The Morris Library on the Southern Illinois University campus could have its budget cut by more than $1.5 million as part of the school’s overall budget reduction plan. (Photo courtesy Southern Illinois University)

The Southern Illinois University (SIU) system’s proposed fiscal year (FY) 2017 budget calls for a total of $45 million in costs reductions, according to a summary released March 9 by university President Randy Dunn.

SIU’s Edwardsville campus (SIUE) is facing some $14 million in spending cuts, under the proposed budget.  SIU Carbondale (SIUC) would see a $22 million budget cut, with the SIU School of Medicine facing an $8 million reduction. The budget plan also calls for $807,000 in system-wide administrative reductions.

The proposed SIU spending cuts come as a result of Gov. Bruce Rauner’s call for a 20 percent reduction in state funding to universities under his proposed Illinois budget for fiscal year 2017, Dunn said.

The university has received no funding from the State of Illinois during FY 2016, due to the ongoing budget standoff between Gov. Rauner and the state legislature. With anticipated state funding, SIU would have a multi-million-dollar surplus, Dunn said.

Operations are currently being sustained using existing fund balances, including some interdepartmental fund transfers. No cost cutting will be required for this budget year, which ends in June; however, those interdepartmental loans must eventually be repaid, Dunn noted.

Southern Illinois University President Randy Dunn (Photo courtesy Southern Illinois University)

The SIU cost reduction proposal comes six months after Dunn’s State of the SIU System address warned of substantial budget cutting.  In February, Dunn asked university administrators to suggest cost reductions.

The budget proposal calls for cutting a total of $14,074,400 in SIU expenditures, as follows:

• $7,094,600 – Elimination of more than 137 administrative professional and non-tenure track instructor positions, reducing 300 classes;
• $283,300 – Elimination of 33 graduate assistantships for graduate students;
• $1,699,200 – Reduction in non-personnel operations budgets (for travel, equipment, commodities, and other purchases);
• $234,000 – Reduction in print subscriptions and electronic journals for the library;
• $2,200,000 – Deferred maintenance including classroom updates and instructional technology;
• $685,300 – Utilities savings;
• $371,400 – Reductions in the STEM Center, University Museum, The Gardens, University Park, Vince Demuzio Government Internship, intercollegiate athletics, economic development (Leadership Council), and Illinois Education Research Council programs.
• $1,506,600 – Other cuts including reduced contingency reserves.SIUC would see $22,856,000 in cuts, including:
• $5,503,284 – Elimination of more than 180 faculty, administrative professional, and civil service staff positions;
• $3,787,596 – Elimination of more than 300 student employment positions;
• $1,050,000 – Reorganization of academic structure; merging four colleges into two colleges and thereby eliminating two deans and associated office support;

$1,505,875 – Reduction in Morris Library hours and acquisitions, and funding cuts for non-academic student programming;

• $688,000 – Elimination of men’s and women’s tennis;
• $2,000,000 – Deferred maintenance including classroom updates and instructional technology;
• $195,476 – WSIU-TV support reductions;
• $509,505 – Touch of Nature outdoor laboratory support reductions;
• $189,000 – University Press support reductions;
• $292,450 – University Museum support reductions;
• $148,300 – Center for Dewey Studies support reductions;
• $887,498 – Research support reductions for the 23 SIUC centers and institutes that conduct research under externally funded research grants;
• $528,662 – Reduction of information technology support and hardware purchases;
• $108,736 – Paul Simon Public Policy Institute, eliminating the Demuzio internship program;
• $1,480,000 – Elimination of state funded travel; and
• $3,981,618 -Reduced funding for development and alumni activities, marketing, economic development, and contingency reserves.

The faculty and staff reductions would involve mostly adjunct instructors. The reductions would affect more than 400 classes, as well as student support services.

The academic consolidation would not necessarily affect academic majors, the budget plan notes.

The SIU School of Medicine would see $8,799,900 in reductions, including:

• $763,100 – Administrative consolidation of academic units, eliminating seven positions in basic sciences, medical humanities and medical education.
• $683,700 – Elimination of five positions in the Institutional Planning & Management and Executive Associate Dean’s office;
• $385,900 – Consolidation of administrative units, eliminating five positions in rural health, community health services, continuing professional development, and education & curriculum;
• $1,990,500 – Elimination of 22 non-tenured faculty positions;
• $1,029,400 – Elimination of 30 other academic positions;
• $1,589,700 – Elimination of 38 administrative positions in telemedicine, the Simmons Cancer Institute, finance and administration, information technology, and research; and
• $2,357,600 – Elimination of non-personnel operations budgets for renovations, equipment, recruitment, grant release, educational initiatives and contingency reserves;

The $807,000 in system-wide cost reductions would result from elimination of a total of 10 administrative professional and civil service staff positions in the university president’s office, as well as the finance and administration; academic affairs; general counsel; internal audit; governmental and public relations; risk management; and board services departments.

The proposed SIU budget summary can be accessed at ftpcontent5.worldnow.com/wsil/SIUReductionSummary1.pdf

Like us on Facebook

Follow us on Twitter

— SIU facing $45 million in budget cuts —