Southeast Missouri State University Board of Regents to consider budget today

Southeast Missouri State University's board of regents will consider approval of a $98.3 million annual operating budget and a $36.8 million auxiliary budget today.

The budget is based on an anticipated 8 percent cut to state appropriations for Southeast that prompted a tuition raise and the university's budget review committee to continue efforts to cut costs several years in a row.

State appropriations to Southeast were cut 12.2 percent during fiscal years 2012 and 2011. The 8 percent cut projected for the 2013 fiscal year is equal to $3.3 million. The budget review committee has been deliberating since March 2010 on ways to meet an anticipated budget shortfall of $20 million between 2011 and 2015, according to the university.

Cost-cutting measures proposed this year included combining the university's College of Science and Mathematics and the School of Polytechnic Studies into the College of Science, Technology and Agriculture, eliminating some vacant staff positions and replacing retiring tenured faculty with nontenured instructors, reducing instructional operating budgets and noninstructional operating budgets and several other methods.

The university had a $96.7 million operating budget in 2012.

The board will consider approval of budgets at 1:15 p.m. in the University Center Ballroom following a reconvening of open session. A closed session will begin at 11:05 a.m. and an announcement of action taken in the session is also scheduled for 1:15 p.m.

eragan@semissourian.com

388-3627