University braces for budget cuts

By Regina Cassell     Mar 8, 2002

The first round of planned Kansas University budget cuts has been submitted to administrators. Now, the waiting begins.

“We need to have a better feel for where we are in the budget before we take any actions,” said Bill Fuerst, dean of the School of Business.

Almost anything is on the table as KU officials face what Chancellor Robert Hemenway says could be the largest budget cut in university history.

Hemenway said Thursday up to 175 faculty and staff positions could be eliminated or left unfilled on the Lawrence campus.

Plans also are under way to eliminate up to 90 staff and 20 faculty positions at KU Medical Center in Kansas City, Kan. In an e-mail last week, Don Hagen, executive vice chancellor for the Med Center, said some staff would be notified this month that positions won’t be renewed.

“Most of it is going to be attrition, holding vacant positions vacant longer and biting the bullet,” said Lindy Eakin, associate provost. “We’d rather do that than eliminate a person.”

Still, some faculty and staff say the cuts would stretch thin those who remain at KU.

“Part of the problem is the classified staff have been downsized for quite a while anyway,” said Mike Auchard, president of the Classified Senate. “There are quite a few people now doing more than their own job, just because positions haven’t been filled.”

Hagen and David Shulenburger, provost and executive vice chancellor, told deans and department heads in December to prepare for cuts.

Overall, Hemenway said KU needs to make up $15.4 million, or 6.4 percent, under the governor’s proposed budget.

Eakin said most, if not all, proposals from deans and department heads included faculty and staff cuts. He said cuts wouldn’t be the same across the university; nonacademic likely would be hit harder than academic units.

Doug Riat, director of Facilities Operations, said the first cuts in his department probably would come in cleaning and maintenance. Buildings likely would be open fewer hours, he said.

Hours also would be trimmed at museums and libraries. Richard Fyffe, interim associate dean of libraries, said about 15 open positions wouldn’t be filled. Budgets for books and journals will be slashed.

At the university’s largest academic unit, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Interim Dean Kathleen McCluskey-Fawcett said she had closed about 12 faculty searches in preparation for next fall. Even if the Legislature restores KU’s funding, she said, it will be too late to fill the positions.

But the cuts likely will need to go even deeper. A 3 percent reduction to the CLAS budget means $1.9 million in cuts.

“These cuts are so severe, we could manage for a year, but we couldn’t manage past that time,” McCluskey-Fawcett said.

A look at how the proposed cuts might affect other schools:

At the School of Education, Dean Angela Lumpkin said student worker positions likely would be eliminated.

The cuts could shorten the hours at Robinson fitness center.

Fuerst, dean of business, said two open faculty positions would not be filled and some staff positions might be eliminated, but he added it was “too early ” to know which ones.

Law Dean Stephen McAllister said one nontenured faculty position, library acquisitions and staff positions might be eliminated.

Carl Locke, dean of engineering, said four open faculty positions likely would not be filled.

Toni-Marie Montgomery, fine arts dean, said computers, software and musical instruments would be on the cut list. Progress might be halted on up to nine faculty searches currently under way.

James Gentry, journalism dean, said two open professorships would not be filled.

University braces for budget cuts

By Regina Cassell     Mar 8, 2002

The first round of planned Kansas University budget cuts has been submitted to administrators. Now, the waiting begins.

“We need to have a better feel for where we are in the budget before we take any actions,” said Bill Fuerst, dean of the School of Business.

Almost anything is on the table as KU officials face what Chancellor Robert Hemenway says could be the largest budget cut in university history.

Hemenway said Thursday up to 175 faculty and staff positions could be eliminated or left unfilled on the Lawrence campus.

Plans also are under way to eliminate up to 90 staff and 20 faculty positions at KU Medical Center in Kansas City, Kan. In an e-mail last week, Don Hagen, executive vice chancellor for the Med Center, said some staff would be notified this month that positions won’t be renewed.

“Most of it is going to be attrition, holding vacant positions vacant longer and biting the bullet,” said Lindy Eakin, associate provost. “We’d rather do that than eliminate a person.”

Still, some faculty and staff say the cuts would stretch thin those who remain at KU.

