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Frequently Asked Questions Related to 2008 Budget Reductions

Budget Decision Making

In making decisions about what cuts are to be made, will UF's goal be to do a decent job at as many things as possible? Or will UF's goal be to maintain (and eventually improve) the quality of education and research in a smaller number of areas? If UF chooses to aim for quality, then how will the quality of diverse units be assessed? Also, thank you for addressing our questions on this Web page. 3/31/08
The deans and the various faculty advisory committees are in the process of assessing where cuts should be made and, certainly, the performance of the university's diverse departments, centers and units is part of their consideration. Their advice and recommendations will be invaluable to the provost and the president in the decision-making process. As a result, it is our hope that we will be able to raise the level of quality in each program that is retained.
Will the budget reduction plans submitted by the colleges to the president through the provost be reviewed with Faculty Senate or some committee of that group as a part of shared governance? 3/10/08
President Machen will share his budget plans with the Faculty Senate Steering Committee in advance of sharing them with UF's Board of Trustees.
Does the president-appointed Cost Reduction and Efficiency Task Force have an online suggestion box so that faculty and staff can submit suggestions for cost reduction? 3/3/08
The Task Force solicited and received many suggestions from across campus last fall as it began looking at ways to trim costs and increase revenues. The Academic & Professional Assembly also provided the Task Force with several suggestions that have been vetted by the Task Force.
However, anyone with a suggestion can send it to a member of the Task Force. A list of members can be found here: http://insideuf.ufl.edu/2007/08/09/cost-reduction-task-force/
Who ultimately will make the decisions regarding university budget cuts? 3/3/08
The President and the Board of Trustees will make final decisions on cuts for the university. The deans and other unit leaders will provide input to the president based on advice from faculty, students and staff.
How is the president-appointed Cost Reduction and Efficiency Task Force helping offset these cuts? 2/28/08
The Cost Reduction and Efficiency Task Force has explored dozens of potential opportunities and has recommended to the president several initiatives that are moving forward, including the new transcript charge, consolidation of print vendors, transitioning print publications to electronic publications, a comprehensive motor vehicle management plan and the recently announced direct deposit/debit card plan. We believe real revenue and cost savings initiatives were identified and their implementation will continue to be part of our overall strategy. As each new initiative moves toward implementation, we will communicate in advance to the campus.
These savings represent a small percentage of the reductions we face.
Is it true that UF's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences faces a disproportionate cut? 2/28/08
Despite reports and speculation, no decision has been made about cuts to IFAS beyond what each unit is currently facing. It is probable that IFAS will face a significant budget reduction, but it will not be determined until spring.
If UF faces a budget crisis, why did UF's president receive a $275,000 bonus last fall? 2/28/08
President Machen's original 2004 contract includes several goal-based bonuses to be awarded by the Board of Trustees. The money used to pay the bonus comes from UF's fundraising arm, the University of Florida Foundation, not state taxpayers' dollars.
The part of President Machen's salary which is paid with taxpayers' dollars has a state-mandated limit of $225,000. Every public university president in the state is subject to the same ceiling.

Budget Forecast

Will UF experience more budget cuts next year? 2/28/08
Possibly.
The legislature will receive an update on the state's financial situation in March. Based on that revenue projection - which is not expected to be favorable -- the legislature will craft a budget for FY 08-09.
We have been warned that the legislature may need to make further reductions to our budget, but we will not know the outcome until early May. That's when the legislature gives final approval to the state's FY 08-09 budget, which goes into effect on July 1, 2008.
When will the state's budget crisis turn around? 2/28/08
Economic downturns typically last up to three years. The state's current economic difficulties stem from a crisis in the housing market. Economic forecasters predict the state's budget woes to continue well into 2009.

