President's Budget Message - August 2011
Dear Ship Family:
In recent weeks you may have seen media reports about the impact the current budget situation has had on some other universities in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. Due to the budgets cuts and the current economy in Pennsylvania and the nation, those institutions have been forced to make dramatic cuts such as dropping programs and, at several, the layoff of long-time employees.
Thanks to ongoing efforts by you and all members of the campus community, we have been able to avoid similar drastic cuts, especially when it comes to personnel. The Ship spirit of doing all that we can to support students enables the university to continue to provide academic and related services that our students need.
That spirit — and our collective efforts — will need to continue this academic year as we again look to make the most effective and efficient use of our funds and as we plan for the subsequent academic years. I have no way to predict what our funding levels will be next year or thereafter, but I think it is safe to say that our funding will remain constrained for the immediate future. That means we will continue with a philosophy that reflects a conservative approach to expenditures and an expanded approach to generating new revenue and speeding it wisely — including reinvesting in the university.
This does not mean that we will not actively pursue our efforts to enhance our academic programming, nor does it mean that we will back away from our support for important initiatives such as the academic master plan or student-faculty research. These, and other, important programs and efforts are vital to the university’s future and will continue to receive support.
We will also continue our entrepreneurial efforts. One example of that is the new MBA program we will offer next Spring at East Stroudsburg University. By offering the program at East Stroudsburg, we are expanding into a new area for us and offering that region a nationally-accredited program at an affordable price. It is these types of programs and partnerships that will enable the university to become an even more vital component in Pennsylvania’s success.
Our financial situation does, however, mean that we will continue to review all vacant positions and will fill them only when, or if, appropriate. As we have done, we will continue to carefully fill vacant faculty positions to ensure continuity of our academic programming.
As I have since this budget situation began, I ask for your help with suggestions to either save money or to enhance our revenue-producing opportunities. Please send me a note, e-mail me directly at wnruud@ship.edu, send me a text at 717-360-8239, or use the anonymous President's Suggestion Box available on my website to offer your ideas. Also, please check the budget website periodically for any updates.
Even as we face these and any related challenges, I know that we will collectively do our best for our students and the university.
Best wishes.
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