A little more than a week after passing its budget, Missouri Western State University is shuffling staff positions to acclimate itself to the bleak situation. The university is taking an 8.2 percent cut in state appropriations for the fiscal year 2012, leaving its take from the state about where it was a decade ago. The division of academic affairs announced six changes Friday where it hopes to increase efficiencies by combining department heads and by not filling vacant positions. Dr. Cindy Heider, associate provost and associate vice president for academic affairs, said the resources saved in this effort are being reallocated to instruction and student services, which range from applied learning efforts to grants to study abroad to library services.
