Collegian T he Cameron University
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Monday, January 25, 2016
Volume 94 Issue 1
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conversation:
President McArthur on the budget Interview by Vicky Smith Have you received any feedback from students and faculty, regarding the list of items for increased revenue and reduced services? I am very pleased with the campus feedback as we listened during the fall term from students, staff and faculty. We ended up with well over a hundred items that were suggested both for cost efficiencies or for revenue. Who has enagaged in the discussion about the list this semester? So far, it’s mainly employees. I presented that whole list to our employees on Tuesday morning, Jan. 5. I’m scheduled to speak to Student Government on Jan. 25, and then I’ll provide that list at that meeting so that our students have the opportunity to look at the same items and comment as well. When reviewing the list of items, what should students keep in mind? The main thing is looking at the items on that list and understanding the impact of making those changes, and if you reduce a service, who’s going to be affected [and] how are they affected. Why is it important for students to join the conversation? Student input is so important because the last thing we want to do is raise our prices to the point where students from Southwest Oklahoma can’t afford to come to Cameron. We want the campus conversation because
collectively, we’re a lot smarter than we are individually. I think we’re very creative, so we’ll find a way that we can continue to provide a great education at Cameron for our students while keeping it inexpensive and then helping us have quality teachers, too. How can students join in the conversation? The comment discussions – we are hosting a series of listening sessions ... We’ll have one a week through the middle of February, and I’ll host the last one. How can students support Cameron University during this time of fiscal challenges? I’m reluctant to ask our studnets to go lobby their legislatures ... We’re short of money across the board. I think for our students – it’s continuing to let people know their education increases their opportunities, so it’s worth that support. One of the messages I share over and over again is graduates from Cameron tend to stay in Oklahoma and work in Oklahoma, so the service that we provide is helping Oklahoma grow. In what ways do Cameron Univeristy graduates who stay in Oklahoma help the state grow? They’re staying right here raising families and helping Oklahoma. They’re providing our teachers. They’re providing the nurses and doctors we need for the health care for our citizens. We don’t tell people they can’t leave, but that really is part of Cameron’s duty: we have to help southwest Oklahoma grow, so help Duncan, Lawton and Altus.
Fiscal challenges in the new year Vicky Smith
replacing those positions,” McArthur said. about eight million dollars. “We’re holding off until July before we make “That’s our discussion list,” McArthur Managing Editor any new hiring decisions.” said. “By no means [are we] doing all those @pinkwritinglady On July 1, FY2017 will begin. things … We have three million dollars McArthur said the Oklahoma in candidates for review.” Cameron University faculty and staff Board of Equalization certified According to McArthur, the are continuing to prepare for not only state 6.0592 billion dollars to the suggested items fit under ten budget allocation deductions for FY2017 legislature for FY2017, which categories, some of which but also state tax revenue affecting current is 12.9 percent less than last are related to academic FY2016. year’s certification. programs, athletics, salary Cameron President John McArthur In response to the and benefits for employees, said near the end of December, he received state budget allocation facilities, changes in a letter from the Oklahoma Board of deduction, McArthur student support, travel Equalization, who reviews the state tax said Cameron’s budget is and revenue. revenue. expected to be reduced McArthur presented “They reviewed the amount of money by three million dollars. the list of items to coming in,” McArthur said, “and it was low In the fall, McArthur Cameron employees enough that they’ve asked each of the state began a planning list for on Jan. 5, and he is agencies to reduce and return some of the increased revenue and scheduled to speak in a money we received from the state.” reduced services, and meeting with the Student McArthur said the amount of money the he asked for suggestions Government Association board asked him to return is $579,217, and from faculty and (SGA) on Jan. 25. the university will return the money in six students. “I’ll provide that list equal payments from January through June. “I am very pleased at that meeting so that “How do we reduce our budget by $579, with the campus feedback our students have the 217?” McArthur asked. “We’re going to do as we listened during the opportunity to look at the a five percent reduction retroactive to the fall term,” McArthur said. same items and comment beginning of the year.” “We ended up with well as well,” McArthur said. According to McArthur, the university over a hundred items that “The main thing is looking has curtailed some out-state-travel, reduced were suggested both for at the items on that list materials purchases, which include paper cost efficiencies or for and understanding the and office supplies, and put in a soft hiring revenue.” impact of making those freeze for vacancies. McArthur said the - Dr. John McArthur changes.” “If anybody retired or resigned, unless McArthur said there’s something that affects the safety and sum of all the items Cameron President on the list add up to students, faculty and the security of campus, we have not been
“We will honor current agreements, so regardless of how we address the budget shortfall, we’re going to make sure to protect our current students.”
staff can visit http://www.cameron.edu/ fiscalyear2017 to make suggestions. “We want the campus conversation because collectively, we’re a lot smarter than we are individually,” he said. “There are a lot of bright people on this campus—students, staff, and faculty … We’ll find a way that we can continue to provide a great education at Cameron for our students while keeping it inexpensive and then helping us have quality teachers, too.” McArthur said he encourages students who have concerns to engage their professors and academic advisors. “We’re here to provide support for the education of our students,” he said. According to McArthur, a frequent topic of discussion among students is the elimination of degree programs. “No one in the middle of their degree program is going to be told, ‘You can’t study that anymore,’” he said. “All the problematic changes would be very gradual … It would be for high school students now who are applying to Cameron; we wouldn’t allow them to declare that major if we canceled something.” Another topic of concern among students has been the cancelation of scholarships. “We will honor current agreements,” McArthur said, “so regardless of how we address the budget shortfall, we’re going to make sure to protect our current students …. We will honor the scholarships through the term they’re committed to Cameron.”
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