Spring Break
URI looks for ways to combat energy costs, deficit in fiscal year '09
Brenna McCabe
Issue date: 9/9/08 Section: News
09/09/08 - It's been almost a month since the university announced that it would have to take measures to offset rising energy costs and a remaining deficit in the school's budget, but possibilities of a four-day academic week or mid-year tuition increases are still being discussed.
In an interview last month, Vice President of Administration and Finance Robert Weygand said the university has no choice but to lay out all of its options on the table to make up for this year's personnel reduction costs, a $3.1 million increase in workers' benefits, compensation and sick leave, and National Grid's $1.3 million worth of increases.
About $700,000 from unexpected increases in enrollment will offset some of the costs, Weygand said, but it's not enough.
While some University of Rhode Island students think the idea of a four-day academic week in the spring semester would be a well-received move by the university, senior Lauren McKay is not too pleased with the prospect.
"I can see how some people like the idea of a four-day academic week, but I think this is going to make classes longer and cram everything in," she said.
McKay, an English major who hopes to graduate in December, said she's happy she's getting out before she sees that kind of change in the academic schedule, or worse - a mid-year tuition hike, which is also being discussed as an option.
"My friends are livid," she said. "It's already expensive to go to this school. I transferred in from a college in Texas where I went from paying $5,000 a year to $14,000 here."
A four-day academic week would not mean fewer classes offered at URI or a cut in professors' salaries, Weygand said. The option, URI administrators hope, would save them money in operational costs and utilities.
"Will that be enough? Well, that's the kind of thing we have to take a look at when going through our options," Weygand said.
The idea of a four-day academic week cannot be directly credited to URI - colleges like Meridien Community College in Mississippi and Calhoun Community College in Alabama have already taken on the four-day schedule - though both institutions cited gas prices as their incentives.
In an interview last month, Vice President of Administration and Finance Robert Weygand said the university has no choice but to lay out all of its options on the table to make up for this year's personnel reduction costs, a $3.1 million increase in workers' benefits, compensation and sick leave, and National Grid's $1.3 million worth of increases.
About $700,000 from unexpected increases in enrollment will offset some of the costs, Weygand said, but it's not enough.
While some University of Rhode Island students think the idea of a four-day academic week in the spring semester would be a well-received move by the university, senior Lauren McKay is not too pleased with the prospect.
"I can see how some people like the idea of a four-day academic week, but I think this is going to make classes longer and cram everything in," she said.
McKay, an English major who hopes to graduate in December, said she's happy she's getting out before she sees that kind of change in the academic schedule, or worse - a mid-year tuition hike, which is also being discussed as an option.
"My friends are livid," she said. "It's already expensive to go to this school. I transferred in from a college in Texas where I went from paying $5,000 a year to $14,000 here."
A four-day academic week would not mean fewer classes offered at URI or a cut in professors' salaries, Weygand said. The option, URI administrators hope, would save them money in operational costs and utilities.
"Will that be enough? Well, that's the kind of thing we have to take a look at when going through our options," Weygand said.
The idea of a four-day academic week cannot be directly credited to URI - colleges like Meridien Community College in Mississippi and Calhoun Community College in Alabama have already taken on the four-day schedule - though both institutions cited gas prices as their incentives.