Funding Sources

Did the BOT consider making one of the goals for the President to get additional state funding from the Legislature? Wouldn't this have made his extraordinary pay rate and bonuses more palatable? 3/31/08
The University of Florida is one of the largest, most comprehensive and complex universities in the world. As such, the Board of Trustees considers many factors as presidential goals are developed. By way of example, one of the presidential goals is to "provide faculty and staff raises through reengineering of existing operations and generation of additional revenues."
Funding for the University of Florida comes from many sources, including, but not limited to, state funding from the Legislature, private donations, research grants, and other revenue sources. In order to meet the goals of the University of Florida, every effort is being made to maximize every one of those resources to the greatest extent possible.
Why can't we "nationalize" the athletic program, which is perhaps the most solvent and greatest cash flow generator at this and any major university? 3/31/08
The University Athletic Association has a long history of pumping much-needed funds into the university for academic programs. Since 1990, the UAA has donated about $45 million to UF. A gift last fall of $6 million helped fund the Florida Opportunities Scholarship program and is believed to be the largest single gift nationally of an athletic department to a university.
Because of their success and the support of Gator fans everywhere, UF's athletic programs (women's and men's) require zero state funding and zero funding from the university. That's particularly important to point out now when state resources are scarce.
Each year, the UAA's athletic fund-raising arm, Gator Boosters, provides nearly $7 million in scholarships to more than 400 student-athletes. Gator Boosters also raises money to build new and improve existing athletic facilities. Because of that, no state funds are used or requested.
Is there a relationship between Bright Futures scholarships and the budget deficits at Florida universities? 3/10/08
Not directly. The budget shortfall is occurring at the state level. In other words, people are buying fewer houses and other goods and so it means that fewer sales taxes and other taxes are heading into state coffers. If less money comes in than is budgeted, then cuts must be made. And that's what happening in Florida.
Bright Futures has a different impact on universities. As a state-sponsored scholarship program, it provides 75 to 100 percent of the tuition and fees for top Florida high school graduates. To limit the amount of money the state has to put into the program each year, the Legislature has kept tuition low. As such, Florida's tuition has not kept pace with the actual cost of providing a college education.
Why shouldn't the university use whatever resources it has at its disposal, including more of the UF endowment, in order prevent further harm to UF's core educational mission? 3/3/08
The University of Florida's assets are almost entirely donor restricted which means that the funds, whether endowed or not, cannot be used for any purposes not in accordance with the donor's restrictions. Hence, a gift to support a professorship cannot be redirected for student financial aid.
The UF Foundation recently increased the spending base of all endowment funds which will generate an additional $2.4 million in spendable income for the year, beginning in March. The UF Foundation, like the UAA, generates its own operating budget from a series of administrative fees and investment returns. The UF Foundation does not keep funds for its own use and exists only to support UF.
Students at UF could pay between 8 percent and 15 percent more in tuition in the fall. Won't that offset the budget shortfall? 2/28/08
The Board of Governors has proposed an 8 percent tuition increase that would apply to all undergraduates.
UF could increase tuition an additional 7 percent under a proposal approved by the Legislature last year. But this "differential" tuition can only be applied to students enrolled for the first time in fall 2007 or later, and does not apply to any student with a Florida Pre Paid contract.
It is not clear what tuition UF will charge next fall. Even if there is a significant increase, it will pale in comparison to the magnitude of the cuts.
For example, the 5 percent increase in tuition that was assessed in January generated $1.7 million for this semester. Our budget is being cut by approximately $47 million, and perhaps more.
Why can't the University Athletic Association help UF get through these tough economic times? 2/28/08
UF has one of the few athletic programs in the country that earns enough money through ticket sales and other revenue to fully pay for itself. UF's athletic budget receives no funding from the legislature and is not subsidized by the university.
The UAA donated $6 million to the university last fall to support several academic programs threatened by state budget cuts. UAA has provided nearly $45 million to the university since 1990.
If UF has so much money to pay its head football and basketball coaches million-plus-dollar salaries, why then isn't there money for the budget? 2/28/08
Coaches are not paid with state funds. The money, instead, comes from a variety of sources including University Athletic Association funds, sponsorship agreements and other multi-media agreements.
Why can't the University of Florida Foundation help UF get through these tough economic times? 2/28/08
About 60 percent of the gifts raised annually for UF are used to establish or add to endowed funds. Endowment gifts provide a source of great stability for the university and allow the university to grow many programs, despite volatility in state funding.
UF's endowment is currently at $1.2 billion and has grown significantly as a result of generous private gifts, visionary State of Florida matching funds and good investment returns.
We do use a portion of the investment income from endowments but only for the purposes designated by the donor. Spending from the UF endowment is adjusted quarterly in response to the past quarter's investment returns and provides for maximum prudent spending while avoiding overspending in down markets.
Such positive investment returns made it possible for the UF Foundation to release $2.4 million more this year for students and faculty to use as stipulated by the donor.

