Welty calls budget summit

Dr. Welty issued the following memorandum regarding a campus budget summit:

During my address to faculty and staff as we began the semester, I announced that I had planned to convene a budget summit to discuss ideas for dealing with our budget for 2004-05.

I have invited my Cabinet, the Senate Executive Committee, Senate Chairs, the University Budget Committee, the Joint Labor Council, School and College Deans, Department Chairs, the Provost's Management Team, the Executive Leadership of Student Affairs, Administrative Services and University Advancement, the Student Leadership Group, Staff Assembly Executive Committee, and representatives from the Alumni Association and Foundation Board to meet from 2:00   to 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 12, 2004 in the Satellite Student Union for the purpose of discussing how we might go about dealing with the potential reductions in our funding.   The suggestions generated in the summit will be made available to the entire University Community.

In preparation for this summit I would like to invite anyone in the University community to submit ideas for either generating additional revenue or reducing costs.   The recommendations should be in keeping with the nine principles I outlined at the assembly.

1. Priority should be given to making courses available for students who have been admitted in order to ensure a timely completion of their degrees.

2. Consider the possibility of consolidating or restructuring departments, programs or offices which would allow for the reduction of administrative costs and other overhead and reduce duplication of services or programs.

3. Examine processes and procedures which could be eliminated, suspended or performed in a different way which would contribute to cost savings.

4. Increase and identify new opportunities for revenue where possible and eliminate subsidies provided to some services and programs.

5. Where steps have been taken to provide support for grant and contract growth, seek to minimize the level of reduction or propose an alternative approach to maintaining progress which has been made.

6. Maintain essential services at an adequate level and reduce or eliminate non-essential services.

7. Propose reductions consistent with the priorities which are identified in the University's Plan for Excellence.

8. Give consideration to expenditures which can be delayed or deferred for a period of time.

9. Do not compromise the safety and health of the campus community and its members and seek to address the welfare of our students and employees during a very difficult time.

Ideas should be submitted to Mr. John Waayers at jwaayers@csufresno.edu or call 278-5293 before 5:00 p.m. on February 10.   All ideas submitted should be signed.   However, the individuals who submit ideas will not be shared with summit participants. We do not plan to provide any cash awards for ideas which are submitted.

I look forward to learning of your ideas and suggestions.