To the faculty and staff of UMass Dartmouth:

 

Since Governor Patrick’s announcement of significant cuts in our state funding, the senior leadership of the campus has been looking closely at our choices to craft a realistic and effective budget balancing plan. We have also met with the Budget Review Committee and the Executive Committee of the Faculty Senate. Today, we intend to talk informally with union leaders.

 

It’s now time to engage the campus community in understanding collective options and how best to respond to our current and future challenges.

 

I invite all faculty and staff to a “town meeting” on Nov. 5 at 3 p.m. in the Library Browsing Area to discuss the challenges we face. I also plan to meet with the Student Senate very soon.

 

At the Nov. 5 town meeting, the Vice Chancellors and I plan to present our best current thinking to keep our university moving forward at a time when students and their families need us more than ever. Your ideas and feedback will be welcome.

 

As the scope of our challenge became clear, my charge to our senior leadership team was to propose measures that would:

 

• Protect the academic quality of the institution. Access to mediocrity is not an option. Access to high quality higher education is a necessity.
• Protect student financial aid. In this economic climate it is more critical than ever that we continue to welcome all serious and qualified students regardless of income.
• Not require a mid-year tuition/fee increase.
• Sustain our commitment to the strategic plan and our engagement in the region.
• Assess carefully whether it is possible to avoid an estimated 100-plus layoffs that would be necessary if we were to simply downsize the university. Layoffs at this time would be extremely painful because such action would do harm to both the individuals affected and the university.
• Identify potential areas of savings and new sources of revenues with the understanding that we may face additional cuts before the end of this academic year and in the next fiscal year.
• Absolutely reject the crisis reflex to downsize our institutional ambition and mission.

This is no easy task, but I am heartened by the innovative suggestions discussed thus far. They do require some sacrifice from each of us. I’m sure many of you have heard rumors about some of the ideas being placed on the table. Please understand that many of these ideas are still undergoing analysis so we can all understand the full consequences. On Nov. 5,  I will present the options that I believe best meet our goals as a university and as a community.

 

A few actions are already being implemented:

 

1. A strict but targeted hiring freeze. In anticipation of difficult economic times, we instituted an informal hiring freeze on administrative positions several months ago. We are now extending the freeze to the rest of the campus. Details will be sent to all deans, department heads, and directors by Friday.

 

2. An accelerated energy savings plan.

 

We must remember as we move forward that the state provides about 30 percent of our operating revenue. The remaining 70 percent comes from students who choose to enroll here rather than someplace else, the federal government and other funders who choose to invest in our research rather than that of another university; and private donors who choose to share their hard-earned wealth with us rather than another worthy cause.

 

We must make sure that we continue to do the things that generate 70 percent of our revenue. We cannot choose to address a reduction in the state-funded 30 percent in a way that creates a downward spiral in our non-state 70 percent

 

I am confident that the faculty, staff and students of this university will once again rise to the challenge. We will do what universities are supposed to do – learn, think, innovate, and then share our knowledge with others. On Nov. 5, let us begin to set an example for all other organizations in the way we manage this difficult challenge.  Please plan on participating in this important “town meeting” and contributing your best thoughts and suggestions.

 

Your ideas are welcome.

 

Jean F. MacCormack

Chancellor