Strategies unveiled to tackle fund cuts

By Denise Dick | April 2, 2011 at 12:09a.m.

YOUNGSTOWN

Strategies to maximize enrollment and restructure tuition and fees are among recommendations from an ad hoc budget committee at Youngstown State University.

Members were to identify ideas to help address budget challenges facing YSU over the next two fiscal years. Among those challenges are continued cuts in state funding.

Formed last fall by YSU President Cynthia E. Anderson, the committee members are: Neal McNally, budget director; Ron Strollo, executive director of athletics; Mike Hrishenko, interim executive director of technology services; Jack Fahey, interim vice president of student affairs; and Marilyn Ward, assistant to the provost.

“One of the committee’s first actions was to ask employees to submit their ideas on what the university can do to reduce costs and enhance revenue,” McNally wrote in an e-mail this week to the campus. “Over the past three months, we have received nearly 150 suggestions.”

Committee members reviewed those suggestions to develop a list of six recommendations to generate revenue, produce savings or avoid costs.

“The recommendations are for Dr. Anderson and her Cabinet to use as a guide in developing the budget for the next fiscal year,” said Ron Cole, YSU spokesman.

One recommendation, projected to generate between $100,001 and $500,000 in fiscal years 2013 through 2014, calls for strategies to expand the student base and maximize enrollment. Strategies include developing an expanded distance-education program with increased offerings, recruiting military veterans for whom federal tuition-assistance programs already exist and creating a more aggressive and/or targeted marketing and advertising campaign.

Restructuring tuition and fees “in a manner consistent with the strategic goals of the university, and as may be permitted by FY12-13 state budget legislation” is another recommendation. It’s expected to generate more than $500,000 in fiscal year 2012.

Reducing personnel and other costs is projected to save more than $500,000 over the next two fiscal years, the report says.

Identifying and eliminating duplicative services or functions on campus could save YSU between $100,000 and $500,000, forecasts another recommendation.

“Consider departmental consolidation or elimination and use upcoming vacancies and [early retirement incentive program] to strategically realign personnel to reduce overall staffing levels where possible,” it says.

The Ad Hoc Budget Committee at Youngstown State University released its list of recommendations to trim costs or generate revenue in the next fiscal year. The recommendations, projected value and years of implementation:

Consider strategies that would help YSU expand its student base and maximize enrollment levels. Such strategies might include developing an expanded distance education program with the goal of increased offerings, recruiting military veterans for whom federal tuition assistance programs already exist and creating a more aggressive and/or targeted marketing and advertising campaign; between $100,001 and $500,000 in revenue, to be implemented in fiscal year 2012 with the financial impact anticipated in FY 2013 and FY 2014.

Consider restructuring tuition and fees in a manner consistent with the strategic goals of the university, and as may be permitted by FY12-13 state budget legislation; more than $500,000 in revenue, to be implemented in FY12 with financial impact expected that same year.

Consider strategies that would provide the university with opportunities to reduce personnel and other costs; more than $500,000 in savings, to be implemented and financial impact expected in FY 2012 and FY 2013.

Explore the feasibility of conducting cost-benefit analyses of functions and eliminate those that lose money or do not add value to the university; $100,101 to $500,000 in savings, to be implemented in FY 2012 with financial impact expected in FY 2013 and FY 2014.

Identify and eliminate duplicative services or functions on campus. Consider departmental consolidation or elimination and use upcoming vacancies and an early retirement incentive program to strategically realign personnel to reduce overall staffing levels where possible; $100,101 to $500,000 in savings, to be implemented in FY 2012 and financial impact realized in FY 2013 and FY 2014.

Consider reprioritizing capital construction spending plans in light of evolving fiscal constraints; $100,101 to $500,000 in cost avoidance, to be implemented in FY 2011 with financial impact realized in FY 2012.

Source: YSU Ad Hoc Budget Committee