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State Budget Cuts Force UCF to Cut Academic Programs, Administrative Budgets
By UCF Staff Updated July 23, 2009
Seed NewsvineResponding to $77.2 million in state budget cuts since July 2007, the University of Central Florida will phase out four academic programs during the next two years and suspend a fifth program.
Calling the decision a difficult one required by dire economic circumstances, members of the UCF Board of Trustees approved the program eliminations and suspension on Thursday.
The targeted program cuts will save UCF about $4.6 million, which represents 2.5 percent of the total academics budget, and help protect UCF’s remaining academic programs. In addition, all of the university’s administrative units are having their budgets reduced by 2.5 percent.
The university will eliminate Cardiopulmonary Sciences and Radiologic Sciences (College of Health and Public Affairs), Engineering Technology (College of Engineering & Computer Science) and Management Information Systems (College of Business Administration.) Actuarial Sciences in the College of Sciences will be suspended.
UCF will work with the 1,025 affected students to help ensure a workable path to their degree completions. Students are encouraged to talk with their academic advisors if they have questions about how the program eliminations will affect them.
The 37 affected employees – 33 faculty and four staff -- will remain with UCF until at least the end of spring 2010. Some faculty and staff may be asked to stay longer to help students complete their degrees. Area community colleges have expressed an interest in offering the programs that UCF will phase out.
Provost and Executive Vice President Terry Hickey said UCF will work closely with the community colleges to help ensure a smooth transition for students.
“As we move forward, it’s my fervent desire that we not allow the economic crisis to damage the core strengths that have made us one of the most successful young universities in the nation,” UCF President John Hitt said. “I welcome the assistance of everyone who shares that goal.”
The academic and administrative cuts will save about $8 million. When federal stimulus money runs out in 2011, however, UCF faces a $17 million budget deficit. Board of Trustees Chair Rick Walsh said UCF needs to examine a variety of other measures for additional cost savings.
Last week, the Board of Trustees’ Educational Programs Committee held a public hearing on the proposed program deletions and suspension. UCF will continue seeking university input about the budget.
In the past months, UCF leaders have visited colleges for candid discussions about the budget, hosted a forum for students to express their concerns, convened a group of senior faculty members to discuss budget issues and created a special Web site to solicit input.
In other action Thursday, the Board of Trustees:
-- Re-elected Rick Walsh as board chair and Tom Yochum as vice chair.
-- Granted trustee emeritus status to former board chair Richard Nunis and presented him with a commemorative plaque. Nunis has been involved with UCF since 1983.
-- Commended UCF softball player Breanne Javier, one of 12 student-athletes who won Conference USA Spirit of Service awards honoring their community service and success in the classroom. Click here for more on her award.
-- Honored Pegasus Professors Peter Hancock, Juin Liou and Debra Reinhart. The Pegasus Professor award is the highest honor granted by UCF to faculty members. Click here for a story on the three professors' accomplishments.
UCF Stands For Opportunity: The University of Central Florida is a metropolitan research university that ranks as the 5th largest in the nation with more than 50,000 students. UCF's first classes were offered in 1968. The university offers impressive academic and research environments that power the region's economic development. UCF's culture of opportunity is driven by our diversity, Orlando environment, history of entrepreneurship and our youth, relevance and energy. For more information, visit http://news.ucf.edu.
