Announcements
June 16, 2010
Recently, Governor Perdue signed the State Budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1. The good news for GSU is that the budget signed by the Governor, combined with continued enrollment growth and the tuition and fee schedules recently enacted by the USG Board of Regents, provides us with the resources necessary for sustaining our commitments to excellence and quality enhancements.
I must, however, add a cautionary remark about Georgia’s overall economic situation. State revenues for the month of May showed a 6-percent decline over the preceding year. The long-term implications of that decline are not yet clear. Recall that last year, because of declining State revenues, our budget for the fiscal year was revised downward in August. That revision led to cuts, including furloughs. We are not at that point now, but if State revenues continue to decline our budget could be reduced at some point during the fiscal year. We are doing our best to monitor the situation, and we will continue to keep you informed as relevant new information becomes available.
Sincerely,
Mark P. Becker
President
March 1, 2010
Dear faculty, staff and students,
As you've seen in the news in recent days, the Joint Higher Education Subcommittee of the General Assembly directed the University System of Georgia to explain how it would absorb an additional $300 million cut in state funding for fiscal year 2011, which begins July 1, 2010. To that end, each of the 35 University System presidents was directed to prepare an assessment of the impact that the pro-rated share of the cut would have on her or his campus. Georgia State University's portion of such a cut would be $34 million.
Knowing that specifics of our assessment of the potential impact of a $34M cut to GSU are likely to become public soon, I'm writing to provide you with some information and context. As directed by the subcommittee, the assessment that we provided did not include a tuition increase nor did it include other factors that could help offset some portion of this staggering reduction in state funding to GSU.
To be sure, the most alarming element in GSU's assessment of the impact of a $34M cut is the potential elimination of 622 filled positions. A cut of that magnitude also could force us to admit more than 1,000 fewer students annually. None of us wants to see anything close to these actions happening at GSU or at any other System institution. Such actions would be devastating to students and to our state. That is for certain.
The subcommittee's direction to look at the potential impact of a $300M additional budget reduction for the University System does not represent a real or immediate reduction. The legislative budget process is continuing, and the information we've provided is helping our elected officials to understand the full depth of the scenario that they asked us to consider.
At this time we do not know what the actual cut to Georgia State will be when the legislative process concludes, nor do we know what other factors will emerge in the coming days and weeks to help us mitigate the effects of a cut. We are working with the University System and with legislators to make the case that higher education, and particularly Georgia State University, is important to Georgia's ability to return to growth and prosperity. The long-term future of our state depends on growing, not shrinking, the number of well-educated Georgians.
This is a fluid process and we may not know the full extent of what will be required of us for some time. Still, I think it appropriate and important to have an open and honest discussion of where we are and what may be on the horizon.
We will hold a town hall meeting Wednesday, March 3, at 3 p.m. in the Student Center Ballroom. During the meeting I will provide an update on the legislature's budget process as it pertains to GSU, and I will answer your questions. Similar to last fall's town hall meetings, we ask that you e-mail questions in advance to budget@gsu.edu. You also will have the opportunity to submit written questions on note cards provided at the session. Only written questions will be addressed.
This is a challenging budget climate and has been for quite some time. You have been terrific in shouldering the burden placed upon us by this recession. I thank each of you for your commitment to Georgia State University, and for the sacrifices you have made in the service of GSU and our students.
Sincerely,
Mark P. Becker
President
August 12, 2009
Dear Colleagues:
This letter is to update you on today’s developments in Georgia State’s continued budget cuts. This morning, the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia approved a plan for the state’s 35 public colleges and universities to reduce the state- funded portions of their budgets by 6 percent for the current fiscal year. This plan achieves the budget reductions as required by the Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget, which amounts to about $12.3 million for Georgia State.
As part of our plan, faculty and staff will be furloughed. Prior to June 30, 2010, employees will be required to take eight unpaid furlough days. Our plan includes two additional furlough days beyond the minimum established today by the Board of Regents. We believe these additional days are necessary to meet our budgetary requirements. Senior leadership is voluntarily taking 12 unpaid furlough days during the same time.
