The Bottom Line...

Higher education takes yet another cut from the state as an estimated $518.6 million total reduction is projected for the year 2011-2012. An estimated $27.5 million is expected to come from the Southern University System and over half of that will come the Baton Rouge campus.

According to a memo sent out by Chancellor Kofi Lomotey Aug. 26, "The Louisiana Division of Administration has requested that the Board of Regents devise plans to show the specific prioritized effect of state general funds allocated to postsecondary education by approximately 35 percentage for FY 2010-2011."

Although stimulus money is being distributed to every institution they don't cover the amount of funds being cut out overall. The SUBR campus is to receive approximately $11.7 million in stimulus funding, but there is also a projected number of over $15 million in cuts on this campus alone.

President Ronald Mason Jr. has requested a first draft from each campus by Friday. Reductions are to be implemented at three levels. Level one reductions consist of those activities or units not directly related to the core priorities of the university (i.e. museums, galleries, sports activities, etc…). Level two reductions consist of those activities or units that support core priorities but are not directly engaged in delivering the core functions. Level three reductions consists of elimination or reduction of core programs.

"At this point I don't have any information to give and I won't have anything until I meet with all the departments this week," said Lomotey.

Lomotey is asking that all departments specify the targeted area(s) to budget reduction. He wants the departments to identify and describe proposed actions needed to achieve budget reductions. The chancellor is asking each department to indicate how the reductions relate to mission or core priorities as well as describe the cost benefits of implementing the proposed reduction and how they will be achieved. This, hopefully will project how the reductions will impact the university's ability to fulfill its mission.