Southeast extends hiring freeze, aims to slice spending

CUTTING $1 MILLION

On the Net

www6.semo.edu/busfin/budget

By Mark Bliss ~ Southeast Missourian

Southeast Missouri State University plans to eliminate $1 million in spending over the next five months and extend a hiring freeze as it deals with expected cuts in state funding for fiscal 2003, which begins July 1.

University officials say they also are looking at ways to reduce personnel costs, such as leaving some positions vacant when employees retire or leave for new jobs.

Even with cost-cutting efforts, student fees will have to be increased, officials said.

Dr. Ken Dobbins, Southeast president, announced the financial belt-tightening moves in a three-page letter sent to the university's more than 1,000 employees this week.

On top of cost-cutting moves, Southeast officials talk of hiking student fees.

"This will be a difficult time in the history of our university," he wrote. "Expense reductions and increased fees are inevitable."

Southeast has boosted its enrollment and improved graduation rates, academic programs and computer technology on campus. It also has opened higher education centers in Sikeston and Kennett, Mo.

Dobbins' letter

"We must find ways to maintain much of the progress we have made even in a period of financial cutbacks," Dobbins wrote.

For example, Dobbins wrote that the university needs to upgrade its computers so students can get the necessary training to be competitive in the job market when they graduate.

Dobbins was out of town late this week and couldn't be reached for comment.

Art Wallhausen, associate to the president, sought to reassure employees. Wallhausen said his boss didn't call for layoffs.

"This was just a wake-up call to the campus," he said. "There's no talk of laying people off."

The university's Budget Review Committee began looking last week at how to slash expenses. The committee, which meets weekly, doesn't expect to complete its work before March at the earliest.

Meeting with students

At Dobbins' urging, the committee plans to meet with students and employees to get suggestions on how to deal with the budget crisis.

At the committee's suggestion, the university has set up a special Web site to take comments and questions regarding the budget problem.

Ross McFerron of Advance, Mo., is one of three students on the Budget Review Committee. McFerron said talk of a higher-than-normal tuition hike for the coming school year concerns students.

Still, McFerron said students know that a fee hike is inevitable given the tight state funding. "We want to try and keep it as low as possible," he said .

William Eddleman, a biology professor and head of the Faculty Senate, serves on the committee.

Eddleman said Friday that it's too early to tell what budget moves will be recommended, he said.

But Eddleman said the financial crisis will make it difficult for the university to give pay raises.

"Everybody knows we are going to have to do something," said Eddleman.

mbliss@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 123