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SOU budget drain avoids 'tipping over' State woes, across-campus cuts could hit $3.7 million By TONY BOOM ASHLAND - Southern Oregon University will cut $3.5 million to $3.7 million - about 5 percent - from its general fund spending for the current biennium. Oregon's state budget crisis accounts for $1.5 million to $1.7 million of the reduction. The other $2 million mostly covers unbudgeted salary and health-care benefit increases. A combination of layoffs, unfilled vacancies, fewer class offerings, service reductions and fewer part-time hires will be used to reach the goal, said SOU President Elisabeth Zinser. Academic programs will not be eliminated and tuition will increase only the scheduled 3 percent. "The cuts are about at that point where we said if we went any deeper we'd be at ... the 'tipping over' point," said Zinser. Further reductions could lead to the elimination of academic programs. "We hope the impacts will be seamless or transparent to students," said Zinser. "They will have to be a bit more careful about how they plan their program." Seniors next year shouldn't have a problem getting the required classes they need to graduate, she said. But students will see fewer electives. Class size will be about the same. Reductions will not be made evenly in all areas. Academic programs, with a 6 to 7 percent overall reduction, will be more protected than other campus operations. New investments in computing science will be protected. Investments will be made in early childhood education, environmental studies and a new honors program. Bigger cuts will fall upon student services, followed by finance and administration, and then research and communication. University relations and the president's office will sustain the largest reductions, 10 percent, Zinser said. Her office plans to reduce its part-time help. Fewer than 10 layoffs are anticipated, said Zinser. Some adjunct faculty members will not be rehired and some contracts will not be renewed. All tenure-track faculty will be retained but they may have increased teaching loads. About seven or eight searches will be conducted for vacant faculty positions that are critical to core programs. "Far more will be left open," said Zinser, who did not specify a number. Some service windows may close for a day. Departments with higher teaching costs, such as those in the sciences, may charge student fees. Greater detail on the reductions was not available. Both Provost Sara Hopkins-Powell and Vice President for Administration and Finance Ron Bolstad were out of town and unavailable for comment. Many of the details remain to be worked out by departments, schools and administrative units, Zinser said. The university's biennial budget totals $128 million for 2001-03. The $74 million general fund includes $39 million in state appropriations with the remainder coming from tuition and fees. Grants and contracts, auxiliary enterprises and private donations make up the rest of the budget. These cannot be used to augment the general fund. SOU began preparation for budget cuts last fall through a plan that generated $1.3 million in savings in reduced spending. Those savings will be coupled with a $2.2 million reduction in the fiscal year beginning July 1 to reach the $3.5 million goal. Reach Ashland bureau reporter Tony Boom at 482-4651, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.