We're finally getting a more concrete idea of what budget cut possibilities might be recommended to the Board of Trustees come its March 19 meeting.
The Financial and Budgetary Affairs Committee of University Council has briefed the Senate Agenda Committee, University Council and Faculty Council about ways to close the $15.25 million gap in funding for the remainder of the 2009-2011 budget.
Ideas discussed in these various committees and councils during the last month have included the possibility of cuts to the athletics budget, cuts to salaries or benefits, increasing graduate level tuition and slashing summer or fall commencement, among other ideas. The feasibility of many of these will be discussed at the Salary and Benefits Committee meeting today.
Either way, these ideas are still in the beginning stages. No one may want to cut spending, but eventually something has to be decided.
Cutting a commencement could keep other things from being cut and decrease the possibility of large tuition increases in years to come. Apparently it's been considered for years — the ceremonies for fall and summer began when enrollment was higher. But why not just cut the speaker or have a professor talk instead?
The University of Texas at Arlington eliminated its August commencement for 2010 due to declining attendance and to focus resources elsewhere. According to the university's Web site, students who would've attended the August ceremony can take part in December commencement.
A lot of work goes into each ceremony — staff, facilities, programming and record keeping. But how much will cutting August or December graduation save?
Last year, a third of graduating students participated in fall commencement, while a half took part in spring and summer ceremonies.
But it still seems like a steep price for students to pay. After attending Ball State and paying tuition for four or more years, you leave without an event marking your academic achievement and you miss out on the closure a ceremony like this provides. There has to be better ideas.
The next campus forum is at 4 p.m. on March 16 in the L.A. Pittenger Student Center. This time around, students need to show up and speak up.
After all, you can't complain about the outcome if you didn't try to make your opinion heard.
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