Budget cuts are being implemented at KSU, according to a letter posted in K-State Today Tuesday morning by Vice President for Administration and Finance Cindy Bontrager.
The university, citing lower tuition revenue, will be implementing a one-time callback of $12 million from administrative and academic funds.
On Sept. 29, K-State announced a Fall enrollment decrease of about 1,000 students.
“Kansas State University is working to address the enrollment and budget situation,” Bontrager wrote. “As President Myers mentioned in a recent K-State Today article, the university is in the process of hiring a strategic enrollment management consultant. The consultant will review our current enrollment operations and provide strategic recommendations for improving our processes.”
Bontrager’s full interview with KMAN from Wednesday afternoon can be heard below:
Bontrager’s full statement from K-State Today can be read below:
Dear K-State community,
The 20th day fall enrollment census was recently announced and the fiscal year 2018 main campus tuition revenue projection has been completed. The projected tuition revenue amount for FY 2018 is less than the amount estimated in the base budget. The budget is developed using the prior year’s student credit hour generation.
We are implementing a one-time general use callback of approximately 4.5 percent from administrative and academic units funded from the main campus general use budget. General use funds account for approximately 50 percent of the university’s total budget and this callback will reduce the university general use budget by about $12 million. The budget office has delivered the callback information to the president, provost, vice presidents, deans and unit heads.
Keep in mind, the actual spring tuition calculations will not be completed until after the 20th day in February, however, the shortfall estimate is provided to our unit leaders now so they can plan to cover the loss of tuition revenue within their departments. The FY 2018 tuition revenue amount will be finalized in February when we finalize student credit hour generation. If necessary, the one-time callback may be revised and plans finalized as we adjust the FY 2019 base budget.
Kansas State University is working to address the enrollment and budget situation. As President Myers mentioned in a recent K-State Today article, the university is in the process of hiring a strategic enrollment management consultant. The consultant will review our current enrollment operations and provide strategic recommendations for improving our processes.
Additionally, one of the president’s top administrative priorities is modernization of the university’s budget model as mentioned at his State of the University address. That work has already begun. Look for a K-State Today article in the near future where the project plan will be outlined along with the membership of the budget model steering committee that will guide the process.
In addition, we have already implemented increased efforts to attract out-of-state students, while continuing to focus on in-state high school graduates and transfer students. This year, incoming graduate students increased and we will do everything we can to make progress.
Thank you to the many faculty and staff who are committed to providing our students a quality education and a positive learning experience as we strive for financial efficiencies and savings. If you have any questions regarding the university budget please contact me at cab@k-state.edu or Ethan Erickson at eerickson@k-state.edu.
Sincerely,
Cindy Bontrager
Vice President for Administration and Finance
