To: UT Knoxville Campus Faculty and Staff From: Interim Chancellor Jan Simek Subject: Knoxville Campus Budget Cuts
Over the past several weeks, news reports from Nashville about the state's economic downturn have generated interest and apprehension among many here on campus. It is, no doubt, a difficult time for all of us.
Today, I wanted to share the broad outlines of our plan for UT Knoxville to deal with the budget cut in the next fiscal year as a result of this downturn. The campus leadership was informed of the specific budget reduction figures Wednesday and we believe it is important for us to share as much information with you as we can on this tight timeline.
The state budget shortfall has resulted in a 4.1 percent funding reduction to the UT system, which has, in turn, resulted in a 5.7 percent base funding cut for UT Knoxville.
First, the central campus administration will handle a 3.7 percent reduction - thereby reducing the necessary cuts to academic and non-academic units to an average of 2 percent. The central campus administration budget reduction plan includes targeted program and position cuts, increased efficiencies in administrative processes, reallocation of resources, increases in charges to auxiliary funds, as well as delays in planned expenses in areas such as the Instructional Equipment Fund.
While this budget reduction cannot come without pain, it is necessary. In this plan, there will not be a hiring freeze and we will continue to fill critical positions. There will not, regrettably, be pay raises for faculty and staff in this budget.
Our goal is to allow maximum flexibility for the deans and vice chancellors to make the cuts in their areas, which will result in more strategic decisions. These cuts must not be across-the-board reductions.
The provost will submit the proposed cuts for the academic units after receiving recommendations from the deans, while the vice chancellors will submit the proposed cuts for their areas. We will share those recommendations with the campus community as soon as they are finalized.
While we regret that these reductions are required, we believe that the institution is harmed more when all programs are cut equally. We will make tough decisions, with an eye toward preserving the quality of our programs. In some units, these cuts could come in the form of elimination of positions. In other areas, it could mean the elimination of programs. These difficult decisions are best made by those closest to the programs, who share our commitment to academic and programmatic excellence.
cont. on next post. Tony F.
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toneloc1969 writes:
Here is the memo about UT's budget situation.
Thanks, Tony F.
May 16, 2008
To: UT Knoxville Campus Faculty and Staff
From: Interim Chancellor Jan Simek
Subject: Knoxville Campus Budget Cuts
Over the past several weeks, news reports from Nashville about the
state's economic downturn have generated interest and apprehension among
many here on campus. It is, no doubt, a difficult time for all of us.
Today, I wanted to share the broad outlines of our plan for UT Knoxville
to deal with the budget cut in the next fiscal year as a result of this
downturn. The campus leadership was informed of the specific budget
reduction figures Wednesday and we believe it is important for us to
share as much information with you as we can on this tight timeline.
The state budget shortfall has resulted in a 4.1 percent funding
reduction to the UT system, which has, in turn, resulted in a 5.7
percent base funding cut for UT Knoxville.
First, the central campus administration will handle a 3.7 percent
reduction - thereby reducing the necessary cuts to academic and
non-academic units to an average of 2 percent. The central campus
administration budget reduction plan includes targeted program and
position cuts, increased efficiencies in administrative processes,
reallocation of resources, increases in charges to auxiliary funds, as
well as delays in planned expenses in areas such as the Instructional
Equipment Fund.
While this budget reduction cannot come without pain, it is necessary.
In this plan, there will not be a hiring freeze and we will continue to
fill critical positions. There will not, regrettably, be pay raises for
faculty and staff in this budget.
Our goal is to allow maximum flexibility for the deans and vice
chancellors to make the cuts in their areas, which will result
in more strategic decisions. These cuts must not be across-the-board
reductions.
The provost will submit the proposed cuts for the academic units after
receiving recommendations from the deans, while the vice chancellors
will submit the proposed cuts for their areas. We will share those
recommendations with the campus community as soon as they are finalized.
While we regret that these reductions are required, we believe that the
institution is harmed more when all programs are cut equally. We will
make tough decisions, with an eye toward preserving the quality of our
programs. In some units, these cuts could come in the form of
elimination of positions. In other areas, it could mean the elimination
of programs. These difficult decisions are best made by those closest to
the programs, who share our commitment to academic and programmatic
excellence.
cont. on next post. Tony F.
Share your thoughts
Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.