Many of the questions asked at the University Services Budget Updates were similar from meeting to meeting. We've answered the most commonly asked questions here. If you have additional questions, please send them on and we'll do our best to answer them.
How many jobs have been lost because of the budget issues?
In July, President Bruininks reported to the Board of Regents that the University’s workforce has been reduced by 1,240 positions statewide. That number includes more than 220 open faculty positions, more than 280 non-student staff positions, more than 200 RIO positions that have not been refilled, and nearly 160 student positions. The number also includes more than 370 layoffs or non-renewals.
In University Services, we’ve seen a total reduction of 253 positions. That number includes 54 unfilled vacancies, 30 RIO positions, 16 student positions and 153 layoffs or non-renewals. That’s a total of 12 percent of our University Services workforce.
Will we get salary increases this year?
One of the tools the University will use to deal with the budget crisis includes no wage increases this year. The preliminary plan for FY 2011 does include a two percent salary increase, but that could change depending on the states financial health.
Are furloughs or a campus shut-down still on the list of potential cost savings ideas?
While the idea was explored, the University does not plan to furlough workers this year.
The University also looked closely at the possibility of a campus shut down over the Christmas holiday this year, but ultimately decided against it.
Will another Retirement Incentive Option be offered?
About 450 University workers took advantage of the most recent retirement incentive option. Another RIO is not expected in the near future.
How has the Regent’s Scholarship Program been changed?
After a long discussion, the Board of Regents approved changes to the Regents Scholarship Program. Different approaches were considered to help contain the rising costs of this program, and ultimately the decision was made to provide the greatest subsidy to employees pursuing a first baccalaureate degree. Beginning fall 2009, employees pursuing a first degree will pay 10 percent of their tuition. Employees who are non-degree seeking students, those pursuing an additional baccalaureate, or those pursuing a graduate or professional degree will pay 25 percent of their tuition.
Click here to read Vice President Carol Carrier’s letter to the University staff and faculty on the subject.
What happened to all of that Federal stimulus money we were going to get?
The University received $89.3 million in Federal Stimulus Funds. While this one-time money can’t be used to support the on-going costs of operating the University, it certainly helps meet some short term objectives.
A majority of the money – $50.1 million – went toward buying down tuition for the coming school year. While tuition officially increased 7.5 percent, most students will only see about a 3.5 percent increase thanks to the stimulus funds. President Bruininks and the Regents agreed that affordability for students was a top priority.
The remaining $39.2 million went toward retaining jobs and investing to reduce ongoing costs and to enhance productivity. University Services received $2.5 million to use as bridge funds and help avoid additional layoffs, and to
What buildings are scheduled to be torn down?
This fall, three buildings that have outlived their usefulness will be demolished. The Eddy Hall Annex, Music Education and the Tandem Accelerator Lab will be torn down. In the coming years, the University will continue to look for opportunities to consolidate space and eliminate obsolete, costly space.
With the addition of TCF Bank Stadium, the University of Minnesota now occupies more than 29 million square feet of space. It’s safe to say that if the University was starting from scratch, we would not build that much space. Every square foot of space has associated costs – heating and cooling, electrical, security, maintenance and upkeep.
What should I do if I have suggestions for cost savings or productivity improvements?
If you have cost savings ideas or suggestions on how to improve the way we do our work, please share them with your supervisor or department director. While there’s no guarantee that your idea will be put into practice, creative thinking is always encouraged.
Has President Bruininks taken a pay cut?Is management sharing the pain?
President Bruininks has not taken a pay cut – and neither has anyone else at the University. At the same time, the zero percent wage increase has been implemented across the University.
All levels of the University have been affected by this budget crisis. For example, this year President Bruininks combined two key administrative positions in the health sciences area – Senior Vice President for Health Sciences and Dean of the Medical School – into a single position.
What’s included in the University Services Vice President’s budget?
The budget of the University Services Vice President includes a lot more than just the operation of the VP’s office. It also includes University Services IT, University Services Human Resources, and the IT Tech Reserve Fund.
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