ULL plans to make cuts without layoffs, furloughs

• By MARSHA SILLS
• Advocate Acadiana bureau
• Published: Aug 7, 2009 - Page: 1BA

• Print
• Email
• Save
• Reprints
• Twitter
• Share

• Del.icio.us
• Digg
• Facebook
• Reddit
• 

LAFAYETTE — No furloughs. No layoffs. No faculty raises.

University of Louisiana at Lafayette President Joseph Savoie announced those decisions Thursday as he outlined how ULL’s budget looks after a loss of $14.7 million in state funding in the past year.

The cuts began in January, with a cut of $4.3 million in state funding and another $7.5 million cut this fiscal year.

While other universities, including LSU, have proposed layoffs and furloughs, Savoie said, ULL tried to steer clear of short-term solutions.

ULL developed a furlough plan per the University of Louisiana System’s request of its member institutions, but Savoie said he would prefer not to implement it.

He and ULL’s vice president of finance, Jerry Luke LeBlanc, met with reporters Thursday to outline the cost-savings plan and ideas the university is bouncing around to increase its revenues.

Tuition and fee increases are expected to add $3.2 million — which covers $2.9 million in unfunded state mandates this year, they said.

After the midyear cuts in January, the university created budget task force committees to devise areas where spending could be reduced and to brainstorm new revenue generators.

Savoie highlighted a few initiatives that will take effect this fall:

• Vacant positions will be frozen, saving about $2 million. Savoie estimated freezing 20 faculty and 10 administrative positions.
• Deferred maintenance projects will be reduced by $2.1 million.
• Internal grant funding for research and economic development will be reduced by $1.5 million.
• Each college and department will be cut by 10 percent and administrative department positions may be consolidated or eliminated.
• Merit raises for faculty and unclassified administrative staff will be deferred.
• Maximum merit raises for support staff will decrease from 4 percent to 2 percent, with permission from the Louisiana Civil Service Board.

Class sizes may increase as another cost savings measure.

Savoie said the university is still reviewing class enrollments and classroom space to ensure optimal use.

“Students should not see a slowdown in their ability to take courses toward their graduation,” he assured.