Virginia Commonwealth College is going through the potential for extra finances cuts subsequent faculty yr and has proposed elevating tuition to assist make ends meet.
VCU already minimize about $10 million in bills this yr, however declining enrollment and tens of thousands and thousands of {dollars} in new prices are placing renewed strain on the college’s finances.
“This yr, we are going to face some troublesome choices with finances cuts,” stated Karol Kain Grey, VCU’s chief monetary officer.
VCU Well being has misplaced cash for 12 straight months
Grey stated she would keep away from layoffs “in any respect prices.” The college, which employs about 11,000 individuals, saved cash this yr by freezing open positions.
Individuals are additionally studying…
College students is likely to be requested to contribute the next share. On Friday, the college proposed mountaineering the price of its undergraduate training between 4% and 5%.
How a lot the college will minimize and the way a lot it would cost college students is determined by the state and the way a lot cash legislators distribute to VCU.
When the brand new fiscal yr begins in July, Virginia Commonwealth College expects to face $60 million in new bills.
When the brand new fiscal yr begins in July, VCU expects to face $60 million in new bills. Greater than half of that cash comes from required wage will increase. The Basic Meeting is anticipated to mandate a 7% increase for state staff, and it is VCU’s job to cowl half that value. VCU is also coping with greater prices because of inflation and utilities.
Public faculties in Virginia are required to start out every fiscal yr with a balanced finances.
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Universities typically have two methods to extend income of their training budgets; they’ll ask for extra from the state, and so they can increase the worth of tuition.
About half of VCU’s $1.5 billion finances is dedicated to training. It is funded by tuition, charges and state allocations, and it is used to pay for educating college students. The wages of school and employees are the very best value.
That is why jobs are often the primary place VCU appears to be like to chop. Final yr, it froze 62 open positions. Cathleen Burke, assistant vice chairman for human sources, is retiring this yr, and her place is certainly one of a number of that won’t get replaced.
“Now we have to downsize the workforce, however we do not plan to do layoffs,” Grey stated.
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VCU additionally has held again from giving raises to its employees. School salaries are decrease at VCU than George Mason College, Virginia Tech and the College of Virginia, VCU stated.
If VCU raises tuition and charges by 4%, it would value roughly $16,200 yearly for an in-state undergraduate scholar. A 5% enhance would value about $16,500. College students residing on campus can tack on $12,000 extra for room and board.
VCU’s board of holiday makers will decide the price of tuition later this spring.
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A hike would finish 4 straight years of flat tuition. VCU deliberate to lift it final yr however relented after Gov. Glenn Youngkin requested the state’s faculties to maintain costs flat. It is unclear if he’ll ask once more. Since 2006, the price to attend and reside at VCU has elevated 44% when accounting for inflation.
Universities throughout the state have begun planning their budgets for subsequent yr, and several other have proposed growing the worth tag.
Subsequent yr is the second of a two-year finances cycle for the state. The unique model of the finances supplied no enhance to VCU’s central working funds within the 2024 fiscal yr. However amendments made by the Home of Delegates supplied $11 million in further funds, and the Senate proposed an additional $20 million. (Home and Senate finances negotiators haven’t reached an settlement on the spending plan.)
Karol Kain Grey is VCU’s chief monetary officer.
Both proposal would put a dent in VCU’s $60 million downside however wouldn’t cowl each penny.
GALLERY: VCU prof’s illustrations of songs by John Prine, the Beatles, Adele
“Hey in There”
“Alice’s Restaurant”
“Dangerous Moon Rising”
“Black Magic Girl”
“Pleasure to the World”
“Lengthy Monday”
“Paradise”
“Sympathy for the Satan”
“The First Time Ever I Noticed Your Face”
In the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, Robert Meganck, a professor emeritus of illustration, graphic design, colour idea and digital imaging at Virginia Commonwealth College’s Faculty of the Arts, has been creating illustrations about common songs on a weekly foundation.
