Dialogue: Budget & Alignment

Earlier this week, President Ed Ray announced approval of a furlough program for unclassified employees of the university that will help address an $11.3-million budget shortfall in education and general fund and statewide public service programs this academic year. Just prior to his announcement, deans and division leaders submitted reports articulating actions taken to achieve the recurring budget reductions taken since Fall 2008 and detailing processes and timelines for proposals addressing strategic realignment and budget reductions for 2009-11.  Each of those reports is available at http://oregonstate.edu/leadership/budget/implementation.html.

What are your thoughts on the furlough program and other cost-cutting measures represented in the reports? How is the university administration doing with regard to transparency in these matters?

The OSU Faculty Senate voted today to support a Furlough Program that would reduce unclassified employees’ paid work time by a specified number of days or hours each month. OSU President Ed Ray has said final decisions on implementing the furlough program will be guided by the sense of the Senate, and senators and guests of the Senate have expressed a wide range of views on the matter. Classified employees of the university have already accepted a pay reduction as part of their collective bargaining agreement.

What do you think are the most important factors in determining whether faculty should accept reduced pay as a way of helping the university cope with deep budget cuts brought on by the economic downturn and corresponding drop in state revenues?