As found on the WSC website: For Immediate Release
Contact: Lea Ann Erickson Assistant Vice President of Public Relations and Marketing
October 29, 2009
Due to today’s announcement of 9C budget cuts, Worcester State College will see a 7 percent reduction in state appropriations. This brings the college to pre-1999 funding levels. The college has seen a 22 percent reduction in state funding since FY 2008.
All of the $1.5 million reduction will be offset by federal stimulus dollars. This one-time allocation will be primarily used to fund college utility costs. In addition, unfunded fringe benefit costs due to the 9C cuts must be provided for within the existing operating budget. We will strive to reduce the impact of these cuts on student and academic programs.
Moving forward, the college will be formulating its strategy for FY 2011 and FY2 012 budgets. This poses a significant challenge as no federal stimulus dollars will be on the table beyond FY 2011.
The college’s leadership team will be meeting weekly through December to address this issue. We will be reaching out to departments for their input. We look forward to working with all of you in an inclusive process.
Sincerely,
President Janelle Ashley |
MY QUESTIONS:
- How has our funding and usage of monies shrunk back to what they were ten years ago?
- If the reduction is being offset by stimulus money (a one-time payment) and the college aims to reduce the impact of these cuts on student and academic programs, why the hell would we spend it on "utility costs"?
- What are those mysterious unfunded fringe benefits?
- The college is planning ahead for FYs 2011 and 2012. President Ashley mentioned that there will not be stimulus money on the table. What did the college do before all this stimulus business and why is it being considered as part of the long-term equation?
- Who are the members of the leadership team?
- President Ashley hopes for an inclusive process, but does that include students?
All of this financial talk has motivated me to write and submit a formal letter to the President, expressing my concerns and those of my classmates. Next, I plan to petition to collect names and signatures of other students to join me in these efforts. Alone, I will have the effect of a pebble on a lake's surface, but with the support of others I should be able to create a monsoon.
Can I do it?
