The state's poor financial situation, in which the is roughly $1 billion below projected revenues, for the current year, could lead to additional budget cuts to state universities. Chancellor Mark Rosenberg warned, "this could mean layoffs. This could mean a reduced number of classes for students. We continue to dig ourselves into a deeper and deeper hole."
Administrators with Florida's 11 public colleges and universities were already asked to cut 4-percent of their budgets this fiscal year. Now, an additional 4-percent cut is being considered for the chopping block. Plus, another 4-percent cut is anticipated at the start of the new fiscal year in 2008.
Rosenberg apologized to students, university employees and alumni of public colleges and universities.
"FAMU has already given up $4 million to budget cuts, FAMU President James H. Ammons. "Another 4-percent cut would represent another loss of $4 million."
"I just don't know how we can continue to have quality education and academic services if these cuts continue," Ammons said. "It could add up to $12 million just from budget cuts."
Also see: FAMU facing $6 million in cuts
Universities bracing themselves for cuts
This is absolutely ridiculous. The State needs to audit itself more thoroughly.
ReplyDeleteYou can't have a good education system on the cheap! All these tax cutting Republicans need to go, its time to get real.
ReplyDeleteI sure as hell don't need or want an "apology" from Rosenberg. Apologies don't pay the mortgage or car note. The one-time "bonus" of $673 was ridiculous. In fact when I got it, it had already been spent five months ago. I'm a faculty member at the university, and contrary to the myth that professor get paid big $$, the majority of us really don't. In fact, many of us have a second job (or teach an extra class) just to make ends meet. But we stay--well, I can't speak for anyone but myself--I stay, because I like teaching, I like the students and I love the university (from which I earned my undergraduate degree). But it sure is hard sometimes...well, most times, it's hard. But many of us remain because we have faith in the university and believe in what we're doing and when we see our students prosper, we know that everything was worth it. FAMU is a very good school, but sometimes it's simply difficult to keep going what with the budget cuts and the state's not-so-nice treatment of its faculty members.
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