UCF Budget Cuts May Go Deeper Than Anticipated

[cybermom]

<p>From <a href="http://www.orlandosentinel.com%5B/url%5D"&gt;www.orlandosentinel.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>POSTED: 6:57 am EDT July 26, 2007
UPDATED: 7:18 am EDT July 26, 2007</p>

<p>ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. -- State budget cuts may cost the University of Central Florida $17 million more than anticipated. The school is already under a hiring freeze.</p>

<p>The board of trustees was crunching the numbers Thursday morning all departments were prepared to slash about four percent from its budget. That meant $12 million.</p>

<p>Thursday morning, President John Hitt will let trustees know if they have to cut 10 percent which will cost UCF $29 million next year. One of the largest state universities in Florida, UCF is facing a big time budget crunch.</p>

<p>A few weeks ago university President John Hitt enacted an immediate hiring freeze to help out. That freeze may not be enough.</p>

<p>Two weeks ago teachers said a four percent cut would seriously hurt the university already struggling to offer enough courses for students and overcrowded classrooms.</p>

<p>"How are we going to be able to serve students like we've been talking about? So I'm concerned," said Max Croft, a UCF professor.</p>

<p>University leaders are worried deeper cut would hurt the university even more.</p>

<p>"If this keeps up more then there could be instances where we would revisit the need for some programs," said Daniel Holsenbeck, vice president for university relations.</p>

<p>The impact across Central Florida could be huge. Their enrollment is close to 50,000 students.</p>

[cybermom]

<p>OrlandoSentinel.com
Cuts put fall UCF courses in peril
The university might not be able to fill all faculty vacancies after a recent hiring freeze.</p>

<p>Luis Zaragoza</p>

<p>Sentinel Staff Writer</p>

<p>July 27, 2007</p>

<p>The University of Central Florida might cancel some fall-term classes to cope with possible state-mandated budget cuts that could run as high as $30 million.</p>

<p>The possible cutbacks arise from a hiring freeze the school announced earlier this month.</p>

<p>Even though they don't know the extent of the cuts, school officials are deciding how many faculty vacancies they can afford to fill before classes begin Aug. 20.</p>

<p>The number and type of classes that get canceled will depend on how many jobs the university decides to leave vacant.</p>

<p>Like other state universities, UCF is responding to a warning from the state to expect budget cuts of at least 4 percent -- possibly as high as 10 percent -- because of the slumping state economy.</p>

<p>Provost Terry Hickey said he would ask administrators to review their budgets and look for ways to cut back by at least 6 percent.</p>

<p>The school is looking at trimming some costs by turning down thermostats and taking other conservation measures, but it is not counting on those savings to cover a major budget shortfall, officials said.</p>

<p>If the state orders cuts approaching 10 percent, the only way to reach that goal is to slash personnel costs, which account for about 70 percent of UCF's budget, Hickey said.</p>

<p>Exemptions to the hiring freeze already have been granted to the campus police department for officers and dispatchers because campus safety is considered a priority.</p>

<p>When he announced the hiring freeze, UCF President John Hitt also said he and Hickey would grant other exemptions. Hickey said he is asking school administrators to draw up priority lists for hiring. He will then decide which to approve.</p>

<p>Officials acknowledged that canceling classes might create problems for students who have to meet eligibility requirements for graduation and scholarships.</p>

<p>Hitt said some inconvenience is inevitable as schools are forced to cut their budgets.</p>

<p>He said he hoped universities could come to an understanding with state lawmakers about funding that would "preserve access to a quality education for all Floridians."</p>

<p>Luis Zaragoza can be reached at <a href="mailto:lzaragoza@orlandosentinel.com">lzaragoza@orlandosentinel.com</a> 407-420-5718.</p>

<p>Copyright © 2007, Orlando Sentinel</p>

[zebes]

<p>Makes us worry when a couple of S's classes are still listed as staff -- no teacher listed, yet. Hopefully they won't can those classes as they work great with his schedule. </p>

<p>Zebes</p>

[Ray111]

<p>Zebes, perhaps he should investigate doing a drop and add to get a class with a instructor named if possible from the online catalog. Remember that additonal class sections open for each orientation block. Check out the instructors at rate the professor so you can try to to get a great professor. Perhaps in the situation we talk about here, schedule may have to to take a hit to insure that that there isn't risk to what you have mentioned.</p>

[zebes]

<p>I think they'll be okay as one is an honors class, which is full ... and I believe it's just a matter of figuring out which person's teaching which seminar. The other is the speech class ... again and honors class, so hopefully, it'll go through. But when we get back from vacation, I will look again -- definitely.</p>

<p>zebes</p>