Chances of budget increases for Mississippi’s eight public universities continue to shrink as the Institutions of Higher Learning Board of Trustees voted to reduce the schools’ requests for additional funds from the state of Mississippi by over 80 percent.
After last Thursday’s vote, IHL trustees are now asking for an increase of only $43 million which is about 17 percent of their nearly $260 million request. Only two months ago, officials for the IHL voted to ask state legislators for the additional funding from the state which was more than 33 percent above current budget levels.
IHL commissioner Hank Bounds said the new proposal only takes into account what is necessary.
“The revised request covers only cost of living and inflationary increases,” Bounds said. “The original request [was] based on full funding according to the funding formula which moves the universities to the average of the 16 southern states.”
MSU vice president of finance and administration Mike McGrevey said the dressed down request by the IHL would only act as a starting point and could be reduced even further.
“We need to be a partner with our legislature during these tough economic times,” McGrevey said. “Our representatives will have to make some tough decisions this coming year, but it’s important that they know that Mississippi State is growing and needing additional funds to sustain such growth.”
With the IHL lowering its expectations and Barbour asking state universities to plan for a 5 percent reduction in aid, MSU must find ways to make up any monetary shortfalls.
McGrevey said the university has been anticipating a reduction in state funding and is finding new ways to create revenue without sacrificing academic quality.
“We are looking at several different things when looking at these funding gaps,” he said. “One way to enhance revenue is by increasing the student body. Preliminary numbers are showing that MSU now has well over 18,000 students.”
McGrevey also said the university is working hard to garner more research funding to cover expenses for more faculty while also encouraging alumni to donate.
Bounds said, even with a growing student population at MSU helping to offset some costs, the IHL is encouraging its member universities to look into other money saving practices.
“The board has asked the institutions to reevaluate their operations in the event that savings can be realized without affecting the quality of education for students in Mississippi,” he said. “This may include reviewing duplicative services, alternative delivery methods, shared services and other efficiencies.”
McGrevey said the university has survived the economic climate so far with little damage but warns additional funding cuts could take place for the next two to three years.
“The stimulus package passed by President Obama and Congress has really helped us not fall off a cliff but only slide down one,” he said. “With that said, the stimulus funds are only for the next two years, and I am not so sure that the state of Mississippi will have rebounded economically by then.”
Until then, the departments and organizations of MSU will have to continue spending frugally and making sacrifices.
Samantha Musil , advisor for the Campus Activities Board and Music Maker Productions, said both student organizations have felt the pinch of the current recession.
“We are definitely being more careful in how we are spending our money in anticipation for future budget cuts,” Musil said. “While we have not yet had to cut any of our student programs, which is our number one priority, we have had to stop traveling for our annual retreats and conferences.”