Fiscal pressure

It is a new year and with it comes yet another round of cuts in state appropriations. As Amelia Brust reports in “Pa. freezes funding to university” pg. 1, on Jan. 3, the university was hit with a $7 million freeze as the state brought in 4 percent less revenues than expected in the 2011-12 fiscal year. It seems the university has been preparing for both the Jan. 3 freeze and future cuts with the release of the provost office’s White Paper, a 25-page report that states the impending cuts in appropriations “are likely to continue in the years ahead and to constitute challenges to the traditional ways we operate.”

As Brian Dzenis reports in “Provost outlines potential restructuring in White Paper” pg. 1, the main goals in the White Paper are to find ways to restructure various departments around the university more streamlined in an effort to cut costs and ensure students graduate in four years. Some possible candidates for restructuring are Tyler School of Art, Boyer College of Music and Dance, School of Communications and Theater and College of Education. Some of the proposals related to those schools could involve combining some schools together.

In September 2010, Provost Richard Englert proposed having the theater department join with Boyer. A portion of the student body reacted negatively to the idea. The Temple News editorial board at the time took the position of being willing to listen to any dialogue regarding restructuring. That position has not changed.

When state funds are shrinking, the student body needs to be more willing and open to restructuring proposals than last time around. It is possible that the White Paper is a indication that the current structures of the university may not be financially viable to keep the current structure in place while keeping tuition at an affordable cost. In order to prevent a significant tuition raise, students should consider supporting restructuring proposals.