President Carol Cartwright addressed the University’s Faculty Senate yesterday with her eye on the upcoming fiscal years.

Cartwright’s discussion revolved around Gov. Ted Strickland’s proposed Executive Budget for fiscal years 2010 and 2011. And even though Strickland’s proposed budget reinforces his commitment to providing higher education, Cartwright said the University will continue to exercise caution.

“Governor Strickland announced that the severe national recession and projected state revenues for the fiscal year 2010-2011 biennium, will require us to operate state programs at the resource level that was in place in fiscal year 2004,” she said.

And though Strickland emphasized that K-12 and affordable higher education are critical to Ohio’s economic recovery, the next few years at the University look financially tight.

James Evans of the Faculty Senate Budget Committee said the University will face a significant deficit of nearly $4.5 million for the 2009 budget, with nearly 80 percent of the cuts affecting academic affairs. About $3.4 million has been cut from scholarships and fee waivers and nearly $600,000 from student affairs, he said.

The University is looking at a $6 million to $10 million deficit for the 2010 and 2011 fiscal year, Cartwright said at the Faculty Senate meeting two weeks ago.

While many programs and services will need to be eliminated or drastically cut back to rebound the current recession, Strickland has decided to fund Ohio’s co-op and internship grant program at $50 million a year for the next biennium, Cartwright said.

“Governor Strickland is one of only four governors across the nation who is protecting higher education from severe cuts in order to enhance the critical link between education and a vibrant economy.”

University trustee David Levey also seemed to be pleased with Strickland’s plans for higher education.

“I think he’s sincere; he’s putting his money where his mouth is for education,” Levey said. “He’s definitely an education governor.”

Strickland’s main goal is to make higher education affordable for all Ohians, but in order to do so, tuition rates must be addressed.

Cartwright said he proposes a tuition flat for fiscal year 2010 and a maximum tuition increase of 3.5 percent for fiscal year 2011.

While this will be making higher education more feasible for students, the University will still be feeling the pains of the recession.

It should be remembered though that Gov. Strickland’s budget is only a proposed budget. The Ohio Senate and the Ohio House of Representatives must still discuss and debate.

“I should point out that this is merely the first step in a budget development process that begins today and will continue until midnight on June 30, 2009,” Cartwright said.