Temple University president reveals 2012 budget plans

In response to the budget cuts facing Pennsylvania’s state-related universities, Temple University President Ann Weaver Hart addressed the campus in a letter today with plans for the 2012 budget.

She laid out an eight-step plan, citing cuts and plans for the 2010 fiscal year that “resulted in savings of more than $40 million,” and the university’s ranking as the ninth-best at controlling administrative staffing growth.

Hart’s plan includes the follwing points:

Non-union salary freeze and asking union leaders to consider cost-cutting ideas
Hiring freeze except grant-funded positions and “academic positions directly related to student achievement” like academic advisers
University-wide restriction on travel
Examine changes to the benefits package
Review of the administrative structure
Delay of dean searches pending the outcome of the structure review
Review of cost-saving efforts already in place
Discuss new cost-saving efforts

A multi-year budget will be presented to the Board of Trustees Budget and Finance Committee in June.