Current Campus Budget
Reductions for 2008-09
From: President Wim Wiewel
February 25, 2009
I want to thank you
all for the difficult decisions that you had to make to meet the required state
budget reductions for this biennium. Managers worked hard to present the
University Budget team with options for a 3 percent reduction in teaching
departments and a 5 percent reduction for non-teaching units.
There is no doubt
that we are facing difficult times, and sacrifices are being required of us
all. The process we undertook to meet the state requirement had to be timely,
and we were especially constrained by the fact that a 4 percent overall
reduction (in addition to l percent in December) has to be taken within the
last four months of the 24-month biennium. This is a difficult goal, but the
campus has achieved it.
The University
Budget Team and the President’s Executive Committee considered the managers’
proposals as well as various departmental situations and financial
capabilities. The resulting reductions range from 6 percent in the President’s
Office to 2.5 percent in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and 1.5
percent in the School of Fine and Performing Arts. We are committed to
preserving as much as possible in instructional capacity and in the scholarly
and research activities of our faculty. These are always our first concerns.
As a campus
community, we will no doubt be further challenged as the governor and state
legislators confront the realities of this economic crisis. PSU will continue
to provide quality education, scholarship, and research for our students and
the community. That is our mission and commitment. As we learn more, we will
consult and communicate with you in as timely a manner as possible on our
budget plans. Thank you for your continued support of Portland State and its
students.
For more on the budget process, visit the Budget
& Planning Web site.