Personnel Issues

Can any college at UF require that a TEAMS employee work without a signed contract for any length of time? 3/31/08
No TEAMS appointment shall create any right, interest, or expectancy of continued employment. At any time during any appointment, TEAMS employees may be non-renewed upon appropriate written notice:
TEAMS employees hired before June 30, 2005, shall be given written notice that their appointment will not be renewed as follows:
  • Employees with less than 1 year of service are to be provided with 3 months notification or the remainder of their contract - whichever is greater.
  • Employees with more than 1 year of service are to be provided with 6 months notification or the remainder of their contract - whichever is greater.
TEAMS employees hired after June 30, 2005, shall be given written notice that their appointment will not be renewed as follows:
  • Employees are to be provided with 3 months notification or the remainder of their contract - whichever is greater.
Quite a few university staff are concerned for their jobs. Many have said they will begin looking off campus for employment before possible cuts catch them off guard. They can no longer depend on job security through the university. Are their actions justifiable considering the current budget situation? 3/31/08
The current budget situation is challenging the entire campus. At this point, it appears that we will have an approximate total budget reduction of $50 million. We will not have a complete picture until the end of the Legislative Session. Unfortunately, layoffs remain a possibility but every department is aggressively working all strategies to mitigate the impact. We are a very large and diverse university and we expect to remain as one of the largest employers in the State of Florida.
Has any thought been given to 1) buying out some employees in DROP (using one time money to gain a vacancy in a recurring salaried position)? And 2) furloughing some employees (vs. laying people off)? Some universities, county and city governments are discussing such strategies to deal with budget cuts. Are we? 3/31/08
All possibilities are being explored but no formal retirement incentive program has been adopted to date.
If layoffs occur, will the individuals being laid off receive a prior notice? 3/10/08
Each unit across campus is working diligently on strategies to meet the anticipated budget reductions. Unfortunately, layoffs are a possibility. The extent of any reductions will not be fully known until after the legislative session.
If layoffs do occur in any unit, impacted individuals would receive advance notification. The amount of notification would be driven by a number of factors including the type of position.
Human Resource Services is prepared to work with any impacted employees to explore other employment opportunities and help answer benefit and retirement questions.
Will the fiscal situation have any impact on tenure cases at the department, college or university level? Will faculty approved for tenure and promotion see the usual increase in their salaries? 3/10/08
The tenure and promotion process is moving forward, and the university is committed to providing the usual salary increase for those candidates who are awarded promotion or tenure.
Instead of layoffs, would the administration consider wage reductions, both voluntary and mandatory? 3/3/08
Historically, wage-reduction initiatives have not been well received in organizations that have implemented them. Neither reductions of the workforce nor reducing pay are strategies we want to employ. However, given the severity of the budget situation all options are on the table.
Are tenure-track junior faculty in core teaching departments in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences at risk of being laid off? If so, who will teach the undergraduates in all these classes? 3/3/08
Lay-offs are possible, and subsequently it will be difficult to maintain the same number of classes with fewer faculty. We will try to protect people as much as possible, but 97 percent of the CLAS budget is invested in people.
Will I lose my job? 2/28/08
At this point, all UF unit leaders are working on plans to address the budget reductions. Protecting jobs is a priority, but unfortunately layoffs can not be ruled out as a possibility. In many cases, departments have absorbed some of the cuts by not filling vacant positions. But if programs are eliminated, it is quite possible that positions within that program will be eliminated as well.
Will there be any annual faculty and staff raises this year? 2/28/08
As a general rule, the Legislature provides funding for faculty and staff raises when lawmakers approve each year's budget. The Legislature only provided enough funding for a $1,000 bonus this year, but we do not yet know what it will approve for FY 08-09. At this point we have not abandoned plans for a salary program but the possibilities will depend upon what occurs over the next several months.

