UIS braces for budget cuts

Admins cautiously reassure community about university finances

December 9, 2009
By Andrew Mitchell
Copy Editor

In the wake of the statehouse's ongoing budget stalemate, the University of Illinois system is bracing itself for a possible fiscal emergency this school year and budget cuts for the next.

No one is hitting the panic button yet, but in an e-mail sent by former University President B. Joseph White last month, all three campuses were encouraged to prepare themselves.

“Whether the Governor and General Assembly will make downward adjustments to our current budget is unknown and may not be known for several months,” he wrote. “Given this possibility, however, we must take steps now to manage as prudently as possible.”

The problem, according to the e-mail, is that the state has been slow in paying out money it allocated to the University in their budget for Fiscal Year 2010. (A fiscal year starts in July and ends in June and is named for the end year.)

Students could see the potential budget cut in a
variety of ways, from fewer sections of a certain class and
less supplies, to bigger class sizes for general education courses.

According to UIS Provost Harry Berman, out of the approximately $343 million budgeted for the University this semester, the state has only around paid around $400,000.

“It puts everybody in a bind,” he said.

Half of the school's funding comes from the state, while the other comes from tuition. Unlike Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, who recently had to appeal to the state for funding just to make payroll, the U of I system has, “more flexibility…more capacity to endure,” said Berman, because of tuition, research funding and other sources of funds.

“But it can't go on forever,” said UIS Chancellor Richard Ringeisen. Which is why he and others in the university are nervous to see how the state will try to get out its $12 billion budget shortfall when the General Assembly reconvenes in January.

Despite the general uncertainty, the university is planning for a 10 percent budget cut from the state, which would mean a five percent cut to their overall budget. Students could see that budget cut in a variety of ways, from fewer sections of a certain class and less supplies, to bigger class sizes for general education courses.

“We will be able to offer the required classes you need to graduate,” said James Ermatinger, Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at UIS, “it's just that you may not get the courses you want, meaning that instead of say four elective opportunities, you may have a choice of three.” He added that instead of having the option to take a class at 8 a.m. or 2 p.m., there may be only one time available.

Tuition will also almost certainly rise to make up for part of the difference.

But Ringeisen and Ermatinger both say there is some hope in UIS's growth on-campus and online; more students attending means more tuition dollars added to the budget.

University employees can also pin some hope on the fact that President White said there were no plans for any unpaid furlough days this calendar year.         

“Furloughs are the next to last thing I want to do, with the first being layoffs,” Ringeisen said.

Under the planned scenario, Ermatinger said there was no danger of anyone losing their job, but the number of adjunct professors would likely decrease and the university will hesitate to replace any professor planning to retire.

Until the state government takes action or delivers on their funds, Ringeisen says the university will do all it can.

“When you're a big ship at sea, and a big storm is coming, you don't shut your engines off,” he said. “You move forward or else you get washed ashore.”