President responds to Senate’s proposed cuts

President Elson S. Floyd released the following statement today, March 30, on the budget proposal made public by the state Senate today.
 
The Senate proposal would cut higher education by about $513 million and eliminate about 10,000 slots for students at state colleges and universities.
 
The president said:
“We at WSU recognize that the Legislature is dealing with the impact of an economic crisis that is unparalleled since the Great Depression. At the same time, we strongly believe that higher education must be a central part of the solution to this crisis.
 
“Budget cuts of the magnitude of those in the Senate’s budget would have a dramatic impact on WSU. Layoffs and reductions in enrollment and important public service programs would be unavoidable.

“We will continue to work within the university community to find the best way to make strategic program reductions as the budget process goes forward. We hope that the process will result in a final budget that will minimize the short-term damage to our university and our state.

“We will be closely studying the budgets provided by the Senate today and the House tomorrow as well as the work of the conference committee to confirm the final number before determining our next steps. Provost Warwick Bayly and I will be meeting with the campus community at two budget forums on Tuesday during which we will be able to provide further information and answer questions.”

For more information about the budget forums, visit: https://budget-committee.wsu.edu/

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