Strategies and Priorities

The mission of UF is teaching, research, and service, which comes from the ancient definition of "doctor" as one who acquires, extends, and passes on a body of knowledge to the next generation. Anything not in our Core Mission must support it, either directly (buildings and maintenance) or indirectly (through financial support).
In the latter category, we must ask what the return on investment is. For example, if a stock is doing poorly, the UF Foundation sells it.
What is our return on investment on the dorms? The TV station? The athletic program? 3/31/08
University of Florida students enjoy numerous extras not available at many higher education institutions, including on-campus housing, a highly successful athletic program and much-touted, student-run TV stations. Each plays a role in the education and success of our students.
At UF, both the residence halls and the University Athletic Association fully support themselves.
The Department of Housing and Residence Education issues bonds to construct campus housing and is responsible to pay all debt service on such bonds. The housing operation employs all related staff and pays all direct costs to operate the residence halls and graduate and family housing, including utilities, custodial and maintenance services, 24 hour desk operations, safety and security, capital renovations, and undergraduate and graduate staffing as resident assistants and graduate hall directors. The housing operation is required to pay to the University of Florida the 3 percent auxiliary overhead charge for administrative services amounting to close to $1 million this coming fiscal year.
The UAA pays all of its operating costs through a variety of revenues sources, including but not limited to ticket sales, television and radio contracts, Gator Booster contributions, logo royalties, apparel sales, sponsorships and Southeastern Conference revenue sharing. Operating costs include but are not limited to all coaches and administrative salaries, benefits and bonuses, scholarships, team travel, equipment, recruiting, stadium operations, stadium and O'Connell center. The UAA contributed more than $6 million to UF and the UF Foundation last year.
In the College of Journalism and Communications, students interested in telecommunication and broadcast journalism help operate WUFT-FM and the public television stations: WLUF-LP and WUFT-TV. The stations are integrated with the telecommunication department curriculum and have faculty on staff providing instruction to students. In addition to the value to students and the North Central Florida community, the stations leverage each dollar of university support with an additional three plus dollars of support from grants and donations. Advertising revenues fully support the college's radio stations, WRUF AM and FM.
But as part of the university's ongoing budget-cutting exercises, department officials across campus will continually evaluate the costs and benefits of all programs and look for ways to generate additional revenues.
Was closing the university over Spring break considered to help reduce the budget? 3/31/08
Yes, but a number of research and operational units needed to remain functional even though classes were not in session.
I am not an expert on fixing a budget and most certainly not the magnitude of UF's. I will say that if 95 percent of your student body is on Bright Futures and the state is not allowing for the increase of tuition needed to improve higher education because of "BF" then you need to just do without Bright Futures at the University of Florida. Too many games and too many people are trying to be populous with this issue. 3/19/08
Bright Futures impacts the University of Florida more than other public universities in the state because of a unique set of circumstances. The state-sponsored scholarship is awarded to Florida's top high school graduates and only the state's top high school graduates can gain admission into UF.
UF's administration just can't do away with Bright Futures scholarships as you suggest. The scholarship was established by the Legislature and can only be changed by the Legislature.
But because lawmakers want to contain state costs going to Bright Futures, tuition has remained among the lowest in the country. Several changes to Bright Futures have been proposed recently to allow universities to increase tuition, although none of them have the support of the Legislature.
Will any of the off-campus teaching programs, such as the West Florida Research and Education Center, be closed? 3/19/08
The sheer magnitude of cuts required by the University of Florida ($50 million) mean everything is on the table for consideration. Any program closures will be announced by President Machen in mid-April.
Has anyone ever explored buying print/copy paper direct instead of through a retailer such as Office Max. Wal-Mart sells it cheaper than I've seen some departments paying for it. 3/19/08
As part of our budget-cutting exercises, we have identified some ways to reduce the costs of photocopying and printing.
For example, the University of Florida spends more than $4 million each year with outside vendors on photocopying and printing. With the budget pinch, UF recently sought and received improved pricing from photocopy vendors such as FedEx Kinkos. We are in the process of negotiating better rates with other vendors as well.
To what extent will colleges/departments be given the green light to lay off unproductive tenured faculty as part of their plans for budget cuts? 3/19/08
Tenured faculty members working in units that are closed could face termination.
Is it possible that funds for new construction could be allocated instead to maintenance of buildings that already exist? UF's big problem of deferred maintenance only seems to get worse with each new building. Why not stress quality rather than quantity? 3/19/08
