Budget cut plan being revised
By Dustin Porter
Around the Campus Editor
UNCP is currently revising their 10 percent reduction plan to a 15.5 percent plan, which would cut the University's budget an additional $3 million.
Vice Chancellor for Business Affairs Neil Hawk said the budget cuts would have a minimal impact on the students compared to the impact the increased cuts would have on UNCP.
Hawk added the current version of the legislative bill proposing the budget reduction does not allow any public university in the state to increase tuition, which is good news for students on campus.
"Students might see a decrease in the number of sections for a course, which could result in larger class sizes," Hawk said.
Hawk said every department on campus is preparing a plan and that "everything is open to change."
Every public institution is preparing for a 15.5 percent cut, but the bill itself is awaiting a determining vote that will put the reduction into effect.
Included in the budget
The state budget includes classes, instructors, student organizations and facilities and management. All of which will be impacted by the 15.5 percent reduction plan.
Not included in the state budget are nursing facilities, food services, athletics, mass printing or anything related to or from the book store. These are all paid from student fees.
UNC-All
Hawk said Chancellor Kyle Carter meets with chancellors from other universities within the state to see how they plan to tackle the reduction, and President Ross meets with all the chancellors for updates periodically.
He added every institution is different and operates separately, but there are common factors that every university can relate to.
For example, if UNCW has a large psychology department and has to merge sections or cut costs, they can see how N.C. State handled a similar situation with their large biology department.
The toll free number for the university recently was eliminated due to the budget issue.
The number was removed from all UNCP webpage footers, business cards, stationery and promotional items. This change came into effect on April 12.
Either way, UNCP plans to a have a 15.5 percent reduction plan by the end of May.
