ASUW requests input on budget plan

Written by Wiley Combs

Wednesday, 18 February 2009 18:29

Associated Students of the University of Wyoming President Kelsey Day has asked the ASUW Senate for input regarding a recent budget-planning memorandum she received from University Provost and Vice President Myron Allen. The document “outlines the ground rules, process, format and timeline for conducting the budget planning examination called for in the president’s Jan. 20 memo.”

“It’s a very, very big deal, a very big job for us to take on, and I really need your help on this,” Day said to the ASUW Senate on Tuesday night.

Day is solely responsible for the preparation and delivery of a final 10-page white paper to Allen by the March 13 deadline. Day asked that the senators review the memo and present their views in upcoming weeks.

“Of primary interest is UW’s Section 1 budget—the portion funded mainly by Legislature-authorized General Fund appropriations and tuition,” the memo reads. It sets down a format for the white papers, prepared by the twelve constituency groups directed to develop their own responses. Section one suggests a “three-tier framework for thinking about UW’s expenditures,” including “core elements of UW’s mission,” “high-priority activities that support the core” and “enhancements.”

Day said that Allen will give a presentation in the ASUW Senate Chambers during the senate’s meeting next Tuesday.

Day explained that the process was the result of state and university officials attempting to project a budget in light of a possible economic downturn in Wyoming. “[Its] what we might do, in case we had to reduce—cut back our budgets,” Day said.

She further described the main purpose of the discussion as an attempt to analyze what is important at UW “so that if we are faced with that decision, we’ll be better prepared to deal with it.”

“I’ve asked the senate to help represent the student voice in the drafting of a position paper on what is important to the students and to the university,” Day said.

When asked if a budget cut was likely, Day said, “It’s hard to say. I mean, it could be no budget cut, it could be 5 percent budget cut, it could be 10. It depends on how fast the economy turns around.” Day said that the state’s budget was the ultimate deciding factor in whether or not a reduction would be necessary.

Day suggested that students with input should contact their ASUW Senator to ensure that their opinion is heard.

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