Senate announces budget deficit

New courses and grants also announced for Pierce students

SHARLA SMITH Roundup Reporter @SharlaMSmith

Pierce College will begin the fiscal year in a deficit, according to Vice President of Administrative Services

Rolf Schleicher.

Schleicher spoke at the Academic Senate meeting on Monday. He said that the college’s budget allocation is $60 million, with projected costs estimated at $66 million.

“There is a bit of a deficit in operations, however, we don’t know what kind of revenues will come in throughout the year,” Schleicher said. “It’s kind of a budgeting game that we play with the state and the district.”

Schleicher also discussed the standardization of computer equipment, applications, and access controls.

“We have so many different operating systems and applications, and we’re trying to consolidate that,” Schleicher said. “It makes it easier for us to maintain and fix that equipment.”

Angela Belden, professor of psychology, announced that CSUN partnered with Pierce to offer a National Institutes of Health grant opportunity for students.

“This is an opportunity for students who are Ph.D.-bound to be groomed for Ph.D. programs, and it’s also a way to increase diversity in these programs,” Belden said.

“The application deadline for next year is March 20.”

Students could receive up to $10,500 a year, and faculty members could receive a stipend up to $8,000.

New courses for students could be available in fall 2015, according