h moving teanis Behrend Copes With Budget Loretta Russ The Collegian Due to state cuts in university funding, all divisions of the Penn State system have been required to return a designated percent of their total funds to the University. This semester a budget cut of three percent has already been implemented into Behrend's permanent budget. This equals approximately 335 thousand dollars of Behrend's funds. One of the ways in which Behrend had to accommodate the cut was the cancellation of Behrend's nationally recognized Speaker Series. That's only one of the setbacks being felt by the Behrend community as a result of the cuts. The college is also facing the increasing possibility of an upcoming ten percent budget cut in the next year. University Park has created the University Future Committee to evaluate potential program cuts. A Future Committee has also been established at Behrend, consisting of faculty, staff, and students. Its purpose is to assess the effects of possible cuts on Behrend's community. The Future Committee will submit its suggestions to the University Future Committee, who will then submit their overall plan to Joab Thomas, president of the University. If a ten percent budget cut was implemented at Behrend it would total 1.1 million dollars. "We are running on a very tight budget," said John Burke, assistant provost and associate senior dean. "We have no excess of funds and through this strategic planning process will show that to the University.” Chris Reber, said. "Behrend has been historicajlly under funded and these tuts would cause very damaging effects to the college.” Last Friday, members of both committees were present on campus to hold an informational meeting for The Collegian Thursday, September 17, 1992 V6I.XLI No. 1 faculty, staff and students. Approximately two hundred people attended last Fridays meeting to voice their concerns. Presently, the ten percent cut is only tentative. However, the Future Committee is putting together plans in the event the cuts are required. John Burke said, "We've been moving forward, rapidly developing and putting together plans for the budget cutting process.” "This is essentially a cut and enhance process," Burke said. "Although it is a tough process the University will see savings." Each unit of the college is required to submit a plan with up to ten percent of its permanent operating budget cut Reber said, "We're entering into a period of planning where the cuts to the budget will eliminate wastes in weak areas without harming' more vital ones.” "The effect of this process will help us in the long run," said Burke. "We will become more efficient” The Future Committees purpose is to recommend scenarios that will be the least harmful to the Behrend community. According to Reber, Behrend is the most thinly staffed unit of the University. It also has the highest rate of classroom utilization. "These plans should demonstrate (to the University Future Committee) why Behrend's budget should not be cut,” said Reber. "Behrend college is one of the most successful units (of the University)," said Reber. "We should be in the position for enhancement rather than cuts." Burke explained, that even with the planned cuts the University does not want to cut enrollment. Reber said, "Cutting enrollment would lower income and that would defeat the purpose." Behrend has the lowest (Continued to 7) Killer movie review •** pgu Daycare Nearly Reality by Am The Collegian Day care facilities will finally be available to Behrend in the Fall of 1993. According to Dean of Student Affairs, Chris Reber, the Board of Trustees approved the purchase of the Tupperware Building on Station Road to be used as a university day-run day care center. The University and the present owners of the Tupperware building reached a purchase agreement in July. The agreement states that certain specifications must be met before the purchase may be finalized. The purchase of the building has yet to be finalized, however, Reber says they are expecting no problems with the final plans. "Under this agreement, the Some changesln campus life! ••P8 17 I University will assume ownership in January 1993, Tupperware will vacate the building around April 1993," said Reber, "immediately after that the building will be renovated for a Fall 1993 opening of the child care center." Funds to cover the purchase the Tupperware building and cover the intital costs of the center will be provided through a loan from the University. Reber says that after the opening of the center, "it's going to operate on a self supporting basis, that is, the income from the center will pay for its costs." The day care center will accommodate about 100 children from six weeks to pre-school age. (Continued to 6) Alumnus Donates Funds to Engineering Program by Gary Johnson The Collegian Plans to begin the construction of a new six million dollar lab complex for Behrend's engineering and engineering technology deportment is scheduled to stmt in November of this year. A one million dollar contribution towards the cost of construction was donated by Richard J. Fasemnyer* president mid chief executive Officer of RJF International Corp., Fairiawn, Ohio. The new addition. fifty
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