Budget conversations provide helpful input

Concordians participated in a series of conversations aimed at clarifying the challenges the university will face in light of the Government of Quebec’s decision to reduce the university’s operating grant by $13.2 million for 2012-13.

Interim Provost Lisa Ostiguy and CFO Patrick Kelley hosted the conversations, in addition to meeting with each of the Faculty Councils, the Libraries, School of Graduate Studies and School of Extended Learning to obtain feedback and answer questions.

“There have been many ideas, including reduced work weeks, changes to service offerings, looking at our structures and processes and how we do things, as well as suggestions on revenue generation and fundraising,” Ostiguy said.

The administration will have to examine their feasibility before acting on them, but Kelley said “the ideas presented by the community will inform our preparation of the revised 2012-13 budget, and the 2013-14 budget.”

Some of the attendees thanked the administration for reaching out to the university community for input. “I think open conversations like this are really going to help the process,” said one staff member. “I’ve heard so many positive remarks so far, just about the fact that these meetings were set.”

During a brief introduction to each conversation, Kelley outlined the university’s current financial situation. He explained how attempts to put together this year’s budget were repeatedly interrupted by the Government of Quebec’s shifting stance on tuition increases, and finally by its decision in mid-December to drastically reduce operating grants to the province’s universities by $124 million.

Kelley said that even though the government has promised to offset part of the reduction with money it promised to cover the loss in tuition revenues, it won’t come close to covering the shortfall.

As things stand right now, Kelley explained, the university will more than likely run a deficit, something that the administration has taken great pains to avoid in recent years.

Since the reduction of the university’s operating grant comes in the middle of an academic year, it makes it very difficult to absorb, Ostiguy said.

“We planned out our academic year long in advance. We made commitments to our students, to our staff and faculty … It’s not something that, on the fly, we can make changes to very easily,” she explained.

The interim provost emphasized the need to ensure the long-term well-being of Concordia to benefit current and future students.

“While we need to make cuts, we cannot jeopardize the long-term well-being of our university,” said Ostiguy. “We must continue to invest in programs and projects that will benefit and support our current – and future – students, faculty and staff.”

She thanked the members of the Concordia community for their “commitment to coming up with creative long-term solutions to the budget shortfall.” She said the next step is to present a revised 2012-13 budget to the Board of Governors for approval on January 22.

Related links:
•    “Concordia invites input on budget reductions” — NOW, January 9, 2013
•    "Interim Provost and CFO to host conversations on budget" – NOW, December 19, 2012