Initial budget cuts implemented to address the university’s projected $14 million shortfall will become permanent cuts as the university continues to address the deficit, now projected to increase to $22 million by Fiscal Year 2022.
University of Idaho President C. Scott Green sent out a detailed memo Wednesday morning explaining the current state of the university budget, including plans to balance the budgets and possible areas of reduction.
Green said the projected increased deficit stems from an expected decrease in tuition revenue by $8 million over the next two years.
UI budget shortfall: University faces $14 million budget shortfall
Included in the memo as possible budget reduction strategies are:
- Academic program eliminations
- Centralizing services across the university
- Contract non-renewals and layoffs
- Early retirement and voluntary separation incentives
- Not filling vacant positions
- Organizational restructuring
- Outsourcing/contracting some services
- Salary reductions and furloughs
“Correcting our current course will require strategic investment in some areas of the university to grow enrollment and continue to build brand equity,” Green said in the memo. “We will invest in enrollment management and recruitment, communications and marketing and advancement/development because we must. Increasing revenue is in large part dependent upon how well we market to and recruit new students and how well we maintain strong and meaningful relationships with our alumni, donors and friends.”
The Argonaut will continue to follow this story as more information becomes available.
Meredith Spelbring can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @mere0415