Budget issues addressed at general faculty meeting

The budget director said MU is considering raising tuition cost from 3 to 5 percent.

By Rachel Allred

Published Oct. 22, 2009

Faculty members gathered Wednesday to discuss budget issues and electronic ballots in Wrench Auditorium for the Fall General Faculty Meeting.

Unlike Faculty Council meetings, which occur several times throughout the year and are attended by only council members, the general faculty meeting was open to all faculty members and occurs at least once every semester. About 30 faculty members attended the meeting, which was led by Chancellor Brady Deaton.

Faculty Council Chairwoman Leona Rubin said general faculty meetings help facilitate communication and interaction among staff members.

Budget Director Tim Rooney discussed the university’s budget for this fiscal year and the prospective budget for next fiscal year. Rooney said state appropriations haven't kept up with inflation or enrollment growth and that a 3 to 5 percent increase in the cost of tuition is being considered.

“In 2001, our general state appropriations were $193 million,” Rooney said in his presentation. “If we had gotten inflation adjusted increases from the state it would be at $245 million right now. If the state appropriations had kept pace with enrollment growth and inflation we might have expected $319 million to be our appropriation this year. In fact, our appropriation is $189 million.”

Rooney said since 2001 the total MU hasn’t received from the state due to inflation and enrollment growth totaled $728 million. Because of that cutback Rooney said certain methods were used to keep the university running.

“The question is how in the world did we get by without that?” Rooney said. “We had enrollment growth, tuition increase, deferring maintenance and salaries have dropped.”

For the 2011 fiscal year, Rooney said a change in state funding isn’t very likely. They are expecting an increase in enrollment next year, which will increase the tuition revenue.

Last fiscal year, a pool of funds equaling about $9 million was gathered in case the state chose to withhold funds.

“We have that $9 million available in case a withholding comes along,” Rooney said. “We cold have a withholding this year. We’ve been told it’s not likely, but it’s possible.”

Rooney said though the money is there if it’s needed, it would be better to avoid using it next year.

Deaton said even though hard economic times might be ahead, he is hopeful for MU.

“In no way will we back away from talking about the success we’re having as a university,” Deaton said. “At the same time, we will in no way fail to recognize the difficulties and the obstacles we’re facing because of the budget challenge in front of us.”

Faculty Council uses paper ballots when voting takes place, but Rubin proposed a change. Rubin said switching to electronic ballots would save on waste and money.

“We think there are several good reasons to change this,” Rubin said. “It would be less expensive. We also hope that by going through an electronic ballot it will increase compliance.”

Rubin said paper ballots are not environmentally friendly, as 1,200 ballots and 2,400 envelopes are used during the process.

In the last vote, Rubin said only 300 ballots were returned out of the 1,200 that were sent. Faculty members will continue to review the change and will be able to vote on whether or not to make the change.

“We will be putting this together over the next month or two, getting it through different groups and hopefully sending it out,” Rubin said.