Committee to consider commencement, athletics cuts

Members of the Salary and Benefits Committee have the opportunity today to discuss more thoroughly the cost saving measures presented at the campus forum in February — cutting one or two commencement ceremonies, increasing graduate level tuition and reviewing revenue and expenditures for the athletic budget, among other ideas.

Since January, University Treasurer Randy Howard has been sharing information with various university governance bodies about possible budget cuts, and members of the Salary and Benefits Committee, a branch of Faculty Council, have no reason to believe today's meeting will be any different.

Howard said he hopes for an open discussion between the members of the committee and him. He said the idea to increase graduate level tuition is still being considered, but the question is when to implement it.

Provost Terry King said President Jo Ann Gora and the Board of Trustees will ultimately decide if one or two commencement ceremonies will be cut. It's something that's been considered for years, he said. Ball State started having fall and summer commencements years ago when enrollment was higher.

King said the ceremony in December is the most feasible to eliminate.

Commencement coordinator Sharon Woodruff said her department does its best to justify having all three ceremonies. According to last year's graduation figures, about half of the potential graduates take part in summer and spring ceremonies, and a third take part in the fall commencement.

Athletics Director Tom Collins said the university vice presidents will probably be reviewing ideas until late next week. He said his department is reviewing gaps in revenue and expenses, but they're not looking to cut any sports.

Dustin Supa, assistant professor of journalism and member of the committee, said with the campus forum coming up in 13 days, he's looking for specifics.

"We know they're making cuts," he said. "What we don't know is where they're coming from. As long as they're accurately reporting the cuts, none of them seem unreasonable."

Supa said if the administration follows through with what it says they're considering, and what it isn't, students and faculty have nothing to worry about.

He said the Salary and Benefits Committee was adamantly against implementing mandatory furloughs — unpaid leaves of absence ­— and it was encouraging to see it among the ideas not being considered by the administration.

"It's good they are in fact listening to the governance committees," Supa said.

Even so, he said Gora and her cabinet are being asked to make a a huge decision with a very quick turn around.

"What I fear is there will be no specifics given until March 16," he said. "Certainly the president and cabinet have the right to do that. I think more time between would be better."

Committee members haven't received an agenda for the meeting, but Supa said that is typical. He said he speculates faculty will see some potential cuts in benefits.

He said members might be asked to contribute more to health care and retirement, but he doesn't see salary cuts any time soon.

Eric Kelly, professor of urban planning and member of the committee, said Howard is open with offering information. He said the committee has been looking into cost savings, but things move slowly through the governance system.

Ball State currently makes 100 percent contributions to the faculty's pension plans, Kelly said. He said asking faculty to match the university's contribution in the future isn't unreasonable.

"I think it shows we're serious about the benefits," he said.

David Shawger, assistant professor of theatre and member of the committee, said to him it's just another meeting. He said he thinks the committee will be looking at what other universities have proposed, but in many places those ideas are not what Ball State is looking to cut.

For example, Purdue University plans to cut health care benefits by 5 percent and give the money back to faculty members. At Ball State, the group is looking at more cost-effective ways to save money, Shawger said.

"Everyone's a little apprehensive," he said. "[The administration] doesn't intend to cut furloughs or salaries. They don't want people up in arms."


Some ideas the cabinet won't recommend at this time:
Increase base tuition
Implement across the board cuts in salary
Implement mandatory furloughs

Some categories being considered
Changes to employee benefits
Continue hiring slowdown
Review athletic budgets — revenue and expenditures

Number of graduates who take part in commencement
Summer 2009 - 1,216 graduates; 636 walked
Fall 2009 - 1,142 graduates; 462 walked
Spring 2009 - 2,509 graduates; 1,692 walked
Spring 2010 - 2,599 are scheduled to graduate; about 1,600 expected to walk

Next campus forum:
4 p.m., March 16 at the Student Center