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California State University, Fresno President John D. Welty announced today, April 23, that a significant reduction in state budget dollars will necessitate layoffs of employees beginning July 1.
In a tentative budget plan, campus officials have identified a variety of cutbacks, consolidations and reductions, and it appears that the cumulative impact will result in layoffs of approximately 46 state-funded managers and staff.
“As you know, the state is in the midst of very difficult times and that has forced us to make some extraordinarily difficult decisions,” Welty told employees gathered for a campuswide budget update.
“Our best prediction is that we must build a budget that reflects an enrollment reduction of 9.5% and reduces our expenditures by an additional $8.5 million” above this year’s $44 million shortfall, he said.
The tentative budget plan does not include employee furloughs. Most of Fresno State’s 2,200 faculty and staff were furloughed for 24 days in 2009-10.
Welty noted that previously announced one-time federal funding of $2.9 million will be used for additional course sections and academic support. But, he warned, as the budget picture becomes clearer, some layoffs of part-time lecturers may be necessary prior to the beginning of the fall semester. The faculty headcount is down by 223 since fall 2008, a reduction of 111 full-time equivalent positions.
The university’s Athletics program also is experiencing reductions. The Athletics division has been required to reduce its university-funded allocation at the same standard proportion as all other units.
Due to the recession, donations to the Bulldog Foundation and ticket sales for athletic events have decreased. The Athletic Corporation will eliminate six additional positions (non-state funded). Further actions may include the necessity to furlough Athletic Corporation employees for a period of time and other cost reduction measures.
Public safety operations will continue to be preserved from budget reductions.
Although the state budget is not adopted, the university must begin planning for the 2010-11, Welty said.
“Given the legislature’s track record of delays in passing a budget, it is necessary to act now. We cannot wait. Failure to act now could result in severe disruption when the fall semester begins Aug. 23. If we don’t act now and our predictions hold true, we would be required to lay-off a much larger number of employees at a later date. I believe that is an irresponsible gamble to take,” Welty said.
“If, for any reason our planning assumptions don’t hold true, and we receive additional funds, we will happily retract some or all of our layoff actions.”
Welty also asked employees to call and write elected representatives in Sacramento to advocate for support of Fresno State and the California State University system.
“Tell them how important Fresno State is to our current and future students; to our community; and Central California. Remind them that Fresno State is a university of opportunity for students – many of them the first in their families able to get a college degree,” Welty said.
He also urged members of the campus community to support each other, work together and keep their focus on serving students.
Welty added, “We must also stay focused on our responsibility, which is to provide a quality educational experience for students. We are transforming their lives.”
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