Despite projected budget cuts, there are still ways for the University to grow, University President Sidney Ribeau said during the annual State of the University address yesterday morning.
The idea that administration will likely have to cut $2 million from the University’s budget by June 30 dominated most of Ribeau’s speech, given in the Student Union’s Lenhart Grand Ballroom.
In the face of the projected budget crisis — which would take a total of $39 million from state universities across Ohio — Ribeau remained positive, focusing on how the University could endure the loss of funds.
“It’s like a deer in headlights,” Ribeau said with a laugh. “This is not a time to freeze but to be fleet of foot.”
But even Ribeau thinks a “freeze” is necessary every now and then. Last summer’s hiring freeze, which prevents the University from filling new positions, has saved the University more than $1 million.
Having fewer employees has hurt campus services, Ribeau said.
“You’ll have to wait in line a little longer, or you can’t get an adviser when you need one,” he said.
The hiring freeze might be hurting campus services, but the administration will do what they can to preserve the quality of teaching at the University, Ribeau said.
“Our highest priority is teaching and learning — the classroom,” he said.
But even without much money, the University can still work toward its vision — to become the premier learning community in Ohio, Ribeau said.
He cited several student-run activities he read about earlier that morning in The BG News.
“Students are coming together to try to do something to make society a little better,” he said. “That, in fact, [defines] this University…The University is not a line item in the budget.” The administration has been working to “make society a little better” with what funding it has.
Collaborations with other universities have helped make the best of each dollar, according to Ribeau. He cited an on-going partnership between the science departments at several nearby institutions researching alternative sources of fuel.
Teamwork is just as important in this project — which also involves the University of Toledo and Owens Community College — as it is in athletics, according to Ribeau.
“It’s the difference between a group of individuals who play well and a team,” he said.
The University is working with UT to establish a program to bring more math and science teachers to universities and other schools in Northwest Ohio, with the help of a $1 million grant from the Ohio Board of Regents.
Ohio’s history as a manufacturing state might cause this shortage, according to Fred Connor, marketing manager with the University’s Marketing and Communications department.
“We don’t produce much science and math-oriented industry,” Connor said.
The need for teachers in these areas is an immediate concern, according to Ribeau.
“Not in the future…but right now, we don’t have enough math and science teachers,” he said.
On the University’s long term agenda is convincing the Ohio Congress to secure more funds for higher education in the next budget cycle. Congress will vote on that budget this summer. The fact that the University has lost $7 million in state funds since July 2002 makes that vote all the more important.
“It’s hard to continue without resources,” Ribeau said. Administrators can’t expect to get funds lobbying alone — both students and faculty must let their representatives know how important higher education is, according to Ribeau.
“It can’t be my plan,” he said. “It has to be a collaborative plan.” You can read more about the administration’s goals at www.bgsu.edu/offices/ir.
