03/11/2015
Lets consider meeting with representatives from the state government in Bulber Auditorium (3-5 PM). I strongly encourage you to attend, as these cuts directly affect your education.
If you are not aware, higher education state wide has had its budget cut each year since 2008. At first, the University was able to draw on its existing resources to offset most of the cuts, but the cuts in subsequent years have had progressively worse consequences. None of the faculty have had raises since 2008, we are no longer able to higher part time instructors, we cannot replace faculty that leave, we cannot replace academic support staff who leave (like departmental administrative assistants), we cannot replace core administration (like our registrar, who recently left). Bear in mind, this reflects *current* funding for higher education - the governor is considering further cuts that *start* at $211 million, and have been projected as high as $500 million. There is a very real chance that this will cause university closures (for instance, some of the other colleges in the ULS system have been on the bubble for several years), and will profoundly impact McNeese, as it is causing a number of faculty to explore career options in other states (myself included). We will not be replaced, meaning that there will not be faculty to teach the courses you need to graduate.
The university is facing a real crisis, and you need to know where things stand and get your legislature to fight for you. The meeting today is the second of two (the first was two weeks ago, and I e-mailed everyone then), and the legislators who are attending are the people who will be defending us in the legislative session beginning in April. They need to hear from you.
I hope to see you there.
Source: Professor Matthew A. Butkus, PhD
