Recession incites Pitt cutbacks in classrooms

‘ ‘ ‘ As the economy flounders, Pitt schools and departments are trying to cut spending without… ‘ ‘ ‘ As the economy flounders, Pitt schools and departments are trying to cut spending without cutting educational quality. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ After the Pennsylvania government announced in December that it would withhold $11.3 million appropriated to Pitt this year, the school scrambled to find ways to reduce operating costs. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ In an open letter in December, Chancellor Mark Nordenberg announced that he would distribute the budget cuts evenly throughout Pitt’s four main operating centers. One of those four, the Office of the Provost, includes all academic areas except the health sciences. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ James Knapp, senior associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, said that CAS would keep educational quality and research the school’s top priorities. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘We’ve made wonderful progress in the last few years in improving the quality of the education we provide to our students, both undergraduate and graduate, and the last thing we want to do is jeopardize that progress,’ said Knapp in an e-mail. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Although CAS has set some general guidelines for saving money, Knapp said they were working with individual departments to make sure needs are met. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘So we’re trying to be smart about this,’ said Knapp in the e-mail, ‘rather than just impose a one-size-fits-all solution on everyone.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ English Department Chair David Bartholomae said the department’s operating budget was cut by about 5 percent.’ The operating budget includes office supplies, bills, technical support and faculty travel. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ In order to help meet the new budget, Bartholomae said the department renegotiated a contract with Computing Services and Systems Development to reduce the hours its computer technician stays on site. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘Our primary concern there was to preserve travel opportunities for those who need it most,’ said Bartholomae. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Some faculty members also gave up travel opportunities so that others could travel instead, he said, which saved the department $12,000 and helped balance the budget. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ In other areas, however, solutions haven’t been so easy. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘The way we felt it most strong was that we had to suspend searches [for faculty] that were underway,’ said Bartholomae. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ He said the department planned to resume the searches when the economy improves, and that although it may not be able to hire any new faculty members, it would not have to lay off any, either. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Bartholomae said the department had not yet received any numbers for the instructional budget for next semester. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘I think it’s safe to say we’ll be offering fewer electives,’ he said. ‘And we’ll be far more aggressive about canceling classes with low enrollment early.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ He added that in some cases, the department would combine classes. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘Rather than two classes set at [an enrollment of] 35, we’ll have one set at 60,’ said Bartholomae. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Even with fewer electives and combined classes, Bartholmae said that he didn’t think students would feel the impact because of the size of the department. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘I don’t think anyone will be aware of it,’ he said.’ ‘I don’t think it will be a lean year.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Down the street in Posvar Hall, the political science department is in a similar position. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Joyce Ertman, a department administrator, said the office has cut down on purchasing office supplies and made efforts to put more things on Courseweb, where students can access them electronically. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘We’re watching how we use our paper, and we’re recycling more efficiently,’ she said.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Rather than throwing Post-it notes away after one use, she said, staff members use them again. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘So far it’s a big in-house problem,’ said Ertman, ‘but it hasn’t affected faculty or staff.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Because the course schedule was set before Pennsylvania announced its budget cuts for Pitt, Ertman said most of the reductions have had to come from the administrative offices. Next semester might be different, though, she said. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘Those things are being looked at right now,’ said Ertman. ‘There won’t be replacement money available.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ If a faculty member leaves, she said the department would not be able to replace her or any specialized classes she may teach. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘I don’t think students will notice the effect,’ said Ertman.’ ‘Key classes will remain.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Communication Department Chair Barbara Warnick agreed that students would not be affected by reduced budgets. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘Since the instructional program is a top priority, I doubt that classes will be fewer in number if the demand (enrollment) is still there,’ said Warnick in an e-mail. ‘So far, it does not appear that class size will be increased or other such measures taken.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ She said that the department would reduce travel and special-event funding, and draw from reserve funds to stay within budget. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘There will probably be more cuts later this semester, but all we can do now is wait and see, trim our budgets of non-essential items and hope for the best,’ said Warnick in the e-mail.