UH-Clear Lake was ordered to cut its 2002-2003 budget by 7 percent, equaling an amount of $2,163,867.

To help achieve this reduction, summer school courses have been cut down to 81 percent. However, additional courses could be added to the summer schedule if salary savings become evident.

"High demand courses will be added to the summer schedule as funds allow," said William Staples, president of UH-Clear Lake.

The summer and fall schedules will be released together.

"We expect the schedule to be available March 31 online and April 7 in print," said Colleen Zlomke, administrative assistant in enrollment services. "Recent budget issues and schedule changes may cause these dates to change."

Twenty-five university job "searches" were placed on hold until Feb. 14 when Staples gave approval to fill some of the vacancies.

"I have informed the dean of each school, which had searches planned or in process, what specific searches have been approved for 2003-2004," said Staples, in an e-mail to colleagues. "These approved searches are effective immediately."

Out-of-state travel is suspended or "must be on non-ledger one funds."

"Decisions on which ledgers to be used are made at the department level," Staples said. "Itıs up to the deans and directors to determine whether they will use non-ledger one funds to cover expenditures that would have been charged to ledger one funds prior to the mandated cut."

Ledger one funds are state appropriations representing 56 percent of the fiscal year 2003 budget.

"The total budget is $83,910,156," said Jean Carr, director of budget office. "The state budget is $46,546,929."

Staples said no layoffs or across-the-board salary cuts will be considered through August. August ends the 2002-2003 fiscal year. Any cuts for the next biennium will depend on the outcome of the 78th Legislature.

Staples spoke about the budget crisis Feb. 18 at the Student Government Association meeting held in Atrium II of the Bayou Building.

Tuition deregulation, which allows the cancellation of tuition caps, was one of the issues Staples discussed at the SGA meeting.

Currently, the Legislature decides the fees and tuition caps. If deregulation passes, the Board of Regents of each university system would set the fees and there would be no cap on tuition.

In Perryıs State of the State address, he supported tuition deregulation.

"I join speaker Craddick in calling for tuition deregulation so our colleges have greater control over their dollars," Perry said.

Following the SGA meeting, Staples left for Austin to attend a Feb.19 hearing with the House of Appropriations Subcommittee on Education.

Each UH Systemıs university president attended the hearing in Austin. This was the first of a series of expected hearings.

"Increasing designated tuition levels to make up for losses in state general revenue funding would significantly shift the burden from taxpayers to Texas students," said Arthur Smith, chancellor of UH System and president of University of Houston, during his speech before the House of Appropriations Subcommittee on Education.

Full documentation of his testimony is available online at www.uh.edu/uhcnonline/uhcn2003/feb2003/testimony.htm.

"Subcommittee members suggested at the hearing Feb. 19 that universities charge as much as possible in student fees to offset budget shortfalls during the next biennium," Staples said.

Staples questioned whether "we or the state would get more money if caps are taken off."

Further cuts are expected for the next biennium (2003-2004 and 2004-2005).

The House of Appropriations Subcommittee on Education asked each agency to resubmit a request for the next biennium based on Relevant General Revenue.

"Based on the anticipated state revenues for 2003-2005, the state has assigned each agency a base amount of funds for the next biennium, which is referred to as Relevant General Revenue," Staples continued in his e-mail. "UH - Clear Lakeıs budget number in this category is $49,406,900, which amounts to a 16 percent budget reduction for the next biennium, or $4.7 million per year."

Staples reiterated that it is too soon to determine the course of action for the next biennium until the decision of the 78th Legislative session is reached.

"There are still many uncertainties; however, I will continue to send updates to the university community regarding the state budget issues as information becomes available," Staples said.

Health and human services and the state prison system are other state agencies feeling the brunt of the deficit.

To obtain contact information on the 78th Legislature go to the UHCLIDIAN Web site at www.cl.uh.edu/UHCLIDIAN.

Top of Page | Front Page