The university cannot redirect funds from new projects to maintenance. In many cases, the money for new buildings is designated specifically for that purpose and must receive appropriate approvals from the Board of Governors and the Legislature.
The university requests money from the state each year for maintenance. The funds available for deferred maintenance are extremely limited.
If UF is trying to find ways to cut back on costs, couldn't they consider changing the policy of footing the bill for health insurance for married couples who both work at UF? I know that might not sit well with many couples on campus but it doesn't seem quite right for UF to pay for both the employee's portion plus the UF portion when working singles with dependants pay the regular amount. Just a thought... 3/19/08
Although this might have a minimal cost savings, we believe the benefits role in recruitment and retention outweighs any potential savings.
Why does the university claim there is a "hiring freeze" when hires are still taking place. My department has lost faculty due to retirement and we have not been able to replace them, yet other departments are getting new lines.
UF received $2 million in recurring dollars from the Legislature this year to address student access issues. That money is being used to hire a modest number of new faculty members and new advisers in units with the worst student/faculty and student/advising issues.
In addition, many positions are funded from non-state appropriations and have no impact upon our current budget situation. For example, positions that are funded solely from clinical revenue have continued to be filled.
Does UF First Lady Chris Machen draw a salary? 3/19/08
The president's wife, Chris Machen, receives zero compensation from the University of Florida.
Is UF the only university in the country that is this messed up right now? I don't see any problems like this at other universities, even here in Florida. Is UF going to be shut down? 3/10/08
Here's how the Chronicle of Higher Education described what's going on in Florida: "Florida's 11 public universities are bracing for a money crunch so severe that some higher-education leaders have started describing it as an "'unnatural disaster.'"
California, Kentucky, Maryland, and Nevada face mid-year cuts similar to those being taken by Florida's Legislature this month, and universities in each of those states face severe cut-backs as a result.
UF has weathered financial crises in the past, and we expect it will make it through this one as well.
Several questions about IFAS or IFAS programs have been submitted and appear here: Will UF cut funding to 4-H in Florida? Why will IFAS face a significant budget reduction? Is the President saying IFAS and Cooperative Extension will be taking disproportionate cuts and if so, why? Does the President have any idea as to the importance of being a Land Grant University? If so, why is he targeting IFAS and Cooperative Extension in the upcoming budget? 3/10/08
No final budget decisions have been made at this point, but like every other campus department, IFAS has been asked to provide a plan to cut 6 percent from next year's budget.
How many youth are involved in Extension's 4-H program? 3/10/08
University of Florida Extension faculty reported the following youth involved in 4-H in Florida last year: 234,098
What is the long-range plan to change the well-established, and recently, more acute trend of starving the Florida educational system - particularly UF? 3/10/08
The absolute best long-range scenario for higher education is stable funding. The University of Florida has sought autonomy to set tuition, and has made some inroads. Last year, UF along with Florida State University and the University of South Florida were given the authority to raise tuition for some students this fall by as much as 15 percent.
But until the state addresses the causes of budget fluctuations, all state institutions will continue to feel their effects.
Is there an actual system in place to monitor colleges' adherence to certain policies, or does the UF administration "assume" colleges are abiding by those policies. Such an assumption is costly, especially in times of budget crisis. Specifically regarding:
  1. Faculty use of sick leave
  2. Faculty use of vacation time
  3. Faculty double-dipping when paid honorariums to speak, etc. but don't claim leave
  4. Faculty profit-sharing on books written, etc. 3/10/08
The responsibility for accurate time reporting relies on a combination of individual faculty and their supervisors. Sick time is reported directly through departments and up to each dean.
The only faculty positions that accrue vacation time are 12-month positions. When any vacation time by a 12-month position is taken, the person is expected to have the time approved in advance and the information is tracked accordingly.
The University of Florida has a compliance hot line at 1-866-500-3344 or online at www.compliance.ufl.edu.
The university has extensive outside activity and conflict-of-interest regulations that faculty are expected to follow.
Tracking mechanisms are in place to disclose any potential conflicts and to disclose outside compensation from items such as royalties.
I hear that President Machen has mentioned the possibility of closing entire schools. Is there any chance that a school might be privatized or be sold off entirely to private investors? This might mean that not as many employees and students would be adversely affected and might result in a structure somewhat like Cornell University. If this is being considered, what would be the implications for the portion of UF that became private and the portion of UF that remained public? 3/10/08
The severity of the budget situation is forcing discussions of all kinds, including the possible closure of individual colleges, departments and programs. The sale of schools to private entities has not been discussed.
