UNews - Town Hall

Town Hall set for Feb. 24

trevor.kenney — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 20:22:16 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge will host another Town Hall event on Wednesday, Feb. 24 at 9 a.m. in the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Theatre.

Hosted by President Dr. Bill Cade, the Town Hall will focus on the implications of the recently released provincial budget on operations at the
U of L. It is the third such Town Hall held with respect to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ budget and will continue the process of disseminating relevant budget information to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ community.

The Town Hall is expected to last from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Town Hall scheduled for Friday

trevor.kenney — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 16:59:10 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge will be hosting a Town Hall Meeting Friday, Oct. 9 to discuss the latest developments regarding the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's budget process.

This is the second all-campus Town Hall, the first being held in the spring in a packed ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Theatre. U of L President Bill Cade, along with Vice-Presidents Nancy Walker (Finance and Administration) and Andy Hakin (Academic) will discuss ongoing and recent developments in the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's budget process, among other topics.

The timing of the Town Hall is particularly important as it comes on the heels of Tuesday's provincial meeting in Edmonton that sees representatives from all of Alberta's post-secondary institutions discuss the status of provincial grant funding for the coming years.

Friday's Town Hall is set for 1 p.m. in the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Theatre. All faculty, staff and students are invited to attend.

Town Hall offered a variety of strong ideas

trevor.kenney — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 22:30:08 +0000

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge President Dr. Bill Cade chats about what's happening in the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ community

I thank those of you who attended the Town Hall meeting last week to discuss the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's 2009-2010 budget and the economic challenges that face post-secondary institutions over the coming years. I am pleased especially that there was such a healthy dialogue about our future because it is essential we have input from all corners of campus as we strive to meet our budgetary goals.

The six per cent increase promised by the provincial government for this year's operating budget (2009-2010) has been approved, however we have been told to expect no increases over the next two years. If that happens, if enrolment levels remain stable and if tuition increases are consistent with recent years, we are still faced with taking $5 million out of the budget next year and an additional $6 million the following year.

There is no way to reach those targets without reducing salary costs. While we have continued to hire staff and do not intend to enact a hiring freeze, replacements that arise out of retirement or through people leaving positions will not be replaced automatically. As well, there is a distinct possibility layoffs will be required to meet budgetary goals.

Keep in mind that all this is based upon a model that could change and one we certainly hope does change for the better.

Despite the challenges, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ is fairly well positioned and it is important we do not become preoccupied with these issues and lose sight of the goals established in the Strategic Plan.

In times such as these, it is essential to look at how we may have become inefficient in what we are doing and how we are delivering our services. We have to ask questions of ourselves as we look to restructure our various departments.

Financial downturns happen; they are a fact of life and something we cannot control. What we can control however is how we approach this challenge, and through imaginative thinking and an open, consultative process I am confident we will meet our budget and continue along the path set by the Strategic Plan.

Things will not come to a halt here at the U of L and to find the greatest example of that, simply look out the window to see how we continue to move forward. Markin Hall appears more impressive every day as it takes shape before our eyes. Meanwhile, the new Sports Stadium Complex is nearing completion and will be a wonderful addition to the southern Alberta sports landscape.

The new stadium speaks to the continued development of a university culture that goes beyond ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ to include the wellness of the body and the ability to go out and unite as one voice to cheer on our teams as they represent the U of L on the field of play. It is a very impressive facility and serves as yet another example of how the City of Lethbridge, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and the provincial government continue to work together to provide services to the people of Alberta.

Some weeks ago the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's Board of Directors held its retreat here at the U of L. Board members spent a night in residence, participated in a fashion show with outfits from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's renowned costume shop and essentially experienced life on campus from the student and staff perspective. It was remarkably successful.

Our directors are extremely dedicated to the institution but at the same time, they rarely have the opportunity to see the U of L as it really is, and this retreat provided that look. I believe it brought home the notion that the many decisions they make at the board level lead to tangible results, such as Markin Hall, new science labs and the Sports Stadium Complex. It was a very valuable and enlightening exercise.

Summer is upon us and I would like to wish personally a wonderful break to everyone in the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ community. Enjoy the long summer days and I look forward to seeing everyone refreshed and renewed for the fall semester.

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ budget coping with the "perfect storm"

trevor.kenney — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 22:24:40 +0000

Faced with what ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge officials describe as a 'perfect storm' of financial challenges, members of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ community are being asked to re-examine the way they do business to address a significant budget shortfall in coming years.

As described at a recent Town Hall meeting, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ is currently operating within its approved budget for 2009 – 2010, which is $147.5 million and includes a six per cent operating grant increase from the Alberta government – but that money only goes to support the current fiscal year of operations while the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, and other affected educational institutions across the province, formulate plans to address deficits expected in future years.

"The government has indicated that there will be no grant increases for the 2010–2011 or the 2011-2012 budget year," Karen Clearwater, associate vice-president, financial planning, says.

