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Show 0. Box 1327 ' alb Like tfity, Utah . President Camahan. reviews needs at SUSIC The unique rold of Southern Utah State College in the state's system of higher education will be emphasized by the administration in their efforts to get their "fair share" of funding through the Utah Legislature. Orville Carnahan, president of SUSC, identified in an interview Monday some of the problems that current proposals would impose on the college. The Governor's budget proposal recommends a faculty and staff salary increase of slightly more than 12 percent, but because of the four percent base budget cut, and the way that the figures are manipulated,"we are being given only enough money for an eight percent salary increase. Then the Governor is recommending that the Legislature mandate the 12 percent increase; thus, forcing us as a college to cut and deploy programs nd personnel to pay the mandated salary increase." Duel Hardship That mandate places two particular hardships on SUSC, Carnahan states. "Since the major emphasis on the request for reduction is being placed on personnel, it further complicates the program at SUSC where programs are already at a minimum to provide a true liberal arts program," Carnahan suggested. "SUSC is charged by the Board of Regents to operate a liberal arts college. In order to honestly say we are a liberal arts college, we must offer course work in a variety of ' educational fields and disciplines," the president points out. "If we are forced to drop some of the programs identified as low producing, we will no longer have a comprehensive enough variety to claim that we are, in fact, a liberal arts college-that could result in discouragement for students to attend SUSC and affect enrollment," he suggested. Four Year History In 1965 the Legislature authorized the four-year program and allocated $156,000 for implementation of the upper division programs. Over the 15 years since that authorization there has not been enough money to strengthen these programs to the point where they could survive the kind of cuts being mandated by the Governor and by the Board of Regents stated Carnahan. "Since our programs are at an absolute minimum now it would be disasterous to implement the cuts that are being suggested. Some in- ' stitutions may have a large enough enrollment and large enough department that a four percent cut of this nature is easy to absorb. That is not the case at SUSC and unlike the two-year institutions the cut in upper division areas has a much more dramatic impact on SUSC,"President Carnahan said. "On a straight line across-the-board cut of all budget lines, we would have to make a total cut of $219,000 according ac-cording to the Regents, $245,000 according ac-cording to the Governor's Office, and $205,000 based on a Legislative analyist's calculation," said the president. Building Needs In another area of concern the President feels that one of the critical needs of SUSC is office space. The present administration building was cut back to meet existing funding at the time of its construction and $400,000 would be needed to complete the Administration Building. At the present time the addition is not on the list of priorities as provided by the state building board. The only item on the capital improvement list is AR & I funds-alterations, repairs and improvements. Other capital improvement needs that the college will face in the near future are the development of special instructional space for such programs as the behavioral science and family life programs. Still into the future are general classroom needs to allow expansion to 2500. Also defined as a capital improvement im-provement need is a new student center but funds for such a facility would have to come from sources other than the Legislature since it is not an instructional facility. However, plans are being made for such a program Carnahan said. Eliminate Programs If cuts in programs become necessary at the conclusion of the legislative .session some priorities have been 'established by the administration ad-ministration .President Carnahan suggested. One of the options, after reducing a inumber of material needs, travel expenses, etc., would be in the academic levels. Potentially it could mean the elimination of the College of Extended and Continuing Education, community education and outreach programs. A potential savings of $37,000 would be realized, Carnahan suggested. That reduction in programs would eliminate programs now ' being offered in other communities com-munities such as Richfield and Panguitch. Otherwise the rationale is that ; cuts would have to be made in, ongoing programs on campus. SUSC Future Aside from the financial needs currently being addressed to the Legislature, President Carnahan sees continued growth at SUSC. "Ideally I would like to see the college grow to 2500 students, but in the future-the mid 1980'sI forsee a growth pattern that will be faster than I would like," Carnahan stated. In the short run the president would like to see a continual five to ten percent growth but by 1985 the increase in-crease in graduating high school students indicates that we may see a growth pattern greater than we would like, he said. With the potential of the MX Missile and other developments we could be looking at an enrollment of from 3500 to 5000 by 1990, President Carnahan projected. As to the emphasis the president feels that the technical aspects of sophisticated technology would be required in developing programs, but, he also sees the need for people with degrees as increasing in the 1985 to 1990 period. |