Concordia invites input on budget reductions
On Monday, January 14, faculty, staff and students can participate in a number of campus conversations to offer suggestions on how Concordia can reduce its 2012-13 budget, following the decision by the Government of Quebec to cut its operating grant.
In mid-December, the government announced it was reducing operating grants for Quebec universities, including Concordia, by $124 million for the current fiscal year. For Concordia, this means a reduction of $13.2 million in its operating grant for 2012-13. Reductions in funding for research granting agencies were also announced.
“This is going to be a challenge,” says Concordia President Alan Shepard. “Given the short notice by the government to reduce the budget by April 30, 2013, and given that most of the university’s funding has already been committed, we will likely be recommending a plan to the Board that will include both cuts and a deficit for 2012-13.”
However, says Shepard, there remains a large amount of uncertainty as to the levels of funding for 2013-14 and the university will need to prepare accordingly.
Campus conversations on January 14
During the next two weeks, Interim Provost Lisa Ostiguy and CFO Patrick Kelley are meeting with all of the Faculty Councils, the Libraries, the School of Extended Learning and the School of Graduate Studies to seek suggestions that will inform a plan to be presented to the Board of Governors later this month. Shepard will provide an update to Senate at its January 18 meeting, and engage members in discussion.
The interim provost and CFO will also host four campus conversations on January 14, two in the morning on the Sir George Williams Campus and two in the afternoon on the Loyola Campus. Faculty, staff and students are invited to register for one of the conversations by emailing conversations@concordia.ca. The sessions will be kept small to encourage discussion of ideas and suggestions.
When: Monday, January 14 from 9 to 10 a.m. and from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Where: Room EV-2.184, Engineering, Computer Science and Visual Arts Integrated Complex (EV Building, 1515 Ste-Catherine St. W.), Sir George Williams Campus
When: Monday, January 14 from 2 to 3 p.m. and from 3 to 4 p.m.
Where: Room AD-308, Administration Building, Loyola Campus (7141 Sherbrooke St. W.)
To register, please email conversations@concordia.ca.
Related link:
• "Interim Provost and CFO to host conversations on budget" – NOW, December 19, 2012