“Part of the problem is the classified staff have been downsized for quite a while anyway,” said Mike Auchard, president of the Classified Senate. “There are quite a few people now doing more than their own job, just because positions haven’t been filled.”

Hagen and David Shulenburger, provost and executive vice chancellor, told deans and department heads in December to prepare for cuts.

Overall, Hemenway said KU needs to make up $15.4 million, or 6.4 percent, under the governor’s proposed budget.

Eakin said most, if not all, proposals from deans and department heads included faculty and staff cuts. He said cuts wouldn’t be the same across the university; nonacademic likely would be hit harder than academic units.

Doug Riat, director of Facilities Operations, said the first cuts in his department probably would come in cleaning and maintenance. Buildings likely would be open fewer hours, he said.

Hours also would be trimmed at museums and libraries. Richard Fyffe, interim associate dean of libraries, said about 15 open positions wouldn’t be filled. Budgets for books and journals will be slashed.

At the university’s largest academic unit, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Interim Dean Kathleen McCluskey-Fawcett said she had closed about 12 faculty searches in preparation for next fall. Even if the Legislature restores KU’s funding, she said, it will be too late to fill the positions.

But the cuts likely will need to go even deeper. A 3 percent reduction to the CLAS budget means $1.9 million in cuts.

“These cuts are so severe, we could manage for a year, but we couldn’t manage past that time,” McCluskey-Fawcett said.

A look at how the proposed cuts might affect other schools:

At the School of Education, Dean Angela Lumpkin said student worker positions likely would be eliminated.

The cuts could shorten the hours at Robinson fitness center.

Fuerst, dean of business, said two open faculty positions would not be filled and some staff positions might be eliminated, but he added it was “too early ” to know which ones.

Law Dean Stephen McAllister said one nontenured faculty position, library acquisitions and staff positions might be eliminated.

Carl Locke, dean of engineering, said four open faculty positions likely would not be filled.

Toni-Marie Montgomery, fine arts dean, said computers, software and musical instruments would be on the cut list. Progress might be halted on up to nine faculty searches currently under way.

James Gentry, journalism dean, said two open professorships would not be filled.

University braces for budget cuts

By Regina Cassell     Mar 8, 2002

The first round of planned Kansas University budget cuts has been submitted to administrators. Now, the waiting begins.

“We need to have a better feel for where we are in the budget before we take any actions,” said Bill Fuerst, dean of the School of Business.

Almost anything is on the table as KU officials face what Chancellor Robert Hemenway says could be the largest budget cut in university history.

Hemenway said Thursday up to 175 faculty and staff positions could be eliminated or left unfilled on the Lawrence campus.

Plans also are under way to eliminate up to 90 staff and 20 faculty positions at KU Medical Center in Kansas City, Kan. In an e-mail last week, Don Hagen, executive vice chancellor for the Med Center, said some staff would be notified this month that positions won’t be renewed.

“Most of it is going to be attrition, holding vacant positions vacant longer and biting the bullet,” said Lindy Eakin, associate provost. “We’d rather do that than eliminate a person.”

Still, some faculty and staff say the cuts would stretch thin those who remain at KU.

“Part of the problem is the classified staff have been downsized for quite a while anyway,” said Mike Auchard, president of the Classified Senate. “There are quite a few people now doing more than their own job, just because positions haven’t been filled.”

Hagen and David Shulenburger, provost and executive vice chancellor, told deans and department heads in December to prepare for cuts.

Overall, Hemenway said KU needs to make up $15.4 million, or 6.4 percent, under the governor’s proposed budget.

Eakin said most, if not all, proposals from deans and department heads included faculty and staff cuts. He said cuts wouldn’t be the same across the university; nonacademic likely would be hit harder than academic units.

Doug Riat, director of Facilities Operations, said the first cuts in his department probably would come in cleaning and maintenance. Buildings likely would be open fewer hours, he said.

Hours also would be trimmed at museums and libraries. Richard Fyffe, interim associate dean of libraries, said about 15 open positions wouldn’t be filled. Budgets for books and journals will be slashed.

At the university’s largest academic unit, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Interim Dean Kathleen McCluskey-Fawcett said she had closed about 12 faculty searches in preparation for next fall. Even if the Legislature restores KU’s funding, she said, it will be too late to fill the positions.

