To the University Community:
There is an apparent irony in that as we prepare to observe our national Thanksgiving holiday that we learn that the impact of the global economic downturn is projected to have an even greater impact on Kentucky than originally believed. The state’s Consensus Forecasting Group, a set of economists that includes our own Dr. Frank O’Connor, now projects a general fund shortfall for the current fiscal year of some $456 million dollars. That represents about 5.1 percent of the revenue originally budgeted for the year we are in now.
We do not yet know what this will translate to for higher education or for Eastern Kentucky University. Governor Beshear is working on a plan that may include some revenue recommendations but will almost certainly call for further reductions in our state appropriation. He has indicated that plan will be shared early next month.
While I cannot today tell you exactly what we will do to address our ultimate share of the state’s sacrifice, I will assure you again that we will do everything possible to protect the core mission of Eastern Kentucky University and to protect our continuing faculty and staff. I will not pretend that it is going to be easy. There will be tough decisions to make. What I can promise is that they will be fair and driven by those two principles.
I think it is propitious that we are just now implementing a new level of integration into our planning and budgeting process. The newly formed Financial Planning Council will have its first meeting on December 2, and I will meet with them to explain all that we know at this point. The more we think together about how to deal with this situation the better we will serve this institution and its students. The better our solutions, the more ready we will be to face the possibility that the nation’s and state’s problems will continue into 2009-2010.
As my family and I observe Thanksgiving, I will remain thankful for the opportunity I have to serve with you, despite the challenges that are ours to overcome. I will be thankful for each of you because I have faith that the strength of our community will see us through this. That has always been the case when we have faced challenges before. Believe with me that the Essential Eastern endures and that the Power of Maroon is real.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and reflect on all that you have for which to give thanks. Come back refreshed and recharged, because we will have work to do.
Doug Whitlock
President
SOURCE: Campus-wide email
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