VCU authorizes budget reduction measures

By Pamela DiSalvo Lepley

RICHMOND, Va. – Virginia Commonwealth University President Eugene P. Trani today authorized university vice presidents to begin implementing budget reduction plans which were developed assuming an 11 percent cut in state taxpayer support.

The budget cuts are in response to state-mandated budget reductions of $31.7 million for 2002-04 imposed on VCU by Gov. Mark Warner as part of his plan to deal with the state’s fiscal crisis.

“The budget cuts are deep and painful,” Trani said.  “We have tried as much as possible to protect our instructional and research areas.”  

The budget cuts, spread throughout the university system, include layoffs of up to 80 full-time equivalent positions and the elimination of 53 full-time equivalent vacant positions.  All but seven of the filled positions are on VCU’s Academic Campus.  

In keeping with VCU’s priority to protect instructional areas, the layoffs involve primarily classified, non-teaching staff.  Layoffs of instructional faculty include the equivalent of 22 full-time faculty — a combination of current full-time non-tenure track faculty and adjunct faculty.

Trani said the immediate impact of the budget cuts is larger class sizes and faculty teaching more classes, a reduction in the libraries’ budget for acquisitions and an indefinite deferral of maintenance and equipment purchases.

Other measures being considered, including a tuition surcharge, will be discussed at the Nov. 14 meeting of the VCU Board of Visitors, according to Trani.

The nearly $32 million in budget cuts are in addition to $43 million in reductions approved by the General Assembly last spring for 2002-04.  

Specifically, the governor’s plans require state general fund reductions for VCU of 9.8 percent, or $13.7 million for this year and 12 percent, or $18 million for the next fiscal year.