cleveland
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RE: Kent State University to cut Budget 20% for 2021
(05-08-2020 05:45 PM)Fan12 Wrote: (05-07-2020 05:49 PM)cleveland Wrote: (05-07-2020 03:18 PM)axeme Wrote: KSU cuts $30 million from budget(Record-Courier link)Quote:
Kent State University on Wednesday finalized more than $30 million in cuts for the next fiscal year to make up for losses associated with the coronavirus pandemic.
Those cuts will come in the form of a salary adjustment model for non-represented employees, pay freezes for both tenure track and non-tenure track faculty, and a voluntary buyout package. The cuts will help the university decrease its budget by 20% to make up a shortfall from a reduction in state support as well as a decline in enrollment.
“Our ongoing commitment is to plan responsibly a budget that reflects our best understanding of the impact of the pandemic,” Kent State President Todd Diacon said. “We think it best that we plan for 20% budget cut, and with a 20% budget cut, we can only reach this reduction by lowering payroll costs.”
On Tuesday, Gov. Mike DeWine announced that $110 million would be cut from the state’s higher education institutions. Kent State will lose about $6.1 million of its $160 million appropriation.
The university has about 2,200 non-represented, full-time employees, who will each be affected differently by the salary adjustment model based on their salaries. The entire model will save the university $5.7 million.
Diacon is taking a 12.5% cut to his $475,000 annual salary while members of his cabinet, deans and those with salaries of $200,000 or greater will see a salary adjustment of 10%.
As salaries decrease, so do the percentage cuts, with those earning between $38,000 and $49,999 seeing a 2% decrease, and employees earning less than $38,000 seeing no reduction.
Those whose salaries are being adjusted will be granted leave days that may be used in lieu of, or in addition to, vacation days to be taken during fiscal year 2021. Staff with salaries of $50,000 or more will receive 10 leave days, and those with salaries of between $38,000 and $49,999 will receive five leave days...
...The modified collective bargaining agreements will affect more than 770 full-time, tenure-track faculty and more than 530 full-time, non-tenure track faculty who are represented by the Kent State Chapter of the American Association of University Professors. The union will extend its agreements by one year and defer raises for the upcoming year, saving the university about $2.5 million in FY 2021...
...Generally, the package includes a cash incentive based on salary, the retention of the tuition waiver benefit for four years and continued health care for a limited period of time. Polatajko said that based on a “reasonable yet conservative participation estimate,” the university expects $23 million in overall savings after considering the one-year program costs at the beginning of the buyout...
To my eye, it looks like a fairly balanced approach to the cuts that keeps the university in pretty good shape considering the severity of the financial problems all schools are facing. Looks to me like we are in a much better position than many are.
Of course, I ain’t no accountant. I are a English major.
What I don't see in any of this are actions specifically pointed to athletics: salary cuts? specific budget cuts (travel, recruiting, academic support)? staff cuts if any? scholarship adjustments/cuts if any.
Kent was one of the first MAC schools to support summer school for athletes, which was a huge boost and led to every other MAC school doing the same. What happens there? Probably a few other athletic dept. projects I don't recall at the moment likely impacted, too.
But specifically, what are they and where, specifically, does the department stand in terms of keeping/cutting/maintaining sports. Lots of questions still unanswered.
Couple are : Athletes will not have Summer School, Athletes living off campus will have their monies reduced ...
Both are a big OUCH!. FB/BB rely on summer school time for NCAA approved off-season conditioning/practice. While it's quite likely all D1 schools will be in the same boat this summer, it will be interesting to see how this plays out going forward.
FB looks to be turning the corner and BB has been identified as the No. 1 marketing/promotions sports tool for the university. While cuts are certainly needed and expected ... the university also needs to keep bringing in more students ($$$). For better or worse, athletics are the key in that department.
Cuts to admin, coaches and staff are one thing. But cutting $$$ to athletes - even in these tough times - does not send the best message, either, going forward. There's still recruiting going on.
Interesting all the way around.
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