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UW-L would have to cut an estimated $1.7 million in the next two years if state lawmakers approve Gov. Jim Doyle's proposed budget for the 2005-07 biennium, Chancellor Doug Hastad said Monday.
Hastad said that would mean a net loss of about 20 administrative positions, which will lead to a reorganization of assignments and require some staff to shoulder more responsibility.
The staff reductions would come through not filling vacancies or attrition when possible, but layoffs could occur, said Ron Lostetter, vice chancellor for Administration and Finance.
"This will not be received with enthusiasm uniformly across campus, nor should it be," Hastad said. "There will be some people who will feel hurt, and I can understand that."
Hastad said he thinks elimination of the dean and associate dean offices in the College of Education, Exercise Science, Health and Recreation will be noticed most on campus. Those positions had been filled on interim basis.
UW-L has its roots in education, Hastad said, yet as of July 1, education will not have its own college, although programs and faculty will remain intact.
All academic departments within that college, except Educational Studies, will move to the College of Science and Allied Health. Teacher education will move to the College of Liberal Studies.
Other positions that will not be filled include the vice chancellor for Enrollment Management, the director of Financial Aid and the director of the School of Education.
Lostetter said the cuts are particularly painful because UW-L has had to reduce its budget for the past four years. UW-L gave back $2 million during the 2001-03 biennium, he said, and another $2.5 million in 2003-05.
On top of that, only 57 percent of the general purpose revenue is available for the next round of cuts; the 43 percent earmarked for instruction can't be touched, Lostetter said.
Lostetter said about 40 positions already have been lost during the past four years. That has an impact far beyond campus, he said, because those are 60 families not living in the La Crosse area — and thus not contributing to the local economy or community.
The recommended reductions Hastad released Monday only total about $1.5 million, so additional cuts will be needed. Elizabeth Hitch, provost and vice chancellor, said her office is working with UW-L deans to find additional savings.
While instruction will remain intact, the cuts to support services will affect students, Hastad said. Much of the "face to face" activities will cease as UW-L switches many services to the Internet. While he knows students are technology-savvy, it could lead to what he called "the depersonalization of the university experience."
The governor's proposed budget does have some good points, Hastad said, including more financial aid for students and money during the second year of the biennium for new faculty.
Hastad also does not think tuition will increase for students more than the 5 percent to 7 percent recommended in the governor's proposal.
Projected revenue adjustments
---Reorganization of administrative assignments, $787,155
---Shift funding sources, $334,899
---Transition to Web-based services, $11,800
---Restructure administrative services in the provost's office and academic colleges, $149,046
---Increase fees for services and redirect revenue from certain accounts, $248,490
On the Web
www.uwlax.edu/budget/reductionhome.htm
Kate Schott can be reached at (608) 791-8226 or Kate.Schott@lacrossetribune.com.
