Western prepares for budget cuts
Marianne Equi
Issue date: 2/17/03 Section: News
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Western Illinois University is anticipating how possible statewide budget cuts will affect the school and its finances.
When Gov. Rod Blagojevich announces the budget in April, there is a chance that he will also ask for a return of funds from universities, however, the amount is unknown.
In preparation for this, Western President Al Goldfarb has asked each vice president at Western to identify and hold 2 percent of their budgets.
According to Goldfarb, most institutions are preparing in the same fashion.
“State agencies were asked to return 2 percent earlier in the fiscal year, so we thought it was prudent to be prepared. We began discussing this process late during the fall semester,” Goldfarb said.
“I have asked the departments to be able to identify the funds should there be a callback of funds, but have not asked them to return those funds centrally. Since we are so late in the fiscal year, I want to make certain that they have budgetary flexibility,” he added.
In turn, Eric Stiffler, vice president of academic affairs, has asked each college to also identify two percent of their budget that could be returned to the state.
Phyllis Farley Rippey, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, said they’ve expected this since the beginning of the year, so the college set aside some money before distributing it to the departments.
“It’s not so much a matter of what we aren’t able to do, but rather to deal with what we still can do … Of course, a big cut can start eating into the heart of what we’re doing,” she said.
Currently, the College of Arts and Sciences has had to hold off on plans to improve electronic classrooms and make equipment advances.
“Even in the worst of times, we’ve been able to deliver our programs, but the opportunities for hands on learning that might be cut aren’t the icing on the cake — it is the cake.
“We’re hopeful that whatever rescissions come; we’re not looking at a long downhill slide, but are being optimistic,” she said.
When Gov. Rod Blagojevich announces the budget in April, there is a chance that he will also ask for a return of funds from universities, however, the amount is unknown.
In preparation for this, Western President Al Goldfarb has asked each vice president at Western to identify and hold 2 percent of their budgets.
According to Goldfarb, most institutions are preparing in the same fashion.
“State agencies were asked to return 2 percent earlier in the fiscal year, so we thought it was prudent to be prepared. We began discussing this process late during the fall semester,” Goldfarb said.
“I have asked the departments to be able to identify the funds should there be a callback of funds, but have not asked them to return those funds centrally. Since we are so late in the fiscal year, I want to make certain that they have budgetary flexibility,” he added.
In turn, Eric Stiffler, vice president of academic affairs, has asked each college to also identify two percent of their budget that could be returned to the state.
Phyllis Farley Rippey, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, said they’ve expected this since the beginning of the year, so the college set aside some money before distributing it to the departments.
“It’s not so much a matter of what we aren’t able to do, but rather to deal with what we still can do … Of course, a big cut can start eating into the heart of what we’re doing,” she said.
Currently, the College of Arts and Sciences has had to hold off on plans to improve electronic classrooms and make equipment advances.
“Even in the worst of times, we’ve been able to deliver our programs, but the opportunities for hands on learning that might be cut aren’t the icing on the cake — it is the cake.
“We’re hopeful that whatever rescissions come; we’re not looking at a long downhill slide, but are being optimistic,” she said.