What criteria are being used to potentially cut programs at UF due to financial constraints? 3/10/08
The deans have been asked to work with their faculty governance groups to devise plans for each college and department that preserve student access to courses they need, identify areas that will do the least harm to core academic programs and avoid across-the-board cuts.
Would a 4-day week save UF money? 3/10/08
Four, 10-hour day schedules have been utilized by several departments on campus along with other flex scheduling arrangements such as staggered starting times. A great deal depends upon the nature of the position. Overall however, this has not proven to be a significant cost saver.
Why are we doing a multi-million dollar upgrade to PeopleSoft Financials now instead of tweaking the system until we have a better state/university economic outlook? 3/3/08
The PeopleSoft information system requires that we conduct regular upgrades. Delaying can create vulnerabilities in critical systems such as accounting, contract and grants, and payroll. At this point, we are only starting the plan phase of the upgrade. A final decision will not be made until we have clarity on the budget situation this later this year.
Academic programs are the core of the university. Why are they being cut instead of other areas, such as grounds, maintenance, or administration? 3/3/08
All units have already been impacted by the reductions that we applied last fall. No administrative unit was spared the past reductions and the current plan to reduce 6 percent from the state appropriated budget applies to every administrative unit as well. Budget cut decision will be made with the intent to protect the core academic areas wherever possible.
Cuts have been made and will continue to be made throughout the university on all levels.
As one example, the office of University Relations is working to reduce the amount of money UF spends on copies 20 percent by negotiating a new contract for photocopy services on campus. Annually, UF spends around $1.5 million on copies. A new Print Vendor Certification program is designed to reduce the number of printing companies the university works with from approximately 170 to 20. The consolidation should result in a savings of about 15 percent. UF prints more than 350 newsletters, magazines, reports, and other publications annually. University Relations is working to reduce that number by 40 percent or more.  Through these programs we hope to save the university more than $1 million annually.
With our financial constraints, why do we hire search firms to find new administrators? 3/3/08
Of the 21 administrative searches in the past two years, only five of those efforts used professional search firms. Search firms are cost-effective in higher level searches since they free up faculty and staff and can add several dimensions to the process of identifying and recruiting for leadership positions. Recent UF search committees have requested professional search firms to take advantage of the broader and deeper networks such firms command. Firms know the national market and what we're competing against. In many cases, search firms can help in recruiting those candidates who are not yet on the market.
Why are there so many layers in dealing with the University Finances? We have a new very well paid CFO and then very well paid VP of Finance and then a slew of assistant VPs, associate VPs, controllers, etc. 3/3/08
In comparison to our peer institutions, our administrative costs are low. Each position serves a defined purpose and not all are funded with state sources.
Why are the departments still allowed to travel? 3/3/08
Not all travel is funded through state dollars. Travel paid for with state funds has been severely restricted. And there are some cases in which travel is critical to career development and to maintaining the contacts and current information necessary to perform one's job.
How much is UF's budget being cut this year? 2/28/08
Last fall, the legislature cut our current fiscal year appropriation by $22 million. State revenues continued to decline as the year progressed, causing the governor in January to withhold another $16 million from UF for FY 07-08. That $38 million comes from UF's base budget, so the impact on an annualized basis is $47 million.
Under Florida law, the governor's action to withhold funds must be approved by the legislature, which goes into session on March 3. Indications are that the legislature will reduce less than the governor withheld. We expect to know the final outcome for the year we are currently in by mid-March.
Where will internal cuts be made at UF? 2/28/08
The first $22 million was reduced in virtually every unit across the campus. Plans are now under way for both programmatic and departmental reductions.
A look at state support over the years indicates a steep decline. State appropriations and tuition revenues totaled $26,000 per student in 1990. In 2007 it is $15,000. Another across the board cut to a budget that is already under funded will significantly affect the quality of education and assure mediocrity at UF. That is unacceptable.
Instead, we are asking each unit to develop a 6 percent reduction plan that could support both programmatic and general reductions. The president will consider those plans in developing the university's FY 08-09 UF budget.
Why is it that the university is moving ahead on some construction projects if the university is facing such severe cuts? 2/28/08
Most building funds are provided by the Legislature from a tax on utilities. This money is available for all public education agencies, including K-12, community colleges and universities. The funds are non-recurring and by law must be used for building construction. These funds cannot be used to offset cuts in our recurring budget.
When will we know what specific cuts will be made? 2/28/08
President Machen has announced that final budget decisions will be made by the end of April.