The Georgia State plan also includes the elimination of a limited number of positions. More information on the reduction in force will be released as soon as possible.
We are taking additional steps, beyond this e- mail, to provide information about how the budget cuts will affect Georgia State, including specific details on how furloughs will be implemented.
We have scheduled two town hall meetings to take and answer questions. The meetings will be at 9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. on August 20 in Speaker’s Auditorium in the Student Center. Questions may be submitted via e- mail through budget@gsu.edu, and there will be an opportunity to submit questions in writing at the meetings.
This is, of course, an extremely challenging budget climate. However, we are doing everything possible to minimize the effects of cuts on the quality of the education we provide at Georgia State. Again, I thank each of you for your continued commitment to our students and the university during this time.
Sincerely,
Mark Becker
President
August 10, 2009
Dear Colleagues:
I am writing to provide you with an update on the impending cuts to Georgia State’s funding from the State of Georgia, and to give you a sense of where we are headed at this time.
As I mentioned in my last note, the University System of Georgia directed us to submit proposals outlining how we can reduce our budget. Specifically, we were asked to detail cuts of 4, 6 and 8 percent of our annual State operating budget. The 4-percent proposal would reduce our budget by about $8.7 million annually; the 6-percent plan takes that to more than $13 million; and the 8-percent plan amounts to $17.4 million. We have submitted our proposals, and we expect that the Board of Regents will give us guidance on which plan to implement immediately when they meet tomorrow and Wednesday.
A required element of the plans submitted was the implementation of furloughs. As you know, Governor Perdue has directed all State agencies to implement furloughs. The University System of Georgia is expected to comply with that directive, but the exact number of furlough days for Georgia State will not be known until after the Board of Regents completes its business meetings this week.
However, I share with you now that I have requested of all deans and vice presidents that they join me in voluntarily taking 12 unpaid furlough days between now and the end of June 2010. All of us will need to make sacrifices in the year ahead, and the 12 furlough days to be taken by the senior leadership is greater than what will be required of other GSU employees under the plans submitted.
You may have read in the newspaper recently that some people are speculating that this next round of budget cuts will necessarily reduce the quality of education offered to students on some campuses in the University System. While Georgia State will see increased enrollments in some course sections, and fewer low enrollment courses offered, the overall quality of a Georgia State University education will in no way be reduced.
You can expect another update from me once we have the decision from the Board of Regents. In the meantime, I encourage you to continue to use our “Savings Suggestions” Web site (www.gsu.edu/savingsuggestions) to submit your ideas on how and where we can find new efficiencies or savings.
Also, we will be updating our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section of the budget news Web site (http://www.gsu.edu/budgetnews/) to address the myriad of questions that will arise with this next round of cuts. Finally, I anticipate holding one or more town hall meetings later this month to provide the opportunity for public conversation regarding this latest round of budget cuts and what they mean for Georgia State University. Please stay tuned for further details.
All of us know that this next round of cuts presents new and difficult challenges for Georgia State. It is gratifying to see our university community, drawing on our shared commitment to excellence, staying focused on GSU’s core mission. Through hard work and creativity we will continue to move forward.
I thank every one of you for your commitment to our students and to your university.
Sincerely,
Mark P. Becker
President
May 18, 2009
To: Georgia State University Faculty and Staff
From: Linda J. Nelson, Assistant Vice President for Human Resources
Re: Employee Reduction in Force
As most of you know, Georgia State University has not been immune to the weakening national and state economy. In recent months, we have addressed significant budget challenges in a myriad of ways. We have left vacant staff and faculty positions unfilled, restricted travel and, as President Becker announced in his State of the University address in April, will close for an additional week between the fall and spring semesters, saving hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Unfortunately, the steps we have taken to this point have not been enough to bridge a significant reduction in state funding for FY 2010.
Today (May 18), we took another difficult step to address the budget shortfall. Approximately 30 positions in various departments were eliminated, and affected employees were notified by managers. The reduction in force was based solely on functional needs of departments and is not a reflection of the performance of those who were affected. These employees will be offered assistance in the job transition process.
We do not anticipate any further job cuts at this time.
Thank you all for your service and patience as we weather this economic storm together.