}Budget Cuts Impact Personnel he college recently went through what Pres. Stephen D. Nadauld characterized as a “painful process of reduction.” — Shortfalls in revenues received by | the state forced a six percent cut in the college's base budget for the 1987-88 year, on top of a four percent reduc| tion the college went through this cur| rent fiscal year. In addition, the college had to carry forward a one percent cut of last year into this year’s budget. ‘There is no fat to cut,” Pres. Nadauld said. “We're to the point of having to cut people and programs.” College administrators have designated 58 jobs that will be cut this year, with that total eventually run- ning to 78. Thirty other positions will also be affected. The college has offered a temporary, early retirement program to absorb as many of the position cuts as possible by attrition. To date 46 faculty and staff have taken advantage of that program. Under the reduced budget a number of support services will be trimmed: 16 departments will be combined, 15 con- use the money saved to bolster salaries struction technology, dance education, welding and others, will be eliminated. “It is important to realize that a plan of this magnitude cannot be effected overnight. The completion target is and to strengthen those areas unique to Weber State. “Weber State College’s historic dual emphasis on undergraduate liberal and applied arts remains appropriate today,” the statement noted. “At the cosmetology, 1990, nuclear but the rate at which programs and offices are phased out will depend substantially on funding decisions by the legislature,” said a statement released by the college. WSC administrators are hopeful that the six percent cut asked for by Utah Governor Norman H. ne tyne minds nen ws Weber Bangerter will same time, several environmental in- fluences suggest that the focus of our mission bears sharpening. Above all, the diminishing capacity of state and federal governments to provide educational opportunity will force hard choices about the programs and ser- academic programs will be reduced | not become a necessity. If those cuts do ‘vices we offer.” and 15 other programs, including ‘not become a reality the college will Nadauld Discusses Impact (Editor’s Note: medicine, of State has an- nounced cuts affecting 58 positions and anumber of programs at the college in order to comply with a mandate from the Utah State Governor's Office to prepare for a six percent cut in the college’s operating budget. The following Cuts | port they need to do the job. The 94 percent that’s left is going to be better off. Comment--Are we tied solely to the legislative process for funding, or are there other avenues the college can ex- is an interview with WSC President Stephen D. Nadauld discussing those plore? cuts, and related issues.) Nadauld--Developing some private, capital endowments is important to us. Comment--When you first came to Weber State you began a planning approach for the future. Was the college really prepared for what's happening in terms of budget cuts? Nadauld--The organizations nature is to respond of most to crisis, but short of that, to spend less time than they ought to on planning ahead. That's true of every organization. As I introduced the notion of strategic planWSC President Stephen D. Nadauld discusses how legislative budget ning, and said we needed to do some | restrictions will affect the college. things, people probably responded respond nine to 11 months ago, but of Comment-- You mentioned previouswith the notion that it’s a good idea, but I don’t know if it was taken as ly that you've been through this course you don’t begin to pull it before. It doesn't appear to have made together in a lucid form until you get to seriously as it turned out it should have a point where you really have to have the process any easier for you. been. The answer in short is, just results. In terms of the 94 percent because we started to do strategic planNadauld--No, on the contrary. budget we've been thinking about that ning at the college a number of months Sometimes you're better off if you since it was announced last July. ago, I think not everyone appreciated don’t know. If anything, it’s harder the implications, because we haven't because where I was before it was pretbeen through this before. ty clear that the kinds of cuts we were Comment--Will the college ever be Comment--Is this the first major cut- making and the restructuring we were the same? doing was really long overdue. It was back at Weber State that goes beyond five to ten years over due, whereas, Nadauld--It will not only be the budgetary reductions and affects perhere it’s not an overdue situation. It’s same, but it will be better. Every insonnel? not that we've been poorly managed. dustry that I’ve seen that has had to sit down and really focus more directly on On the contrary, we've been extremely Nadauld--It may not be the first, but well managed. That’s what makes it so their mission, everyone that’s done it is probably the most serious. hard. You're talking about eliminating that, and done a reasonable job of it, jobs where the people are productive, has come out stronger, has come out Comment--Do you think the cuts are where they are doing what they are with a better sense of dedication as to overdue? ‘supposed to be doing. It’s not a ques- where they're going, with a better portfolio of resources to get there. I think Nadauld--Because we have grown so tion of eliminating people or programs that are bad. We're cutting off pro- the college will be better. The question fast, we have had to absorb students grams that were here for a good| is, how soon? There’s some issue as to without getting the appropriate budget reason, so that makes it a lot harder. what our state’s financial picture is goincrements. The college has been runn| ing to look like over the next several ing pretty lean. That means tax payers Comment--How long have you been years. That will play a major role, but have been getting their money’s worth | considering how you would cut back given that we don’t have a major receshere all along. The cuts that we’re makto a 94 percent budget? sion, within the next couple of years ing aren't cuts that are really overdue, we'll be in much better shape. If we can they're cuts that we have to make when Nadauld--We started the strategic get the money restored that we're savwe don’t have any other choices. We're planning process over a year ago, and | ing from these cuts we can allocate that cutting back on services, we're cutting back on programs, w’re cutting back | one of the scenarios in that process was over salaries, we can put money back this budget reduction scenario. We ‘in operating budgets so that the proon what we offer students. We're doing began thinking about how we would grams that remain will have the supwhat we can under the circumstances. Eighty percent of our money comes from the legislative process, 20 percent comes from tuition, which has to be approved by the Board of Regents. We really don’t have many other resources. -money--all developed. Private that donations, has to be grant further Comment--All of a sudden there are fewer opportunities for students on campus, and more people are out looking for jobs. How will that effect the state as a whole? Nadauld--State-wide we're talking 400 or 500 positions just in higher education alone that will be cut. You have to keep in mind that every other state agency is doing the same thing-the prisons, the public school system to a lesser extent, social services. In the higher education community it’s certainly going to send the message that if we want to dismantle our education system we could sure do it in a hurry if we aren't careful. Our people in the academic area are mobile. If you give them a couple of years of no salary increases, or decreases, they're going to pack up and go where things are better. There’s a lot of loyalty and love for this institution, but you can only play on that so far, then people leave and go where they can get higher salaries and better opportunities. We're walking a delicate line where we've got to get the governor and legislature in support of education, and get the resources coming back in this direction. We need to recognize that all of us have a stake in selling tax increases to the public and making sure they appreciate the value of higher education. People who are looking to the future may want to go out and convince their friends and neighbors that we've got to have a tax increase.