"We are also faced with declining investment earnings because of the changes to the national and international economy, as well as static enrolment levels and the combined effects of provincial salary settlements with our union and faculty association. These factors come together to see the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ facing up to $5 million budget shortfall in 2010-2011, and an additional $6 million shortfall in 2011-2012."

Clearwater says the looming question, of course, is how to deal with a deficit and maintain services to the campus community?

"Since early January of this year, we've been preparing for the next two years as part of our regular budget planning process. The Board approves a three-year 'rolling budget' so we know in advance if there are any challenges facing us.

"In this case, the challenge is very large, and even with one year of advance notice it puts a real sense of urgency to our next two years of budgeting."

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ is required by law to present a balanced budget, so over the next two years budget reductions are expected to be 4.3 per cent and 5.6 per cent. Over the past few months Clearwater says ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ officials have been meeting with executives of AUPE, the Faculty Association and other employee groups on campus to inform them of the challenges and to provide information to share with their front-line employees.

"Those meetings are continuing, and meetings such as the Town Hall are designed to encourage people to learn more about how this budget process works, and to offer us any suggestions they can think of as to how we can do business differently, and where we can achieve cost savings or revenue generation," Clearwater explains.

Clearwater says the Board of Governors has requested preliminary budget scenarios prepared for September 2009, at which time they will be assessed.

"Just because we've asked for a reduction in a particular area doesn't mean we'll make it if there is some adverse affect to the operation of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ or our services to students," Clearwater says.

"We will continue to invest in strategic areas that support our sustainability and student population and we have a three-stage plan that we are working with to bring some consistency to this process. First of all, we are asking all units to create their own three-year budget plans, with these reductions factored in, so all our planning is consistent with the request brought to us by the Board of Governors. Secondly, we move into to what we are referring to as 'university mitigation'. That means position reductions through retirements, attrition or not filling vacancies, and realizing savings and revenue generation from university-wide ideas. Finally, we would move to reduce the budget shortfall – and after a thorough review – by asking units to reduce their budgets through reductions to positions, programs or non-essential services."

Clearwater reinforced the concept of asking for input from all areas of the university community as a way to examine not just the numbers, but the process by which the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ spends money and generates revenue.

"We know that information flows in many different directions on campus, and we are very interested in hearing from people at all levels of the university community. When you have a situation forced on you by circumstances that are out of your control, it makes people think differently. We all have a lot at stake here, and we all want to ensure that the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ can be a sustainable place for not only our students but our employees."

People with ideas can submit them to Karen Clearwater directly through interoffice mail (anonymous submissions are welcome) or e-mail at clearwaterk@uleth.ca.

Town Hall packs ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Theatre

trevor.kenney — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 16:05:11 +0000

The hard reality of shrinking government grant money, combined with a struggling economy and declining numbers of post-secondary students was spelled out Thursday as the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge held a Town Hall meeting in its ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Theatre.

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ President, Dr. Bill Cade, was assisted by Vice-President (Academic) and Provost, Dr. Andy Hakin and Vice-President (Finance and Administration), Nancy Walker, as they presented the budgetary issues facing the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ over the next three years.

Hakin described a "perfect storm" of factors that have come together to force the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ to address what is expected to be a budgetary shortfall in the years 2010-2011 and 2011-2012. Operating grant increases from the Government of Alberta are not expected beyond the 2009-2010 budget year, meaning the U of L forecasts cutting its budget by $5 million and $6 million respectively in the ensuing years.

"Some of these factors are not within our control and yet as a community, we must deal with them," said Hakin. "We, as the community of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, must find a way forward."

The meeting was extremely well attended, filling the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Theatre and most of the overflow seating established on the floor of the stage. Following addresses by Cade, Hakin and Walker, who presented the financial picture with a PowerPoint presentation, the meeting was opened for questions and suggestions from the floor.

Among the issues discussed were the possibility of layoffs and whether every unit of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ was under review, including senior administration. Cade assured that every unit would be treated equally and be under the same scrutiny should downsizing be necessary.

Questions continued around the areas of student recruitment, the role of the U of L's Calgary and Edmonton campuses, the possibility that early retirement packages may be offered and whether the issue of student housing was a priority to better attract and retain students.

Cade concluded the meeting by assuring the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ community that the institution was not facing a financial emergency, rather it was planning for the future and enlisting the ideas of its faculty and staff to best cope with the realities of a tough economy. He also indicated continued town hall-style meetings would follow as the year progressed.

Town Hall meeting to discuss budget

trevor.kenney — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 15:19:59 +0000

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge President, Dr. Bill Cade, will be holding a Town Hall Meeting, Thursday, June 11, to discuss the U of L's 2009-2010 budget.

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ community is urged to attend the Town Hall, 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. in the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Theatre, as Cade will outline challenges facing post-secondary education in the next year and for years to follow. This is an opportunity to gain a full understanding of the financial picture facing the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ as well as strategies to meet the growing demands on post-secondary education in a difficult economic climate.

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