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December 12, 2008
Budget Update
To the Campus Community,
As the semester draws to a close and we prepare for our December
commencement and a well-earned semester break, I want to thank you all for
your splendid cooperation and support as our university community has made
determined progress during the economic downturn facing our State and
nation. With your talent and the University’s tradition of doing more with
less, we end the calendar year on target with the budget reductions required
for the current fiscal year (July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009). Budget
cutting measures for this year have included a 15% reduction in operating
budgets for most areas, and a10% reduction in academic areas; assessing open
positions and either not filling them or delaying hiring by several months
in order to preserve current year dollars; analyzing temporary positions,
including adjunct instructors, to see if some of that work can be
accomplished with the collaboration and teamwork of continuing faculty and
staff employees; limiting travel and purchasing to the most critical of
expenditures; and gathering the best ideas from across the campus on ways to
conserve, consolidate, and economize. Without the commitment of every
division and office of our University to share in the reductions, we would
have been much less well prepared for what the next few fiscal years hold in
store for us.
Late last week, we received early guidance about what that might be.
On December 11, Governor Easley asked that all State agencies submit a plan
for permanent cuts of 3%, 5%, and 7% for the 2009-10 and 2010-11 fiscal
years. Though we are confident in our campus community's ability to make
good decisions together, this plan is due to the Office of State Budget and
Management by January 14, before classes resume on our campus. Just today,
we have learned that we will need to submit this plan to UNC General
Administration by January 5, which even further shortens our timeframe for
consulting. Although this ambitious schedule precludes our making those
decisions in a planful and organized way, we still intend to consult as
broadly as possible, before and throughout the semester break.
Consultations are under way this week with faculty leadership, University
Planning Council, Senior Staff, CSAC, and other constituent groups. You may
already have been invited to one or more special called meetings to help
inform these decisions. Campus leadership is beginning the task of
evaluating how we would respond to these potential cuts. Should these cuts
be implemented, they would certainly be dramatic for a campus as lean as
ours already is. We want to make sure we have the benefit of your guidance
before making decisions of this magnitude. The University’s senior
leadership will be reviewing possibilities, not one of which is desirable,
in order to face the uncertain times ahead with a certainty that our mission
will guide our work and that our commitment to our students and the people
of the University community remain our highest priority.
In unusual times -- and these are unusual times -- the value of open
communication allows us to trust that vital information is shared fully. We
will continue to make available as much information about the economic
situation as possible. What we know now is that we will need to make plans
for permanent budget cuts for the next two fiscal years. We will be sure to
provide updated information to the campus when it becomes available.
I look forward to consulting with you on the difficult choices that we will
face together in the upcoming weeks. I remain hopeful that the year ahead
will show strong evidence of recovery and renewed vitality.
Anne Ponder
Chancellor
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