This is from the esteemed President back in Oct,
"Message from President J. Bernard Machen:
October, 2007
Welcome to the 2007-2008 school year!
Many of you have probably heard that we face some unique financial challenges this year due to state budget cuts. While that's certainly true, I want to stress that I think we remain in a good position to move forward academically - and to continue to provide a rich and rewarding college experience.
Unfortunately, budget cuts affecting every state institution have forced us to seek reductions to UF's budget. We have already implemented a university-wide hiring freeze. A task force I appointed earlier this year is looking at many other options, including streamlining current processes, cutting UF functions and increasing revenue streams.
With that in mind, I think we have many reasons for optimism. These include:
Our faculty research awards for the most recent fiscal year are up to $583 million, an impressive 12.5 percent more than last year.
UF this past year was Florida's only university to receive two statewide Center of Excellence grants -- as well as $20 million for an ethanol pilot plant.
Last year, we received the first ever Howard Hughes Medical Institute Professorship award to UF, along with several other prestigious awards.
In fundraising, our 3-year-old Faculty Challenge Initiative has netted $207 million, far eclipsing the original goal of $150 million. Overall our endowment now stands at about $1.2 billion.
UF has over $750 million in facilities construction planned and funded.
Let me add that last year's twin national championships meant a banner year for the University Athletic Association, and the UAA has donated $6 million to the university to help cover our budget shortfall. We will use the money in part to continue Florida Opportunity Scholars, an important scholarship that targets students who are the first in their families to attend college. We anticipate 400 new Opportunity Scholars this year.
Also, Florida lawmakers approved the state's first-ever tuition differential bill last spring. Starting in 2008-09, UF can raise its tuition as much as 40 percent, at a maximum rate of 15 percent per year above whatever the statewide increase is. That will guarantee we can continue to hire new faculty and student advisers, which in turn will give students the top-tier educational experience they truly deserve.
There's no question we would prefer a sunnier budget situation, but I have full faith we will continue to improve and grow despite the challenges. Let's make the coming academic year a productive and memorable one.
Sincerely,J. Bernard MachenPresident"
Now I am just a dumb ole country boy, but the shortfall doesn't seem to add up to me. Jorge sent this today and it is worth good hard look...
February 21, 2008
MEMORANDUM:
TO: Faculty and Staff
FROM: Bernie Machen, President
Colleagues:
I am writing to provide you with an update regarding our current budget situation as we move through the spring semester and prepare for the upcoming Legislative Session.
As I am sure you are well aware, the news across the state is not good and could potentially become worse over the next several months.
Last fall our appropriations were reduced by the state by more than $22 million. In response to this reduction, each unit's budget was reduced and we implemented other initiatives such as a hiring freeze and the creation of a campus Task Force on Cost Reduction and Efficiency. Our hiring has continued for positions supported by clinical, research, or auxiliary funding and for mission critical positions funded from state sources.
The Task Force has explored dozens of potential opportunities and has recommended several initiatives that are moving forward, including the new transcript charge, consolidation of print vendors, transitioning print publications to electronic publications, a comprehensive motor vehicle management plan, and the recently announced direct deposit/ debit card plan. We believe real revenue and cost savings initiatives were identified and their implementation will continue to be part of our overall strategy. As each new initiative moves toward implementation, we will communicate in advance to the campus.
In addition to the more than $22 million appropriation reduction last fall, we expect the legislature to reduce our appropriations by another $16 million this fiscal year. The governor has actually withheld this amount from the semi- monthly payment of appropriations to the university. The additional new reduction is expected to continue into the next fiscal year, which would mean a new recurring reduction of more than $25 million. Taken together this represents more than a $47 million dollar reduction from fiscal year 2007.
We have chosen to utilize several one-time funds to address the $16 million reduction for the remainder of this fiscal year to mitigate the impact on departments. As a consequence, we will not ask colleges and other units to return additional money this fiscal year.
As we prepare for the new fiscal year the budgetary outlook is not very optimistic. Even after we have reduced our budget significantly, we expect another round of appropriation reductions beginning in July, in addition to the reductions previously described.
At this point, I am requesting that each Vice President and Dean prepare a plan to reduce their FY09 state-funded budget by at least 6% by July 1, 2008. I do not anticipate that the reductions will be applied in an across-the-board format and each unit needs to develop a reduction plan that could support both programmatic and general reductions.
As we move through the legislative session we will gain a better understanding of the full impact to the campus, but we must prepare now for the anticipated reductions.
This continues to be a very difficult time for our entire community and I appreciate your ongoing team work and collaboration.
For more information, please see <http://www.president.ufl.edu/budget-reduction> http://www.president.ufl.edu/budget-reduction.
Anyone know what "WTF" means??
Not to slam the guy, but he went to school to be a dentist, then never pulled a tooth. My opinion is getting out of hand here. Someone please comment so I can feel in touch with my inner self.
Sean
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