Saint Mary's College Of California

Community Budget Meeting Feedback

February 17, 2009 Community Budget Meeting Feedback

There were a total of ninety-seven cards returned during the input portion of the Community Budget Meeting on February 17, 2009. The cards were a combination of suggestions for what the College should consider as priorities for funding, where the College should consider cuts, and what the College should consider re-instating first when economic conditions improve.

Below is a summary of the responses by major category:

Institutional Priorities

Many cards addressed institutional priorities that centered around four themes listed below.

1. Affordability: Eight responses centered around affordability, including:
   1. Offering more financial aid to students, both graduate and undergraduate.
   2. Keeping tuition increases low.
   3. Focusing on the full package (including room and board).
2. Increasing Efficiency on Campus: Twenty-five responses indicated the need for the college to get more efficient, including:
   1. Eliminating expensive events (such as speakers, Christmas parties, and alumni events).
   2. Asking faculty and staff to volunteer for responsibilities to eliminate additional stipends.
   3. Saving electricity through green alternatives, changing out lighting and shutting down the power whenever possible during nights and weekends.
3. Fundraising: Six responses mentioned alumni and fundraising, including:
   1. Enlisting alumni relationships with recruiting efforts.
   2. Intensifying fundraising efforts.
4. Staff and Faculty Considerations: Thirty responses concentrated on faculty and staff salary and benefits cuts, layoffs and morale, including:
   1. Exploring areas where hours can be reduced without having to terminate complete positions.
   2. Offering early retirement.
   3. Changing faculty workload.

Additional Cuts

There were three cards that dealt specifically with the potential need for additional cuts. These cards focused on recommendations to avoid cutting programs that are strengths of the college, keeping the student experience a priority and keeping the facilities from deteriorating. These cards also included suggestions for maintaining support for the library, fundraising and alumni engagement.

Restoration of Programs with an Improved Economy

Thirteen responses dealt directly with this issue. These responses centered around faculty and staff compensation with retirement being the first priority, health benefits the second and salary the third. Restoration of a full work force was also mentioned as was funds for building maintenance.

Other

Other items noted included a need to build the endowment, generate new revenue streams, considering graduate housing to eliminate vacancies in student housing, and ideas with regard to using alumni, faculty and staff in student recruitment.

Budget Committee Blog Feedback

In addition to the feedback solicited at the Community Budget Meeting on February 17, 2009, several entries have been posted on the Budget Committee Blog. These comments mirror those noted in the summary above.