Students

If I applied to transfer into UF for the fall and due to the cuts the program/major I am interested in is no longer going to be offered - will you let me opt into a different major for a fall start? 3/31/08
No. Admissions decisions are made based on the major selected by the applicant.
April 15th is too late to let Summer A transfer students know whether they got accepted or not. Considering the fact that the Summer A semester begins less than one month after the decisions are given, what are students transferring from community colleges into UF for Summer A supposed to do? What can be done to ensure the admission of every qualified transfer student? 3/31/08
We recognize transfer students are typically notified in March and understand the delay is causing an inconvenience for many of them. But since capacity at this university is limited, we cannot ensure the admission of every qualified transfer student.
What criteria will the University give for transfer acceptance? Will it be based on what community college you are transferring from, your GPA, application date or college applying for? 3/31/08
The biggest factor in the decision to accept a transfer student, aside from his/her preparedness for the chosen major, will be whether there is space available for the applicant.
Before you cut back on the number of transfer students you allow in, I think it would be wise to let go of the numbers of students who have decided for one reason or another (usually due to poor grades, poor choices, psychological reasons, etc) that you have allowed to take time off and then allow to come back a semester or two later when they get their acts together. There are too many kids who want to do the right things and would love to have those spots. Parent of a potential transfer student... 3/31/08
If the budget problems persist, we may have to do as you suggest and provide space for only those students who are performing well and have demonstrated that they will complete their degrees in a timely fashion.
Will students applying to transfer in the summer session starting in May also have to wait until no sooner than April 15 to find out their status? 3/31/08
A: Yes.
UF seems to be the university with the most problems in the whole state, with all these problems how can UF give a quality education? Should students look at a university that doesn't have all these problems? 3/31/08
Florida's budget problems span the state and are impacting all universities. Don't take our word for it.
Here's what an editor at the FSVIEW, Florida State University's student newspaper, wrote about the budget cuts affecting her university: "I've heard threats of closing computer labs, cutting summer classes, firing faculty and staff, capping enrollment and rearranging Bright Futures. I've quoted university officials saying, 'there's no end in sight' for the budget cuts in the state of Florida. Clearly, none of this sounds promising for our university."
The Tampa Tribune has reported the University of South Florida is considering cuts from programs in the humanities and liberal arts, such as dance, women's studies and geography. And all of the cuts will lead to faculty layoffs and larger classes.
Florida International University President Mitch Maidique recently made these remarks to the faculty and staff: "It is the worst of times because this fall FIU will be forced to turn away students who have a solid B+ and who scored well over a 1,000 on the SAT. But these enrollment reductions are still not enough to battle the looming budget cuts. Enrollment caps and tuition increases alone will not solve the problem. In fact, the magnitude of the cuts is so severe that we could not balance the shortfall even if we increased tuition by as much as 50 percent."
Transfer students from community colleges were to have an agreement with state universities regarding enrollment. With these cuts, what criteria will you use to cut or decide transfer admissions? 3/19/08
Currently none of our transfer policies have changed except for the fact that we will not release decisions until April 15th at the earliest. You can find information on our transfer process on the Office of Admissions Web site.
If there is a cut in the number of transfer students, will the students who had their transfer applications in at the earliest dates be given priority? If a school or program gets discontinued, will students get priority to change to another major at UF? 3/19/08
If the number of students permitted to transfer to UF is reduced, the decision will be programmatic, not influenced by application date. Students will not be admitted into programs that are slated for closure but students currently enrolled in such programs will be able to complete their degrees.
Why are you penalizing transfer students and discouraging them from attending with last-minute decision dates? 3/10/08
In February, the Board of Governors asked all the public institutions in the State University System to shrink enrollments. At that point, the decisions for the applications for freshmen and those pursuing graduate studies had already been made. Transfer student applications are being evaluated now as we try to determine where open spots remain.
We anticipate that further reductions will have to be made in enrollment for the 2008-09 cycle, and we anticipate those will reduce the number of freshmen admitted to UF.
If I submitted my application as a transfer student before they decided to delay notifying people will I still have to wait until April 15? 3/3/08
Yes.
Will students be able to get classes needed to graduate on schedule? 2/28/08
Offering the classes most needed by students is a priority. At this time, UF's deans are assessing their college's summer and fall curriculum to identify classes that best address student demand.
It's possible some classes could be larger. Others may be offered online. In fact, a university-wide program is being launched to provide more classes online.
Does UF plan to hold summer school classes? 2/28/08
Yes.
What do the budget problems mean for prospective students? 2/28/08
Admissions decisions already have been made for freshmen. Like last year, we are anticipating a class of about 6,600 students.
We are considering limiting the number of transfers from two-year and four-year institutions. We will announce admissions decisions on these students no earlier than April 15.

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