Ball State University administrators will have the first of two forums today to discuss how to cut $15.2 million from the university's operating budget in the next year and a half.
The event is taking place less than a week before President Jo Ann Gora's cabinet will review ideas that have been analyzed by professional personnel on campus.
On Feb. 23, University Treasurer Randy Howard will start compiling, analyzing and reviewing all the ideas submitted, according to previous Daily News stories. On March 19, ideas that need approval from the Board of Trustees will be presented to the group at its scheduled meeting. Administrators have until June to cut roughly $5 million from the university's operating budget.
About 65 ideas had been submitted to the budget plan e-mail account a few days before the Jan. 29 deadline, Howard said in an earlier Daily News story. Student Government Association member Kyle Bushey said SGA has forwarded about 75 ideas from students to the president's cabinet.
Howard said he'd like to make cuts that will affect everyone at the university, such as further reducing the use of paper and making sure lights are turned off when they aren't being used. Each department was asked to come up with ideas of how to cut money or generate revenue. One cost-saving idea was printing material inhouse in the art department. The College of Architecture is generating money by contracting local projects.
During the past few weeks, administrators have taken the ideas and placed them in "buckets," ranging from those of little importance or affect to those that will have a significant affect on the university. Administrators are expected to present these ideas at the forum, and attendees may also voice their opinion.
The second campus forum will take place at 4 p.m. March 16 at the L. A. Pittenger Student Center Ballroom to discuss the plan for meeting budget goals.
The forum will be streamed on the Ball State Web site.
Faculty, staff and students are welcome to attend.
What: Campus Forum
When: 3 p.m.
Where: Student Center Ballroom
Why: To explain administration's process of determining budget cuts; to gather ideas from faculty, staff and students at the event
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