Periodic Updates - Update #43
CENTRAL MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY
OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
August 6, 2004
2004-2005 State Budget
The Michigan Senate and House of Representatives returned this week to continue to try to reach a compromise agreement with Governor Granholm on a state budget for 2004-2005. The universities do not yet know what their state appropriations will be for the fiscal year that began July 1.
While budget uncertainty remains at the state level, the universities could no longer wait to take action on tuition rates. While we had hoped to receive a firm commitment on receiving a 3% increase to the current appropriation before setting tuition, we felt that students and parents needed to have some information given the lateness of this date. At a special meeting on August 4, the CMU Board of Trustees approved a $226 million operating budget for 2004-2005 that incorporates $10.1 million in expenditure reductions and a 2.8 percent increase in tuition and mandatory fees.
This tuition rate is predicated on the state’s commitment to return 60 percent of last December’s 5 percent mid-year state funding callback (i.e., a 3% increase to the current appropriation) and guarantee no further state reductions to this year’s base budget, in exchange for a tuition increase equal to the current rate of inflation. There is no doubt that academic quality is at risk because of declining state appropriations, particularly for universities at which per student funding ranks low (CMU ranks among the lowest in the state). Though difficult, if the 3 percent cannot be restored, academic programs must be protected with an appropriate increase in tuition, which is the university’s only other major source of revenue.
Deliberation of Revenue Generation Suggestions Continues
In response to a request in Update 42, we received several revenue generating suggestions from members of the university community. Many thanks to those who took the time to share suggestions. They have been compiled and reviewed with the appropriate people. Please send additional suggestions to president@cmich.edu.
On September 8, members of the Board of Trustees will hold a Revenue Workshop. The goal will be to discuss initiatives that the university should consider to increase total revenues (not just general fund revenues) to the university and also enhance the student learning experience at CMU. While still in the planning stages, several broad categories of revenue may be explored further during this workshop including development initiatives, investment income and use of university facilities, grants, and auxiliary and department revenues.
August 2004 Commencement Ceremony Planned
Central Michigan University's summer sessions conclude with a commencement ceremony on August 7 in Rose Arena. A total of 2028 graduates will receive their diplomas. The speaker for the 10:00 a.m. ceremony is Stephanie Burns, president and chief executive officer of Dow Corning Corporation, who will receive an honorary doctor of commercial science degree. Olga Denison of Mount Pleasant will receive an honorary doctor of public service degree in recognition of her lifelong service to CMU and the Mount Pleasant community. I look forward to seeing CMU’s newest alumni who will receive degrees this week.
As mentioned in update 41, the August commencement ceremony will be discontinued in 2005 due to budget reductions in the president’s office.
State of the University Address Replaced
As referenced previously in Update 38, the former State of the University address will be replaced this year. Instead, the university’s staff is invited and encouraged to attend an All Staff Meeting to be held Monday, August 23, 2:30-3:30 in the Bovee University Center Auditorium. All members of the faculty are invited and encouraged to attend a Faculty Meeting to be held Wednesday, August 25, 10:00-11:00 in Bush Theater. There will be some information shared in these meetings, but I am trying to focus mostly on responding to questions, ideas, and concerns. Much of the feedback that I received on the state of the university addresses suggests that the more informal staff and faculty meetings will be more useful than a more formal address after the semester begins. After we have tried this new format, please let me know what you think.
In addition to the staff and faculty meetings, an open forum for students, faculty, staff and community members has been scheduled on October 20 at 5:30 p.m. in the Bovee University Center Lake Superior Room. Meetings with the SGA and RHA also will be scheduled during fall semester.
Progress Continues on Digital Television Conversion
CMU Public Broadcasting is continuing its progress with the complex conversion to digital television, scheduled for completion in late 2004. With more than $2 million in new competitive federal grants, the network will reach over 2.5 million people, more than twice its current reach. When coupled with our seven radio stations, digital television will be used to expand CMU’s involvement in the lives of many Michigan residents. Once complete, the digital television network will be used to expand the university’s presence in the state. During prime-time, most of the digital bandwidth can be used to deliver High Definition programs with Dolby sound. During other parts of the day, however, the bandwidth can be used to deliver multiple programs simultaneously (called multicasting). This will allow CMU to dramatically increase the educational programming being delivered from Lansing to the Upper Peninsula, from Manistee to Tawas.
OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
August 6, 2004
| TO: | The CMU Community |
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| FROM: | Michael Rao |
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| SUBJECT: | CMU Update 43 |
2004-2005 State Budget
The Michigan Senate and House of Representatives returned this week to continue to try to reach a compromise agreement with Governor Granholm on a state budget for 2004-2005. The universities do not yet know what their state appropriations will be for the fiscal year that began July 1.
While budget uncertainty remains at the state level, the universities could no longer wait to take action on tuition rates. While we had hoped to receive a firm commitment on receiving a 3% increase to the current appropriation before setting tuition, we felt that students and parents needed to have some information given the lateness of this date. At a special meeting on August 4, the CMU Board of Trustees approved a $226 million operating budget for 2004-2005 that incorporates $10.1 million in expenditure reductions and a 2.8 percent increase in tuition and mandatory fees.
This tuition rate is predicated on the state’s commitment to return 60 percent of last December’s 5 percent mid-year state funding callback (i.e., a 3% increase to the current appropriation) and guarantee no further state reductions to this year’s base budget, in exchange for a tuition increase equal to the current rate of inflation. There is no doubt that academic quality is at risk because of declining state appropriations, particularly for universities at which per student funding ranks low (CMU ranks among the lowest in the state). Though difficult, if the 3 percent cannot be restored, academic programs must be protected with an appropriate increase in tuition, which is the university’s only other major source of revenue.
Deliberation of Revenue Generation Suggestions Continues
In response to a request in Update 42, we received several revenue generating suggestions from members of the university community. Many thanks to those who took the time to share suggestions. They have been compiled and reviewed with the appropriate people. Please send additional suggestions to president@cmich.edu.
On September 8, members of the Board of Trustees will hold a Revenue Workshop. The goal will be to discuss initiatives that the university should consider to increase total revenues (not just general fund revenues) to the university and also enhance the student learning experience at CMU. While still in the planning stages, several broad categories of revenue may be explored further during this workshop including development initiatives, investment income and use of university facilities, grants, and auxiliary and department revenues.
August 2004 Commencement Ceremony Planned
Central Michigan University's summer sessions conclude with a commencement ceremony on August 7 in Rose Arena. A total of 2028 graduates will receive their diplomas. The speaker for the 10:00 a.m. ceremony is Stephanie Burns, president and chief executive officer of Dow Corning Corporation, who will receive an honorary doctor of commercial science degree. Olga Denison of Mount Pleasant will receive an honorary doctor of public service degree in recognition of her lifelong service to CMU and the Mount Pleasant community. I look forward to seeing CMU’s newest alumni who will receive degrees this week.
As mentioned in update 41, the August commencement ceremony will be discontinued in 2005 due to budget reductions in the president’s office.
State of the University Address Replaced
As referenced previously in Update 38, the former State of the University address will be replaced this year. Instead, the university’s staff is invited and encouraged to attend an All Staff Meeting to be held Monday, August 23, 2:30-3:30 in the Bovee University Center Auditorium. All members of the faculty are invited and encouraged to attend a Faculty Meeting to be held Wednesday, August 25, 10:00-11:00 in Bush Theater. There will be some information shared in these meetings, but I am trying to focus mostly on responding to questions, ideas, and concerns. Much of the feedback that I received on the state of the university addresses suggests that the more informal staff and faculty meetings will be more useful than a more formal address after the semester begins. After we have tried this new format, please let me know what you think.
In addition to the staff and faculty meetings, an open forum for students, faculty, staff and community members has been scheduled on October 20 at 5:30 p.m. in the Bovee University Center Lake Superior Room. Meetings with the SGA and RHA also will be scheduled during fall semester.
Progress Continues on Digital Television Conversion
CMU Public Broadcasting is continuing its progress with the complex conversion to digital television, scheduled for completion in late 2004. With more than $2 million in new competitive federal grants, the network will reach over 2.5 million people, more than twice its current reach. When coupled with our seven radio stations, digital television will be used to expand CMU’s involvement in the lives of many Michigan residents. Once complete, the digital television network will be used to expand the university’s presence in the state. During prime-time, most of the digital bandwidth can be used to deliver High Definition programs with Dolby sound. During other parts of the day, however, the bandwidth can be used to deliver multiple programs simultaneously (called multicasting). This will allow CMU to dramatically increase the educational programming being delivered from Lansing to the Upper Peninsula, from Manistee to Tawas.
