Fact Sheet – Budget Actions        

April 22, 2004

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Click for: Full Budget Planning Documents

Click for: University Budget Committee Memo

The Governor's proposed budget for 2004-05 resulted in a base budget reduction for Fresno State of $11 million and an enrollment reduction of 900 full-time equivalent students (FTES).

All colleges, schools and divisions prepared budget plans which assumed a reduced budget. President Welty established a set of principles which guided the preparation of the plans. Student leadership was consulted throughout the budget planning process as well. The university held a budget summit on February 12 which involved students, faculty, staff and administration. Results of that summit were shared with Vice-Presidents and Deans as they prepared their plans for submission.

The University Budget Committee reviewed the plan. The President consulted with the Provost and Vice-Presidents to complete the plan announced April 22.

The following actions are being taken in an effort to balance our budget:

REDUCTION OF MANAGEMENT AND STAFF POSITIONS: Forty-two positions that are currently vacant (7 management and 35 staff positions) will be eliminated. This is in addition to the 10 management positions eliminated last July. An additional 19 positions (4 management and 15 staff) will be held open and will not be filled. In addition, to meet the budget requirements we will lay off four people (1 management and 3 staff employees).

REDUCTION OF ENROLLMENT: We will reduce our enrollment by 900 FTES. This action reduces the need for faculty positions. Low-enrollment courses have been reduced, class size has been increased in some cases and assigned (non-teaching) time for faculty has been dramatically reduced. As a result, 129 part-time lecturers (hired as needed), 12 full-time lecturers and three FERP (retired) faculty will not be rehired for the 2004-05 year. While we will offer fewer class sections, we will make every effort to provide classes to those students who have been admitted and are enrolled.

CONSOLIDATION AND SUSPENSION OF PROGRAMS, OPTIONS AND FUNCTIONS: Several improvements to University operations were recommended and adopted that will result in budget savings. Highlights of the major actions include: consolidating the number of administrative units to five in the Craig School of Business, the consolidation of four departments to two in Engineering, and the suspension of two undergraduate options and two graduate options in Health Sciences and Human Services. A complete list of all actions is available by university division, school and college in Appendix B of President Welty’s April 22 statement. The full statement is available online at www.FresnoStateNews.com.

ADDITIONAL ACTIONS BEING CONSIDERED:

A range of other actions will be reviewed over the next several months. A detailed description of those actions is available in the president’s full document at www.FresnoStateNews.com.

• Change in Organizational Structure of Colleges and Schools

• Change in Departmental Structures

• Make Greater Use of Instructional Technology and the Academic Innovation Center

• Bolster Institutional Research

• Further Improve the Efficiency of Graduate processes

• Reconsider the Organizational Structure of Academic Personnel Services, Human Resources, Payroll and Benefits

• Reexamine the Organization for Information Technology Services

• Develop Plans to Reduce Remediation Campus wide

As we move ahead:

Several projects were determined to be critical to the university’s future and will continue next year. We will:

• Continue to take the steps to achieve our Plan for Excellence II: 2001-2006 goals.

• Continue planning for our comprehensive campaign and hiring of staff to conduct the campaign. No general fund money will be used to support this effort.

• Continue to recruit tenure track-faculty to fill critical positions.

• Maintain commitments to instructional technology, including the leasing of laptops and creating Smart Classrooms.

• Continue construction on our Science II Project.

• Begin construction on our technology infrastructure project this summer.

• Begin planning for our new library.

• Continue to implement our retention efforts as recommended in the Task Force on Student Success.

• Give priority to public safety and the other principles which President Welty outlined in January 2004. Principles are posted on FresnoStateNews.com.

EDITORS and NEWS/PUBLIC AFFAIRS DIRECTORS: Press releases can be downloaded at www.fresnostatenews.com. University Relations also provides releases for news media companies via e-mail. To be added to the distribution list, send your e-mail address to tomu@csufresno.edu.