Alberta circumpolar research the latest to face budget cuts - Edmonton Sun

The provincial government is giving back $50 million to post-secondary institutions dealing with enrolment pressures Alberta education workers call on government to stop the cuts. Circumpolar research has been hit hard by funding cuts the University of Alberta. The U of A’s grad student association is speaking out after the Canadian Circumpolar Institute was hit by cuts, and the Circumpolar/Boreal Alberta Research funding was eliminated entirely. In a letter, GSA President Brent Epperson states the reduced money will not only hurt graduate students and faculty, but it will break down connections to Arctic communities.

http://www.edmontonsun.com/2013/11/23/alberta-circumpolar-research-the-latest-to-face-budget-cuts

University projects deficit because of tuition hike limit - Chris Thompson, Windsor Star

The University of Windsor is going to have to look at cost-cutting measures as it grapples with a projected $1.8 million budget shortfall this year. President Alan Wildeman delivered the news at Tuesday’s board of governors meeting in a mid-year-budget adjustment document, laying the blame for the shortfall squarely on new provincially mandated tuition hike caps of three per cent, down from five per cent. “It really does reflect the new funding reality in Ontario right now in large measure,” said Wildeman.

http://blogs.windsorstar.com/2013/11/26/u-of-w-projects-deficit-because-of-tuition-hike-limit/

Cash-strapped colleges gut academics instead of sports, admin or rock-climbing walls - Robby Soave, Daily Caller

Confronted with a $5 million budget deficit, Minnesota State University at Moorhead has decided to simply jettison some of its academic departments. History, English and physics are currently on the chopping block. The university’s administrative division, however, is not. The same thing is happening at the University of the District of Columbia, where the board recently considered eliminating 20 academic programs–contrary to the wishes of President James Lyons, who preferred to scrutinize the university’s sports budget budget. The NCAA Division II athletic program at UDC loses $3 million each year. For now, the university is leaving its athletic program intact — and killing off 17 academic programs.http://dailycaller.com/2013/11/27/cash-strapped-colleges-gut-academics-instead-of-sports-admin-or-rock-climbing-walls/

Ohio College Students Face Rising Debts - LEWIS WALLACE, NPR State Impact

College applications deadlines are approaching, and Ohio students are figuring out how to fund that education. Compared with several years ago, financial aid is down, and student debt is up. The total budget for need-based aid in the state of Ohio peaked in 2008 at $183 million, while the 2013 budget is just $86 million. Budget cuts in 2009 are responsible for a lot of that change. And while federal Pell Grant funding has increased dramatically, that growth has been outpaced by increases in tuition and living costs. http://stateimpact.npr.org/ohio/2013/11/27/ohio-college-students-face-rising-debts-2/

Making the Grade? Cuts at Burlington College Lead to Protests and Parodies - KEVIN J. KELLEY

Budget cuts have eliminated three department heads at financially challenged Burlington College and sparked protests by students who say they’re worried about the school’s viability and credibility. Anna Blackmer and Emily Schmidt, chairs of the humanities and fine arts programs, respectively, recently resigned after being offered contracts that would have made them half-time employees and terminated their health benefits. Film department head Gordon Glover was not offered a new contract, although he will be teaching courses as an adjunct instructor next semester. Mary Arbuckle, a professor in the film department, had her hours cut in half and her benefits terminated. http://www.7dvt.com/2013making-grade-cuts-burlington-college-lead-protests-and-parodies

Budget Cut Means Staffing Changes at Burlington College - Matt Austin, My Champlain Valley

Some students at Burlington College say they're concerned about staffing changes. The college says it needed to cut costs and that resulted in several long-time faculty members leaving. Students say they were caught off guard by the restructuring. They decided to dissolve student government and instead, formed a student union to fight back. "I just really think that the administration is not really acting in either the best interest of the students or its faculty members that have done such good, hard work for the school over the years," says Athena Pepe, Burlington College student. The college says the changes, which will save about $200,000 a year, were needed. They say all courses will still be offered and will be taught by experienced staff   http://www.mychamplainvalley.com/story/budget-cut-means-staffing-changes-at-burlington-co/d/story/8JkMeHrU50uf-bBH_5VLlQ

BGSU to cut 30 faculty posts - NOLAN ROSENKRANS AND VANESSA McCRAY, Toledo Blade

Bowling Green State University plans to not renew 30 full-time faculty members because of budget shortfalls. Provost Rodney Rogers, in a message to BGSU employees on Monday, said the move would save an estimated $1.4 million a year. Mr. Rogers said the cuts would come from the nearly 260 nontenure-track faculty members. The university’s faculty union plans to fight the job losses. “We are constantly trying to balance to ensure that we have strong academic programs but also ensuring that a Bowling Green degree is affordable,” Mr. Rogers said. The university announced last month the need for large budget cuts because of a deficit that’s projected at between $3 million and $10 million over the next several years. President Mary Ellen Mazey said at the time the shortfall will be covered with budget cuts, not tuition increases.

http://www.toledoblade.com/Education/2013/11/26/BGSU-to-cut-30-faculty-posts.html

Unless D․C․ finds alternative, N․C․ faces new budget cuts - RENEE SCHOOF, MCCLATCHY

When Congress returns tо Washington аfter Thanksgiving, budget negotiations will be gеttіng down to thе wire оn a deal fоr nехt year’s federal spending․ Without an agreement in December, North Carolina and thе nation could bе facing a second round оf the automatic spending cuts known as sequestration․ Thosе indiscriminate cuts have hаd ripple effects on thе state іn mаnу areas, including Head Start, highways, resеarch, meals for low-income seniors and the defense industry․ ․ A second year оf automatic cuts cоuld bе deeper thаn the fіrst because lаst year’s cuts began March 1, but thе second year’s cuts under thе 2011 Budget Control Аct wоuld be fоr а full year, sаid Alexandra Forter Sirota, director of the Budget аnd Tax Center in Raleigh․ Іt аlsо wоuld follow cuts bу thе stаte legislature․ “Тhе combined еffеct of federal and statе cuts is going to be devastating,” Sirota sаіd․

http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/11/25/3779037/unless-dc-finds-alternative-nc.html

University of Saskatchewan's costs growing faster than revenue - Karin Yeske, CJME

The University of Saskatchewan's projected budget deficit is one-third smaller. The university has projected a deficit of $44.5 million by 2016. "Workforce adjustments up until the end of June have resulted in an estimated cost savings to the budget - and this is a permanent budget savings- over $10.4 million for the university," Greg Fowler, vice-president of finance and resources for the University of Saskatchewan. Fowler shared the news at a financial town hall meeting Tuesday. "This means we have closed one-third of our projected gap. Although this is good progress, we still have a lot of work to do," Fowler said.

http://cjme.com/story/university-saskatchewans-costs-growing-faster-revenue/151837