Chancellor's Communication
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August 5, 2009
Dear Colleagues:
On Tuesday evening, I presented to the Board of Trustees the district's strategies to close the $16.5 million budget deficit we face this year. As I shared with the Board, identifying budget cuts of this magnitude was very difficult. Difficult because the reductions affect real people (our employees and our students).
The Board understands that we face a pressing problem. If we hadn't taken action, the deficit would have continued to grow. During my presentation, I talked about how we had frozen hiring and travel, how the campuses had identified class sections to cut in order to reduce the economic weight of unfunded FTES, and how every operational area in the district--including the Board and Chancellor's Office--had shared the burden through budget cuts.
By taking action now, we were able to close the budget deficit for this year. However, I shared with the Board that as an educator I took absolutely no joy in the ways we were forced to do so.
Riverside Community College District is one of the finest two-year higher education institutions in the nation. We exist to serve students. Yet the section reductions will impact students. We are a teaching institution. Yet our adjunct faculty, who work extremely hard on our students' behalf, will be among the hardest hit by the budget cuts. I don't like those facts. I wish they were different. But in order for us to be in a stable position to move forward, we have to deal in realities.
It is important for faculty, staff, students, and the public to understand that we approached the budget reductions as fairly and equitably as possible given the significant time constraints. Campus presidents consulted with their administrative teams and faculty chairs in order to surgically remove sections in such a way as to limit the effects on a student’s academic progress towards a degree, certificate or transfer. Operational cuts were kept as far away from the classroom as possible, and we did not have to lay off or furlough any full-time employees.
One of the issues I talked about at length (and, indeed, was mentioned by Board members and faculty representatives) was how to best move forward in a strategic and inclusive way. With this year's immediate deficit problem dealt with, we are eager to expand the level of dialogue, involving even more faculty, staff, students, and Board members in budget planning.
My goal is for RCCD to end the 2009/10 year as a stronger, more collegial, and more successful institution. We can only accomplish that if we are on the "same page"when it comes to budget issues. We may still disagree on certain matters, but at least we will come at the problem from the same base of knowledge and understanding. In that spirit, I have attached the most comprehensive chart in my presentation to the Board; many Board members and several faculty said it is one of the most detailed looks at the budget and budget cuts they have ever seen. You can find my full presentation to the Board at the RCCD Budget Watch website,.
I plan to communicate with the college community about the budget on a regular basis as we move through the academic year. I welcome your comments and questions.
Greg Gray
Chancellor