University cuts budget another 3%, affecting staff, students
Priyanka Kumar
Issue date: 10/13/09 Section: Campus News
The University has announced their latest three percent budget cuts, which have been in effect since Oct. 1.
In an e-mail sent by University President Dr. John Johnson, department heads were informed that they must cooperate to balance their budgets.
According to Executive Vice President and Chief Academic Officer Dr. Richard Heist, the three percent cuts will be used to arrive at a total budget figure the committee needed to achieve. Therefore, the three percent cuts will not be applied to reduce faculty members' salaries, but instead will affect spending for various departments and extra necessities.
Some of the many departments that the budget cuts affect are Information Technology (IT), Housing, Student Employment, the College of Business, International Student Services, Career Services and Student Affairs.
After the announcement, staff members immediately felt the impact of the cuts. According to Heist, 14 Daytona Beach staff positions were eliminated and eight positions within the University Administration were also removed this month. In addition, a 25 percent pay cut has been implemented for staff. "Although there has been a pay cut, staff get to keep their benefits, so it is better than not having anything at all," Heist said.
Asked if the four percent tuition increase helped the University this year, Heist stated that without it, the school would be in a worse situation. "The four percent did not cover all costs, but it did help a lot," Heist said.
Dr. Daniel Petree, Dean of the College of Business, noted that the tuition increase was essential. "Tuition did not cover the differences of what was necessary to cover the institution," Petree said.
Petree stated that despite the increase in tuition, the University is attempting to cushion the impact on students. "The collapse of the labor market ended last year, but it's not recovering well. The collapse is no individual's responsibility. The school has increased available financial aid, I think ERAU has done the responsible thing," Petree said.
In an e-mail sent by University President Dr. John Johnson, department heads were informed that they must cooperate to balance their budgets.
According to Executive Vice President and Chief Academic Officer Dr. Richard Heist, the three percent cuts will be used to arrive at a total budget figure the committee needed to achieve. Therefore, the three percent cuts will not be applied to reduce faculty members' salaries, but instead will affect spending for various departments and extra necessities.
Some of the many departments that the budget cuts affect are Information Technology (IT), Housing, Student Employment, the College of Business, International Student Services, Career Services and Student Affairs.
After the announcement, staff members immediately felt the impact of the cuts. According to Heist, 14 Daytona Beach staff positions were eliminated and eight positions within the University Administration were also removed this month. In addition, a 25 percent pay cut has been implemented for staff. "Although there has been a pay cut, staff get to keep their benefits, so it is better than not having anything at all," Heist said.
Asked if the four percent tuition increase helped the University this year, Heist stated that without it, the school would be in a worse situation. "The four percent did not cover all costs, but it did help a lot," Heist said.
Dr. Daniel Petree, Dean of the College of Business, noted that the tuition increase was essential. "Tuition did not cover the differences of what was necessary to cover the institution," Petree said.
Petree stated that despite the increase in tuition, the University is attempting to cushion the impact on students. "The collapse of the labor market ended last year, but it's not recovering well. The collapse is no individual's responsibility. The school has increased available financial aid, I think ERAU has done the responsible thing," Petree said.
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