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SCSU freezes hiring
By Carol Seavey & Diana Matusewic
Last week SCSU provost Michael Spitzer and college deans agreed on a hiring freeze for fiscal year 2004.
For SCSU, the most feasible method for saving money is a hiring freeze because of its flexibility.
The freeze does not include fixed term or adjunct faculty -- only probationary. Probationary faculty is long-term -- after five years they are tenured; fixed term and adjunct faculty are not permanent; which means, their salaries are not as much.
"There is a moratorium on probationary hiring for the next two years because we cannot commit to probationary factually when we don't know if we will have the budgets to pay their salary," said Roland Specht-Jarvis, dean of the College of Fine Arts and Humanities. "It's the only responsible reaction I can imagine when we stand to lose 20 percent of our university resources over the next biennium."
Currently there is a temporary suspension on searches to fill vacant positions as well as a review to determine whether or not to continue each one. The review is to see if positions can be filled in some way. Adjunct and fixed term faculty may fill some positions normally occupied by probationary.
According to Specht-Jarvis, this may mean more responsibility for the current probationary staff members.
"The idea is to try to preserve all the positions (and) maintain the basic instructional core of the programs," said Spitzer, "one of our primary goals is that we provide enough seats in the classes for our students and we maintain viability of the academic programs."
It is unknown how much money this will save since hiring will not discontinue entirely,
"They're establishing some criteria to make decisions about hiring for 2004 based on, broadly speaking, needs...Right now, we don't know exactly what the savings will be from the freeze because some positions will be filled," Burlison said. "The needs are probably predicated on the needs of classes for the students."
According to Specht-Jarvis, the last time SCSU was faced with a similar budget scenario was 23 years ago. The response model that was used then was studied for this situation.
Enrollment caps
For the past several years there has been an increase in enrollment. With the current budget problem, SCSU cannot accommodate all the students beyond the limit.
In response there is a plan for a student cap; which is only a minor change,
"In the past we've been targeting 2,450 new freshmen and 1,300 transfer students. It's been a little bit flexible around those targets -- and now the flexibility is gone," said Associate Director for Admissions Katie Landwehr.
Special accommodation may be given to international students because of the lengthy bureaucratic process necessary to attend SCSU. But at this time, such matters have not been discussed.
Budget cuts, tuition increases
Legislation is expected to decide on a budget plan within the next week.
The Minnesota House of Representatives passed a bill Monday that would cut $25 million from the Minnesota State Colleges and University Systems (MnSCU).
The bill would also cut $25 million from the University of Minnesota and $1.5 million from the Higher Education Services Office (HESO).
The cuts are the first step in reducing the state deficit.
"It's not the way I would have done it," said Rep. Joe Opatz, DFL-St. Cloud. "The way seemed particularity harsh on students. Who will pay higher tuition, healthcare and insurance."
If passed, the bill will cut $25 million from MnSCU every year. That would start this spring. However, the MnSCU fiscal year ends June 31, so $25 million would have to be cut by then.
"If that had been spread over a full year it would be a four percent annual loss," said Nancy Conner, publications and media relations director for MnSCU, "but, since that's in five months, it's about a 10 percent loss."
SCSU's share of the cut will be $2,531,620.
MnSCU already put in requests to the legislature for funds for the next bi-ennium, which begins July 1. The cuts cannot not be compensated by that request.
A cut from HESO would not affect the few state grants are left. Since the work study and childcare funds are already gone, they will not be affected, either. HESO would most likely reduce costs and the administrative level and possibly programs like library services.
Phil Lewenstein, HESO communications and legislative services, is hoping that the senate bill will pass.
"The Senate bill would actually add $10 million going to state grants," he said.
In addition, the Senate bill would cut $20 million less from MnSCU and the University of Minnesota, collectively.
Rumors about tremendous tuition increases have been buzzing around SCSU. Increases as high as 46 percent have been publicized in Atwood Memorial Center.
According to Conner, the 46 percent figure was just another figure MnSCU was asked to calculate, among many others. That figure is how much tuition would increase if the entire $25 million was paid only in tuition over two years.
"That's not even on the table right now," Conner said.
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