USM looking at ways to trim budget - Mary Lett, Hattiesbuerg American

A hiring slowdown, larger classes and reducing travel are among the methods the University of Southern Mississippi may use to cut 4½ percent from its annual budget, administrators say. The cost-cutting measures — though not instituted yet — are a response to an enrollment decline over the past few years. This fall, the university experienced a 2.6 percent decrease with 14,845 students enrolled — the number is slightly down from fall 2013 when Southern Miss had 15,249 students. "Our goal is to reduce the budget without impacting the students' experience," Southern Miss Provost Denis Wiesenburg said. "... The cost-cutting measures will have consequences, but we're looking at cuts that will cause the least harm to students or the programs." http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/story/news/education/usm/2014/10/26/usm-trimming-costs/17985431/