Frequently Asked Questions

What has the university done to save money?
Many members of the campus community have offered suggestions and many of those suggestions have been implemented. For example, we have:

• Turned off computers or put them into sleep mode when not in use or at night
• Reduced paper copying for campus distribution
• Reduce printing of undergraduate and graduate catalogs
• Turn off lights when not in use
  

Other ways we have saved money include holding staff and administrative positions vacant whenever possible.

• Reducing overtime
• Reducing equipment purchases
• Reducing funding for building improvements
• Consolidation of equipment, such as purchases of multi-function copiers/printers/scanners instead of individual units

Other PASSHE universities have laid off personnel, so does Shippensburg plan any layoffs this year?
While personnel costs are the largest single expenditure in our budget, the many other budget cuts we've made means that no changes in the personnel complement are planned for the 2010-2011 academic year. Any future changes, especially beginning with the 2011-2012 academic year, will depend on many variables including state and federal funding, as well as tuition levels at that time. Any possible personnel changes will be thoroughly and openly discussed with the campus community before any changes are made.

Will the university fill vacancies this year?
The university will continue to hold positions vacant whenever possible as one important way to reduce our expenses. The facilities management staff, for example, has had as high as a 20 percent vacancy rate, even as the staff continues to do an outstanding job maintaining and enhancing our facilities. Some vacancies, however, must be filled such as those related to public safety. In addition, we are continuing to fill current faculty vacancies.

How can the university build or renovate if the budget is so bad?
Funds for renovation and construction projects are part of capital expenditure funds the university receives and can only be used for those types of projects. The university also has two separate budgets:  Educational and General  and  Auxiliary Services. Funds for the E&G budget, used for the main operating expenses such as personnel, come from the state appropriation and tuition. Funds for the Auxiliary Services budget, used to pay for residence hall costs, food service and athletics, come from student fees and related charges. Under our operating regulations, the funds are distinct and money from one cannot be used to pay costs in the other.

Are any academic programs being canceled?
The university has four academic programs that, in addition to regular review by the university, were part of the review of programs by the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. The programs reviewed system-wide were those that graduated fewer than six undergraduates or four graduate students per year. Four of our programs were reviewed: Medical technology, French, interdisciplinary arts, and earth-space science. After the review, interdisciplinary arts and earth-space science will continue with no changes. The French program will continue with an increase in recruitment efforts with another review in December 2013. No new students will be accepted into the medical technology program pending a major revision of the program. Shippensburg has a long-standing program review process to ensure it is providing needed programs to students and the region. The university is also working on an academic master plan that will guide decisions related to programming. This plan will provide the foundation for the university’s efforts to meet the ever-changing demands of the region and explore such fields as health care, gerontology, computer science, engineering and technology.