Budget cuts continue to burden OSU
Despite more funding, rising costs will force OSU to cut $13 million this year
Mollie Holmes
Issue date: 9/20/06 Section: News
Although state funding to Oregon State University has increased by $12 million for the 2005-2007 biennium, it will not be enough to cover increasing university expenses for the current academic year.
As a result, OSU must cut its expenses for the current academic year by five percent, or $13 million, according to the Education and General Fund Budget for 2006-2007.
"This is a difficult year with significant fiscal constraints," said Roy Arnold, executive associate dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences.
Increasing university expenses are due to higher utility costs, higher mandated contributions to state healthcare and retirement systems and necessary salary raises for faculty and staff, according to Vice President for Finance and Administration Mark McCambridge.
The university is looking at multiple ways to increase revenue, such as through partnerships, royalties and patents, and through private fundraising through the Capital Campaign.
Each of the colleges and different support units on campus has been asked to increase revenue or reduce expenses by four to five percent.
McCambridge said no colleges or units on campus are more or less disadvantaged than the others.
The colleges of Pharmacy and Veterinary Medicine are raising tuition for their professional programs. The increases are consistent with the higher costs of delivering these programs and with the intention of these programs to become more self-sustaining, according to the Education and General Fund Budget for 2006-2007.
Resource fees for the University Honors College, Weatherford instructional programs and Housing Studies in Health and Human Sciences are rising.
Some colleges may convert 3-credit classes to 4-credits where justified academically, collaborate with Linn-Benton Community College to offer highly-demanded freshman and sophomore level courses, offer more courses though the summer session or Extended Campus, or consolidate services and programs, according to the Education and General Fund Budget for 2006-2007.
As a result, OSU must cut its expenses for the current academic year by five percent, or $13 million, according to the Education and General Fund Budget for 2006-2007.
"This is a difficult year with significant fiscal constraints," said Roy Arnold, executive associate dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences.
Increasing university expenses are due to higher utility costs, higher mandated contributions to state healthcare and retirement systems and necessary salary raises for faculty and staff, according to Vice President for Finance and Administration Mark McCambridge.
The university is looking at multiple ways to increase revenue, such as through partnerships, royalties and patents, and through private fundraising through the Capital Campaign.
Each of the colleges and different support units on campus has been asked to increase revenue or reduce expenses by four to five percent.
McCambridge said no colleges or units on campus are more or less disadvantaged than the others.
The colleges of Pharmacy and Veterinary Medicine are raising tuition for their professional programs. The increases are consistent with the higher costs of delivering these programs and with the intention of these programs to become more self-sustaining, according to the Education and General Fund Budget for 2006-2007.
Resource fees for the University Honors College, Weatherford instructional programs and Housing Studies in Health and Human Sciences are rising.
Some colleges may convert 3-credit classes to 4-credits where justified academically, collaborate with Linn-Benton Community College to offer highly-demanded freshman and sophomore level courses, offer more courses though the summer session or Extended Campus, or consolidate services and programs, according to the Education and General Fund Budget for 2006-2007.
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