Some members of the state Board of Higher Education are raising questions about what the Board’s role should be in how the 11 colleges are handling budget cuts.
The cuts were mandated. Governor Dalrymple ordered state general fund agencies to slice 4.05 percent from their budgets, due to a tax revenue shortfall. The 11 campus presidents were told to find the cuts – and they presented their plans to the Board Thursday.
Board member Nick Hacker says the Board has the oversight responsibility over the colleges. And he believes the Board should be more involved.
"Yes, some guidelines from the Chancellor are great, as ideas," said Hacker. "But the reality is, we have policies and procedures in place that we need to follow. Certain activities can not be delegated away."
Board member Kari Reichert says if programs are going to be affected by these cuts, the Board’s academic committee should look at them. UND interim President Ed Schafer is recommending a “freeze” on the music therapy program – meaning it will accept no new students.
"As a practical matter, if it comes to our committee, and there's no enrollment and no faculty, we're cut out," Reichert said. "We are effectively rubber-stamping something we have no choice in."
But Board member Don Morton says some of these decisions are best made close to where the action is – on campus.
"I would hate to see us start to standardize the impact of the cuts on student, and then come up with a standard approach across all 11 campuses," Morton said. "What's best for students at one institution is not best for students at the other. Or, we could take a drastic step and eliminate all the presidents, and have the Board run each of the campuses. Is that what we want to do? I don't think so."
University System Chancellor Mark Hagerott says the allotment process was fast-moving. And he says the budget plans are a work in progress.
The Board will take another look at the plans to meet the allotments in its May meeting, as well as a June retreat.
