March 27, 2008

In our efforts to communicate the latest budget developments here and in Tallahassee in a timely manner, the university is disseminating weekly budget updates from President Modesto A. Maidique. These communiques are sent to our students, faculty and staff, alumni, donors, FIU Board of Trustees, Foundation Board of Directors, President's Council, select media, elected officials and other interested parties. We believe that timely information on a topic of such critical importance will benefit the entire university community and help to continue the university's forward momentum.
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In This Issue:

Senior university leaders and I met on March 21 to continue the multi-layered process of addressing FIU's budget crisis.

Each of my direct-report vice presidents and I will take a proportionate cut to our respective budgets. In turn, each of us will consult with our division leaders to determine how best to distribute those cuts. These cuts will be strategic, not across the board. Where we want this university to be in 2015 - FIU @ 50 - will ultimately guide those decisions.

How much from each division?
We still don't know how much the Legislature will reduce our budget. The outlook changes on a daily basis - and oftentimes throughout the day. For that reason, we are still dealing with alternative scenarios. On that front, I am pleased to report that some of FIU's numbers have changed for the better in the last seven days, but we are still in the earliest stages of the budget process, and even these proposed cuts continue to be very significant.

As of March 26, we are planning internally for an overall minimum 4 percent cut and a maximum 7 percent cut to our Fiscal Year (FY) 2008-'09 general revenue budget. That is more optimistic than the numbers I published last week. Additionally, the House and Senate are proposing a 6 percent hike to undergraduate tuition; however, there is always the possibility of a gubernatorial veto.

The proposed House and Senate budgets as they stand today include less than what we requested for the College of Medicine, but we remain confident of the outcome. In other developments, the Legislature is considering options to cap fees charged for our voluntary on-line learning courses. FIU is concerned that some of the pending proposals could severely restrict access to FIU's successful program.

When you add to the proposed state budget cuts the core expenses that will impact the university (anticipated rising costs in utilities, compliance issues, contractual increases for existing operational contracts) and the critical investments we need to make in student support, instruction and research, the deficit in funding is much deeper.

Moving forward
Our legislative team in Tallahassee continues to work hard on FIU's behalf. Should you visit our Governmental Relations web site for more information about how you can become an advocate for the university, please remember that any contact with elected officials must take place during your personal time, using your personal resources.

I will continue to communicate with you and keep you updated about developments as we learn of them. Please continue sharing your thoughts, questions and recommendations with me by sending an email to presoff@fiu.edu. This week and in subsequent updates, I will include excerpts from this mail.

The most inspiring email I have received to date is from a 2005 alumna who is now a registered nurse. "I am saddened to hear the financial issues that our school is facing. I am a graduate student and the first in my family to earn a bachelor's degree at the age of 43. When I was young, I used to drive by FIU and wonder how smart must a person be to be able to attend FIU. I was then a young high-school dropout raising three small children at the age of 20. Today, after many struggles and at the age of 46, I am an alumna and graduate student at FIU! Therefore, it hurts me deeply to see what could happen to the future of FIU." The writer goes on to ask what she, as a busy graduate student with a career and family responsibilities, can do to help. She concludes her letter, "I want you to know that I am with you all of the way. I support FIU and want to see our school continue to grow and meet its goals. I am sure that as a community of students and alumni, we can overcome this critical financial state of affairs."

In the days and weeks ahead, as we endeavor to do what is best for our students, our university and our community, I hope that we remember this remarkable alumna and the role public education played in her life. It should inspire all of us to redouble our efforts to "get it right". If we do - and I am confident that we will - FIU will emerge from this process a stronger institution better prepared to serve as a beacon of hope in this community and beyond for generations to come.

Links of Interest:

FIU Governmental Relations web site
http://government.fiu.edu/default.asp