Fall 2000

"There have been financial difficulties on this campus for a long time," said William McBroom, Faculty Senate chair. "I'm having a crash course in budgets. ... There isn't as much flexibility in the budget as one might imagine. All other choices have been exhausted. Truly, there aren't many choices left."

McBroom was among several campus representatives who answered student questions about the adjunct cuts at an Oct. 18 forum held in the University Center. The forum was sponsored by the Associated Students of UM and UM's Center for Leadership Development.
ASUM President Molly Moon Neitzel served as moderator.

"Everyone is working for the common good," Neitzel said. "We just all have different ideas on how that good can be accomplished."

Student questions ranged from administrative values to budget specifics. A hearing-impaired student upset that an American Sign Language course is being cut from the spring schedule asked if education truly were a priority to the administration.

Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Lois Muir responded by saying that administrators have chosen education as their life's pursuit precisely because it is so important to them.

In response to a question about why this issue has arisen now, Muir pointed out that the budget shortfall was known about when academic departments were planning for fall semester. As in past years, she said, some chose to overspend their allocations, placing their bets on more cash coming in. Lower-than-expected out-of-state enrollment is one reason that didn't occur.

"Lots of people were hoping for a windfall," Muir said. "We're all disappointed that didn't happen."

However, Muir stressed that finger-pointing is useless and that fault lies with a combination of factors.

"Blame is not productive," she said. "We need to work together for the same outcome."

Muir later said that, despite cuts, UM still is offering 35 percent more classes this spring than last.

Several students asked about alternative sources of funding. "Aren't there any other places you could get money from?" asked one.

Rosi Keller, acting vice president for administration and finance, answered that during the past five years of tightening budgets, the University's schools and colleges have been spared the worst of the cuts.

Administration and finance, student services and research already have undergone significant cuts in this year's budget. And in previous years, money from faculty and administrative pay raises and the faculty computing fund has been rechanneled to academics.

"The bulk of reductions have been taken from other areas," Keller said. "There is no more to take."

In response to questions about the availability of UM Foundation dollars, Muir said the Foundation is independently run by a board, and donations -- including those made to the Excellence Fund -- are earmarked for specific purposes such as scholarships, endowed professorships and construction.

Some students questioned staff, faculty and administrative raises, alleging 15 percent pay increases in some areas and 76 percent increases in others.

The latter number, explained Keller, was the result of a statewide reclassification to help retain information technology personnel, who were being lost to better-paying positions in private industry and out-of-state. It applies to some employees in Computing and Information Services.

Keller also said the Board of Regents approved a 3 percent raise for administrators, which is allocated on a case-by-case basis.

University Teachers Union representative Bill Chaloupka said most faculty members are covered under the collective bargaining agreement and received minimal raises.

"None of them are getting 15 percent," he said. "A few may get more if they receive a grant."
The panelists overwhelmingly agreed on one point: State funding for higher education is too low.

"This university is not funded enough by the state," Neitzel said to a round of applause. "Everyone needs to help to get the state Legislature to give us more money so these budget problems don't keep coming up."

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