STEVENS POINT, WI (WSAU-WAOW) — A committee at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point is asking for more time to plan about potential major cuts coming to the university.
A prior committee had been working on a proposal that was set to be completed by May, but Ken Menningen, Chair of the UWSP Common Council, tells News 9 WAOW some new things have come up.
“There’s been a higher than expected number of retirements and departures, which means the budget might’ve already shrunk enough that we don’t have to cut those programs, or at least not 13 programs,” said Menningen. “We still face a significant budget deficit. Hopefully the cuts will not have to be so deep and maybe will not need to cut majors at all, maybe other cuts can meet the budget deficit.”
Menningen went on to tell News 9 WAOW that although they’re working on finding a solution, there’s only one person with the power to make a decision on the proposed cuts.
“Neither the new committee nor the old one has decision making authority. That chancellor has the ultimate decision making authority for our future. So, we just become another voice of recommendation to the chancellor and he gets to decide,” he said.
The university is currently facing a budget shortage and is proposing to cut 13, mainly liberal arts, majors.
A new proposal is expected to be completed and presented to chancellor Bernie Patterson by August 1st.
