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Budget Resource Center: FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
How severe is UCF’s budget situation?
Since July 2007, state-mandated cuts have removed $77.2 million from our budget, including a cut of $38.3 million on July 1, 2009. That represents a 27 percent cut in our recurring state support.
To put it another way: UCF endured a budget cut of more than $100,000 every day from July 2007 to July 2009.
What actions did Board of Trustees approve?
Once the magnitude of the state’s budget cuts became clear, UCF’s leadership team determined that we could not sustain more across-the-board cuts to our academic programs without hurting all of our faculty members, staff members, and students. We evaluated all of our programs carefully, with the goal of preserving the university’s core educational and research programs while minimizing the impact on our students.
The university will eliminate Cardiopulmonary Sciences and Radiologic Sciences (College of Health and Public Affairs), Engineering Technology (College of Engineering & Computer Science) and Management Information Systems (College of Business Administration.) Actuarial Sciences in the College of Sciences will be suspended.
About 32 faculty members and eight staff members are affected by the eliminations*. More than 1,000 students also are affected.
* These figures have changed since the original announcement and could change again. Reasons for the change include the addition of outside contract positions associated with programs that were eliminated, as well as the subtraction of employees who relocated to other positions inside UCF and are no longer being laid off.
Are any other areas affected?
The budget cut also will impact university administrative programs: a 2.5 percent cut will be phased in to the administrative budget. That percentage is the same overall cut that the program eliminations represent to UCF’s academic budget.
What steps has UCF taken to save money before eliminating programs?
During these difficult times, UCF’s faculty and staff members have made tremendous efforts to maintain the university’s level of excellence, and students have benefited as a result of these sacrifices and contributions. For example, we have not filled vacant positions, and we are conserving energy and reducing travel and other expenses that are not absolutely necessary.
Also, the university emphasizes administrative efficiency, and we are tops in that regard. State figures show UCF spends about 30 percent less than the state university average on administrative expenses known as “indirect costs.”
Indirect costs measure money spent on areas not directly related to student learning. The lower the total, the more efficient you are. UCF has the lowest indirect costs in the state at $109.70 per student credit hour; the state average is $152.24 per student credit hour.
Couldn’t UCF delay some construction projects to save enough money to protect jobs?
UCF construction projects are funded by various sources of non-recurring money that cannot be spent on salaries or other expenses for academic programs. Delaying the construction of new buildings would not free up money for our academic programs.
How long will the eliminated programs remain in operation?
The programs will be phased out by the spring of 2011.
All affected faculty members and staff members received at least two semesters’ notice of layoff, meaning they will remain employed through the end of the spring 2010 semester. In addition, many faculty and staff members have been provided continued employment until the end of the spring 2011 semester, in order to help the remaining students complete their degrees.
To ensure that courses and faculty members are available to accommodate students in affected programs, a “teach out” plan has been developed.
For information about benefits and recall rights for affected employees, visit the Human Resources Web site at www.hr.ucf.edu. The HR Employee Assistance Program also provides helpful information.
How is UCF helping students in the affected programs either graduate or find another program that suits their interests or needs?
UCF is committed to helping undergraduates who are within 36 credit hours of completing courses in their major to finish their degrees. Faculty members and advisors in the affected colleges will help those students complete the courses in their major and graduate by spring 2011. Undergraduates who require more credit hours to graduate will have the option of shifting to similar programs at UCF, or, where possible, they can transfer to another institution with UCF’s assistance.
Undergraduates in a cohort program will be able to complete their degrees by successfully completing their courses in sequence, but they, too, must complete their degree by the end of the spring 2011 semester.
Master’s students who have completed 50 percent of their coursework, or who were enrolled full-time in fall 2008 or spring 2009 and plan to continue to enroll full-time, should be able to finish their degree programs by the end of the spring 2011 semester.
Our administrators, faculty members, and advisors will help graduate students determine whether they can finish their programs and either help them accomplish that objective, shift to a similar program at UCF or transfer to another institution.
Will there be more layoffs or program cuts?
If the state makes additional cuts, then the university may need to take additional actions. We will keep you informed about developments related to the state budget.
What are the chances of programs being restored later?
Under expected conditions, that is highly unlikely.
Updated October 2009
