May 12, 2010

Dear Kutztown University Community,

I want to communicate to you the budget decisions that have been made in recent days to deal with the projected $4 million Educational & General (E&G) budget shortfall for the 2010-11 academic year.  As I have stated in the past, these decisions were extremely difficult, but were necessary for the mandatory balancing of our budget.

Our final budget reduction for 2010-11 will be approximately $4.2 million.  This total will be reached through the elimination of budgeted positions, lowered expenditures from position turnover and retirements, and cuts in operating funds.

The 2010-11 reductions include $2,852,255 through the elimination of 39 budgeted positions.  This total includes 29 vacant and 10 filled positions.  Another $1,059,183 in reductions will be realized through cuts in operating funds in each of the university’s five divisions.  Position turnover and retirements will account for $282,093 in reductions. 

Services to be eliminated include university fleet vehicles (a less expensive rental program in cooperation with PASSHE will be instituted), crossing guards on Kutztown Rd. through the center of campus, the availability of guest rooms in Old Main and select custodial services. Copy center hours will be slightly reduced.  Further details regarding cuts to operating budgets will be shared within your division.

Programs being discontinued as a result of the 2010-11 budget short fall include Act 101, Upward Bound and Upward Bound Math/Science.  Act 101 and the Upward Bound programs and staff are partially grant-funded by the Pennsylvania and U.S. Department of Education, respectively.  However, both programs require significant additional funding from the university, which will no longer be available due to budget reductions.  University faculty and staff are assisting with the transition for students affected by these changes. 

Additionally, internal announcements were made last week regarding the status of some of our academic programs.  You will recall that in March, as we prepared for budget reductions, the university announced select academic programs would be subject to review.  On May 4, we announced that two of those academic programs --- nursing (undergraduate and graduate) and theater (major and associated minors) --- will be placed in moratorium; dance courses will be discontinued, and the Department of Advisement will be eliminated.  Admission to the programs in moratorium will be halted.  Students currently enrolled in all of these programs will be able to continue to pursue their degrees in their major of choice.  The programs in philosophy and electronic media, and the Department of Academic Enrichment, will continue to be reviewed.

Although the budget reduction process has been a serious challenge for our university community, our projected enrollment for the year ahead is strong and we are maintaining our goal of protecting our core academic programs.
 
As we move forward, we must remember that our financial strength is directly tied to the funding we receive from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.  If this support continues to waver, we may be forced again to identify additional areas subject to possible reduction in funding.  I am confident, however, that we will continue to pull together to face our difficulties head on and ensure a solid experience for the students we serve.

Sincerely,

F. Javier Cevallos
President