Spring Break
ECU Board of Trustees approves budget framework
Brittani McNeill and Max Lemanowicz
Issue date: 3/19/09 Section: News
Tuesday night, the ECU Board of Trustees unanimously approved the ECU budget policy framework. Chancellor Steve Ballard sent an e-mail to faculty Tuesday evening, announcing the board's decision. According to Ballard, the framework is a "work in progress and it will be continuously improved as we move forward."
"We need to prepare for the worst," said Ballard, and he, along with the ECU Board of Trustees, are planning to do just that.
The economy was addressed in the first paragraph of the framework.
"We are in the toughest economic times our nation has faced since the Great Depression. Because of these economic conditions, the information shared by the General Administration recently, the information we have on the governor's budget and current estimates of the state's future budget situation, this message begins the process of reviewing and adjusting the business model for revenue generation, cost reduction and resource allocation at ECU," the e-mail stated.
The policy outlined a new business model that:
• Protects the academic core to the maximum extent possible (but never with the expectation that it can be fully protected);
• Demands that strategic priorities be protected from cuts and that selected priorities receive new funding;
• Maximizes flexibility because we cannot predict economic conditions even in the near term;
• Demands strong stewardship of existing resources (that is, we will not spend money on activities that can possibly be delayed or eliminated);
• Protects essential services to students. Safety and financial aid are foremost.
"Of these services, safety and financial aid services are of the most importance," Ballard said.
According to the Executive Director of University Communications, John Durham, the university is taking measures to protect students' interest, making sure that the quality of education is not sacrificed.
"One of the points that is made in the policy framework is that the academic core will be protected," he said. "I'd be surprised if you saw any substantial reductions in the student experience there.
"We need to prepare for the worst," said Ballard, and he, along with the ECU Board of Trustees, are planning to do just that.
The economy was addressed in the first paragraph of the framework.
"We are in the toughest economic times our nation has faced since the Great Depression. Because of these economic conditions, the information shared by the General Administration recently, the information we have on the governor's budget and current estimates of the state's future budget situation, this message begins the process of reviewing and adjusting the business model for revenue generation, cost reduction and resource allocation at ECU," the e-mail stated.
The policy outlined a new business model that:
• Protects the academic core to the maximum extent possible (but never with the expectation that it can be fully protected);
• Demands that strategic priorities be protected from cuts and that selected priorities receive new funding;
• Maximizes flexibility because we cannot predict economic conditions even in the near term;
• Demands strong stewardship of existing resources (that is, we will not spend money on activities that can possibly be delayed or eliminated);
• Protects essential services to students. Safety and financial aid are foremost.
"Of these services, safety and financial aid services are of the most importance," Ballard said.
According to the Executive Director of University Communications, John Durham, the university is taking measures to protect students' interest, making sure that the quality of education is not sacrificed.
"One of the points that is made in the policy framework is that the academic core will be protected," he said. "I'd be surprised if you saw any substantial reductions in the student experience there.
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