College restructuring to occur by new academic year
May 3 , 2011 -- President Corrigan and University Provost Sue Rosser announced on April 25, 2011 that SF State will move forward with a plan to reorganize its academic colleges. Effective July 1, 2011, the University will reduce the number of academic colleges from eight to six, as described in the proposal at http://www.sfsu.edu/~news/announce/sixcolleges.htm
College deans will work with their faculty to refine the structure of each college and to explore the educational and fiscal benefits of possible department and program mergers.
The reorganization is one of several cost-cutting efforts intended to bring the 2011-12 campus budget into balance, anticipating that SF State's share of the state budget that takes effect July 1, 2011 will be at least $30 million and possibly as high as $65 million short of required state funding.
The reorganization plan draws on the University Planning Advisory Council's (UPAC) recommendation to pursue a six-college structure as a cost-saving alternative that could reduce administrative expenses, while sparing classroom cuts. Two faculty referendums on the topic were conducted, and a range of meetings and feedback mechanisms were used to solicit broad participation and build consensus.
"As a campus, we are taking bold steps to confront the realities of diminishing state support," said President Robert A. Corrigan. "This process has been remarkable for the degree of thought and deliberation exercised, and for the campus community's focused commitment on staying true to our mission."
In addition to college restructuring, UPAC made nearly two dozen recommendations to further streamline costs, most of which are being implemented. They range from reviewing leases and purchase contracts to exploring revenue-generating strategies, reviewing information technology support and requiring all centers and institutes to be self-supporting and housed within colleges.
President Corrigan, in an editorial published in the student newspaper Xpress, stressed that while on-campus efforts toward managing budgets in austere times are important, at the same time, public advocacy is required. "We need to maintain the educational campaign -- and the pressure -- on both elected officials and the electorate," Corrigan said. "They need to see our future as their future, our well-being as their well-being. Affordable, accessible higher education made California great."
Members of the University community -- and friends of the University -- can help support public higher education in the following ways:
Donate -- Make a gift to SF State to support scholarships and programs.
http://www.sfsu.edu/~develop/
Advocate -- Call, visit or write your state elected officials to let them know you value public higher education and want full funding for SF State and the California State University system http://www.sfsu.edu/~news/budgetcentral/index.html
Join SF State EBAC -- The Education Budget Advisory Committee meets weekly to plan strategies and actions that can raise awareness about the need for state support of higher education. Contact Derek Aitken, daitken@sfsu.edu, for more information.
Educate -- Educate family and friends about the importance of higher education and the need for the governor and legislature to provide strong support for higher education. Share your story about the impact that higher education has had on you: what doors did your education open? Where would you be without it?
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