ENMU buckles down on expenses
By: Addie Calkins
Issue date: 4/14/09 Section: News
With the American economy in the red, it's no wonder that people all across the nation have been reducing spending and changing their lifestyles. Falling on economic hard times is not something Eastern New Mexico University is immune to either.
The Student Fees Board, which met recently, decides how much money will be allotted to each department at ENMU.
Scott Smart, ENMU's Vice President of Business Affairs, shed some light on the state of our university's budget for the next academic year. "We did not institute any direct cuts this semester, but rather asked all departments to reduce spending as much as possible."
While gas prices have remained at a five-year low since late summer despite slight increases, Eastern has been told not to take any chances. Travel expenses will not be an issue next year.
For the next budget year, the student fees board has essentially "eliminated all out-of-state travel." As for in-state travel, the board has asked that it be done sparingly.
It is, as of yet, unclear how this ban on travel will affect the livelihood of university clubs and organizations which compete interstate, not to mention Greyhound and Zia athletic teams.
As well as a plan for reduced travel, Smart and the student fees board have "asked all departments to reduce their supply budgets by 10%." All ENMU departments will have to work hard to decide their highest priorities.
Dr. Donald Elder, who is in charge of next year's budget for the Department of Communicative Arts and Sciences, said, "I tried to take small cuts from a wide range of areas to minimize the impact on any one aspect of our program."
In order to achieve the "greatest budget savings," Smart and the Student Fees Board have also instituted a new policy. Its purpose is to "review all vacant positions."
Any ENMU position that becomes vacant "through attrition" will be "reviewed to see if it can be left open or filled at a later date." The way the board sees it, valuable assets needn't be thrown away on positions which are no longer essential or thriving.
Eastern New Mexico University is a business like any other, and businesses need to manage their money wisely to survive.
The Student Fees Board, which met recently, decides how much money will be allotted to each department at ENMU.
Scott Smart, ENMU's Vice President of Business Affairs, shed some light on the state of our university's budget for the next academic year. "We did not institute any direct cuts this semester, but rather asked all departments to reduce spending as much as possible."
While gas prices have remained at a five-year low since late summer despite slight increases, Eastern has been told not to take any chances. Travel expenses will not be an issue next year.
For the next budget year, the student fees board has essentially "eliminated all out-of-state travel." As for in-state travel, the board has asked that it be done sparingly.
It is, as of yet, unclear how this ban on travel will affect the livelihood of university clubs and organizations which compete interstate, not to mention Greyhound and Zia athletic teams.
As well as a plan for reduced travel, Smart and the student fees board have "asked all departments to reduce their supply budgets by 10%." All ENMU departments will have to work hard to decide their highest priorities.
Dr. Donald Elder, who is in charge of next year's budget for the Department of Communicative Arts and Sciences, said, "I tried to take small cuts from a wide range of areas to minimize the impact on any one aspect of our program."
In order to achieve the "greatest budget savings," Smart and the Student Fees Board have also instituted a new policy. Its purpose is to "review all vacant positions."
Any ENMU position that becomes vacant "through attrition" will be "reviewed to see if it can be left open or filled at a later date." The way the board sees it, valuable assets needn't be thrown away on positions which are no longer essential or thriving.
Eastern New Mexico University is a business like any other, and businesses need to manage their money wisely to survive.