that are part of the university’s ongoing budget-reduction process. Wilcox told the board that he is endorsing a series of changes that have been identified at this stage of the planning process. “We are in the early stages of a focused MSU budget reduction process,” said MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon. “We have committed to making that process transparent. As we saw at today’s meeting many voices will continue to be heard as we work through the process.”

Princeton University announces 43 layoffs in budget cutting plan - The Star-Ledger

Princeton University announced today layoffs for 43 employees and the reduction in hours for 18 other positions as part of a two-year budget reduction plan to address a sharp decline in the university's endowment. The staff cuts follow a voluntary early retirement program that led 145 employees to leave Princeton. In announcing the layoffs, Princeton officials said it would help the university achieve a $170 million reduction in its operating budget over two years.

Regents approve ISU budget cuts - James Pusey, Ames Tribune

The Iowa Board of Regents approved a strategy to cut $24.5 million from Iowa State University’s budget at their meeting yesterday in Cedar Falls. ISU President Greg Geoffroy proposed a $100 tuition increase for the spring semester, a temporary reduction in employee retirement benefits and temporary layoffs implemented on a graduated scale based on salary. A motion to preliminarily approve the $100 spring tuition surcharge for full-time students passed with a vote of 5-4, and a final vote on the surcharge will take place at the regents’ next meeting in December.

University presidents decline bonuses - B.A. Morelli, Iowa City Press-Citizen

The presidents of University of Iowa, Iowa State University and University of Northern Iowa have declined the possibility for performance bonuses in light of budget woes, at an Iowa state Board of Regents meeting today. The bonuses amount to a 15 percent cut in UI President Sally Mason’s earning potential, 12 percent for ISU President Gregory Geoffroy and 8 percent of UNI President Ben Allen. This amounts to $155,000 in savings, including $80,000 from Mason, who has $450,000 in base salary before bonuses. “It’s best to simply decline the performance-based part of my salary for the coming year,” Mason said.

Parkinson ready to make more budget cuts in Kansas - The Associated Press

Gov. Mark Parkinson says he's prepared to cut spending still further to keep the state's budget balanced in the current fiscal year. The governor also said Wednesday that he's willing to take the political heat for making cuts. State officials and university economists are to meet next week to revise their revenue projections for the fiscal year that began July 1. Parkinson says he expects the new forecast to be more pessimistic than the current one.

Faculty jobs at risk as university balances budget - Liana Bayne, Collegiate Times

As the economy continues to gasp for air, state funding for higher education continues to sink.
Virginia Tech is facing a new reduction of over $26.4 million in state funding this semester, sending the total reductions since October 2007 over $68.5 million. This decrease in funding, taken from the university’s general fund, will force Tech to find ways to significantly decrease its expenditures.

Furlough frenzy hits California colleges - Kerianne Okie, Tufts Daily

College students generally revel in the prospect of missing class without repercussions, rejoicing over snow days and surprise class cancellations. But for students in the California State University (CSU) system, in which statewide budget cuts have led to a marked decrease in the number of classes being held, the joy is becoming increasingly bittersweet. In an effort to reduce expenditures, the CSU system is requiring faculty and staff across its 23 campuses to take a 10 percent salary cut and forego teaching classes for two furlough days each month for the 2009-2010 academic year.

Some profs want Cal to stop subsidizing sports - Nanette Asimov, San Francisco Chronicle

When UC Berkeley lends its Department of Intercollegiate Athletics millions of dollars to pay its bills each year - and even forgives that debt at times - it's helping a top-tier college sports program beloved by thousands of fans. But a growing number of Cal academics are disturbed by the practice, arguing that the prestigious research university should not subsidize elite athletes at a time of soaring college costs, faculty furloughs and reduced course offerings.

University budget finalized - JUSTIN HERBERGER, the Appalacian

Appalachian State University received its certified budget last week, after months of back-and-forth deliberations and meetings between the agencies responsible for allocating money within the university’s budget. This year’s budget has been reduced by a permanent cut of 5.2 percent and a 5 percent allocations hold back that depends on the revenue the state is able to generate this year.

CSU Stanislaus plans to drop winter term in 2011 - Patty Guerra, Modesto Bee

In 1973, California State College, Stanislaus, implemented a new schedule to boost enrollment and attract more students. It included a winter term, which offered the chance to explore new fields or study overseas. Monday, the university announced the end of winter term, effective in the 2010-11 school year. The campus will move from its 13-week fall and spring semesters and four-week winter term to two 15-week semesters and an "intersession." Although he said it will save California State University, Stanislaus, an estimated $1.2 million, President Ham Shirvani said the move was not solely motivated by money.