But the cuts likely will need to go even deeper. A 3 percent reduction to the CLAS budget means $1.9 million in cuts.

“These cuts are so severe, we could manage for a year, but we couldn’t manage past that time,” McCluskey-Fawcett said.

A look at how the proposed cuts might affect other schools:

At the School of Education, Dean Angela Lumpkin said student worker positions likely would be eliminated.

The cuts could shorten the hours at Robinson fitness center.

Fuerst, dean of business, said two open faculty positions would not be filled and some staff positions might be eliminated, but he added it was “too early ” to know which ones.

Law Dean Stephen McAllister said one nontenured faculty position, library acquisitions and staff positions might be eliminated.

Carl Locke, dean of engineering, said four open faculty positions likely would not be filled.

Toni-Marie Montgomery, fine arts dean, said computers, software and musical instruments would be on the cut list. Progress might be halted on up to nine faculty searches currently under way.

James Gentry, journalism dean, said two open professorships would not be filled.

University braces for budget cuts

By Regina Cassell     Mar 8, 2002

The first round of planned Kansas University budget cuts has been submitted to administrators. Now, the waiting begins.

“We need to have a better feel for where we are in the budget before we take any actions,” said Bill Fuerst, dean of the School of Business.

Almost anything is on the table as KU officials face what Chancellor Robert Hemenway says could be the largest budget cut in university history.

Hemenway said Thursday up to 175 faculty and staff positions could be eliminated or left unfilled on the Lawrence campus.

Plans also are under way to eliminate up to 90 staff and 20 faculty positions at KU Medical Center in Kansas City, Kan. In an e-mail last week, Don Hagen, executive vice chancellor for the Med Center, said some staff would be notified this month that positions won’t be renewed.

“Most of it is going to be attrition, holding vacant positions vacant longer and biting the bullet,” said Lindy Eakin, associate provost. “We’d rather do that than eliminate a person.”

Still, some faculty and staff say the cuts would stretch thin those who remain at KU.

“Part of the problem is the classified staff have been downsized for quite a while anyway,” said Mike Auchard, president of the Classified Senate. “There are quite a few people now doing more than their own job, just because positions haven’t been filled.”

Hagen and David Shulenburger, provost and executive vice chancellor, told deans and department heads in December to prepare for cuts.

Overall, Hemenway said KU needs to make up $15.4 million, or 6.4 percent, under the governor’s proposed budget.

Eakin said most, if not all, proposals from deans and department heads included faculty and staff cuts. He said cuts wouldn’t be the same across the university; nonacademic likely would be hit harder than academic units.

Doug Riat, director of Facilities Operations, said the first cuts in his department probably would come in cleaning and maintenance. Buildings likely would be open fewer hours, he said.

Hours also would be trimmed at museums and libraries. Richard Fyffe, interim associate dean of libraries, said about 15 open positions wouldn’t be filled. Budgets for books and journals will be slashed.

At the university’s largest academic unit, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Interim Dean Kathleen McCluskey-Fawcett said she had closed about 12 faculty searches in preparation for next fall. Even if the Legislature restores KU’s funding, she said, it will be too late to fill the positions.

But the cuts likely will need to go even deeper. A 3 percent reduction to the CLAS budget means $1.9 million in cuts.

“These cuts are so severe, we could manage for a year, but we couldn’t manage past that time,” McCluskey-Fawcett said.

A look at how the proposed cuts might affect other schools:

At the School of Education, Dean Angela Lumpkin said student worker positions likely would be eliminated.

The cuts could shorten the hours at Robinson fitness center.

Fuerst, dean of business, said two open faculty positions would not be filled and some staff positions might be eliminated, but he added it was “too early ” to know which ones.

Law Dean Stephen McAllister said one nontenured faculty position, library acquisitions and staff positions might be eliminated.

Carl Locke, dean of engineering, said four open faculty positions likely would not be filled.

Toni-Marie Montgomery, fine arts dean, said computers, software and musical instruments would be on the cut list. Progress might be halted on up to nine faculty searches currently under way.

James Gentry, journalism dean, said two open professorships would not be filled.

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