Economy Project
(2009-11-18)
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COLUMBIA, MO
(KBIA) -
Missouri's higher education leaders have to get serious about what to do with budget reductions. Governor Jay Nixon announced this week that state universities and colleges would take a 5% budget cut across the board. That goes along with university and college officials not raising tuition for in-state, undergraduate students. Last year, higher education appropriations remained stable since officials agreed to not raise tuition. KBIA's Maureen McCollum has more on the steps Mizzou's campus will have to take.
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Chancellor Brady Deaton says he's worried about the budget cuts. But, he says he'll work with university personnel to make sure education quality is not affected negatively. It's still unclear how much money would be lost...But, based off of last fiscal year's appropriation for Columbia's campus, 5% of the budget would be almost $9.5 million.
Deaton says he anticipated the loss in state funds. Earlier this year, departments campus-wide were told to develop 5, 10, and 15% budget cut scenarios. Now, Deaton says, he'll start working with people on campus to try to adjust.
"This is going to consider serious consideration of whether or not faculty and staff salaries can be adjusted. That's a serious consideration for us. Deferring certain maintenance, deferring faculty positions that we really need, that's going to be affected. We're going to have to look at program and organizational adjustments."
MU's salaries are low compared to similar schools. University leaders see this as a problem for attracting jobs.
As far as making up the lost money, Deaton says they'll have to look for other funding sources.
"We've had a very vibrant fundraising campaign, "For All We Call Mizzou," we completed the billion dollar campaign. We expect to raise over $100 million this year. Those a re key resources to enable us to offset some of this concern and ensure we have the quality teaching in the classroom, for example."
Deaton says they'll also try to profit through research.
The General Assembly still has to approve the tuition freeze and higher education appropriation deal.
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