Rosenberg addresses cuts in video

By Lauren Rovira/Staff Writer

The 2011-2012 school year came riddled with financial difficulties that affected every part of the University.

On March 30, President Mark B. Rosenberg sent out an email addressing the budget cuts, and the University’s year-long efforts to seek out solutions for the troubles the institution has been facing.

The basis of the financial shortcomings exists in the $24 million that were cut from the University’s budget by the state legislature.

This has been the largest budget cut to date, but according to Rosenberg, “[the] state legislature has promised us that the funding will be restored to us for next year.”

The University has brought reserves forward to cover for the one-time budget cut. The remainder was made up for by raising tuition as is called for by the state legislature.

Among the efforts the University has put into effect, are measures to improve efficiency.

Rosenberg states in the video that we are currently ranked first among all the public universities in the state in terms of energy efficiency.

“We are currently spending about $11 million on utilities on an annual basis, and if we weren’t ranked number one,” he said, “if we were just managing our energy efficiency at an average level we would be spending double that.”

The University has invested in expanding online education to reduce the strain on the facilities as part of this plan.

However optimistic Rosenberg was about the course the University has taken thus far, he did acknowledge in the video that should the legislature not restore funding as promised, the five year World’s Ahead Plan will need to be seriously reconsidered.

Until then, the University will proceed as planned.

The legislature did grant $1 million to the College of Medicine to continue on the process toward full accreditation and enroll its first full class for 2012-2013.

The University will also be hiring approximately 110 new faculty members and continue on its expansive admissions plan.

Currently, there are several building projects in the works.

The construction site in the north of campus near Parking Garage Five will house graduate science classrooms. Within the next few months, another site will be developed that will be home to the school of Social Work and Public Health as well as the International Hurricane Center.

Additionally, a new residence hall and a Student Support Complex are also on the plans.

Student opinion varies on the subject of the continued expansion of the University.

Christopher Caproni, senior studying philosophy said, “I think it’s kind of tough to understand the massive building projects alongside the budget cuts and ‘cries of poverty’ from the administration.”

“I feel like FIU seems to be overextending, particularly as of late, in a particularly tumultuous economic environment,” he said.

On the other hand, Audrey Salbo, senior studying international relations said, “Well, I approve of what I’ve seen thus far. Expanding FIU has definitely been a plus since it has attracted a lot more students from all over the country.”

However, although Salbo agrees with the plans as she made clear, she also said, “if expanding FIU means increasing tuition, I don’t think they should go ahead with the plan.”

“FIU, as we stand today has significant momentum,” Rosenberg said. “[We] have significant capability to withstand the short-term challenges that are presented by this state’s budgetary appropriation.”

Rosenberg closed in advising of an upcoming town hall meeting which has been scheduled for 2:00 p.m. on May 2, in the MARC Pavilion on the Modesto Maidique Campus.