U of Alberta faces staff cuts, larger classes - SHEILA PRATT, EDMONTON JOURNAL

Students face larger classes and will see fewer professors as the University of Alberta faces its third tight budget in as many years. Provost Carl Amrhein says the university is "very seriously concerned" about the impact of another year of "flatlining" revenues from both tuition and the province, as well as declining investment income. The university's administration sent a letter to all deans, telling them to plan for further budget tightening in 2012 because the provincial budget next month is expected to hold the line on university operating grants. That money from the province represents about 65 per cent of the university's budget. Leslie Cormack, dean of the arts faculty, is prepared to reduce by seven the number of professors in 2012 - one of the biggest reductions since the Klein era, though there have been some losses in the past two years through early retirements.