Students dodged a few bullets Tuesday — at least when it comes to the $15.2 million in budget cuts for Ball State University, which were finally recommended in a campus forum. Instead, faculty and employees will be taking the brunt, if the Board of Trustees approves the cuts Friday.
The only area likely to affect every student is the "miscellaneous fees" portion of cuts, which will garner $1.8 million. Graduate students will eventually have to pay $22 more dollars per credit hour and each student will have to pay a $25 fee when applying for graduation. A fee to apply for graduation is silly, but in the big scheme, it's small potatoes.
Additionally, some majors may be consolidated. President Jo Ann Gora said low-populated courses are being examined by Academic Affairs. The athletics budget could be cut by $200,000 and computer technology, such as closing lesser-used computer labs, and printing management changes will generate savings of $500,000.
Granted, the you-know-what could've hit the fan faster than you can say "protest" as college tuition hike reports from across the nation have shown.
The Universities of Washington, Nevada, Illinois and Florida are looking at spikes of 9 to 15 percent. Horrifyingly, the University of California is facing a possible 30 percent tuition increase for the 2010-2011 school year — making in-state tuition $10,032 for undergraduates in Fall 2010 per semester. The California system is dealing with the effects of a state deficit of $20 billion, as well as a combined $1.45 billion in cuts for their 10 campuses.
Makes Ball State's issues seem rosy in comparison, right?
Now, obviously, students are going to think these recommendations are great. No crazy jumps in tuition or fees, no commencement cuts and no majors done away with.
Employees might not be as enthusiastic. Future employees' salaries and benefits will differ from current faculty and staff. Current employees will face changes to health care, retirement benefits and prescription drug benefits if approved. Also, the hiring slowdown will continue, and instructional staff will receive half of the originally planned 4 percent salary increase.
These recommendations seem adequate and sensible, overall. Well done.
However, because these suggestions are straightforward, what took so long to figure out?
State revenues are unlikely to rebound in the next few years to the rate they were previously. Indiana's public universities might face cuts again.
Hopefully, the process is more efficient and quick next time around.
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