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There has been a great deal of talk and press coverage about the budget situation facing the Commonwealth of Virginia and how those cuts will affect higher education and, in particular, Longwood University. On September 20, we were directed to submit three budget proposals to Richmond that would cut our existing budget by 7, 11, and 15 percent. The cuts are coming from actual state funding of $18,187,768 which had originally been funded at $20,666,516 for FY 2003. The college already had made a total of 11 percent cuts last year to bring it to this level.
Budget Cut Projections: (from funded base of $18,187,768)
7% = $1,273,143
11% = $2,000,634
15% = $2,728,165
Impact on Longwood
At any level, cuts will substantially reduce university operations including a reduction in services, utilities, response times, compliance with federal and state requests, office hours, physical plant maintenance, and other services. To put it succinctly, there is no fat in our budget-any level of cuts will have an impact on our operation.
What we are doing now
Longwood University has already taken the following cost-saving steps:
We must wait and see
At the present time, we do not know what the level of cuts will be for Longwood. And, I don't think it would be prudent for us to speculate since Governor Warner will make the final decisions.
I can tell you, however, that we do not plan to cut any faculty positions. We must remain true to our core mission of education and the faculty are essential if we are to continue to provide a meaningful learning environment for our students.
The Governor will let us know by October 15, what level of cuts we must implement. Until then, we cannot release any specific information since the three proposals have been designated "Governor's Confidential Working Papers" as directed by the Governor's office.