College deans consider different options for dealing with cuts
In January, administrators, deans and faculty of Utah State University were asked what they would do in the case of increased budget cuts.
John DeVilbiss, spokesman of USU, said, “President Hall told deans that academics comes first, and do all that you can to protect programs.”
Gerry Giordano, dean of the College of Education, said he will not cut programs, reduce class sizes or cut services.
“It would be unacceptable to us,” he said.
The College of Education will cut back on phone lines, faculty travel, additional support and photo copying, Giordano said.
Noelle Cockett, dean of the College of Agriculture, said she was not ready to unfold her plans, because she would like her staff to hear about them first.
Some generic plans, Cockett said, are to cut some programs and transfer them to other units.
There may also be some reductions in staff and in the number of graduate assistants, she said.
“The programs that might be cut would still be available, but not from USU,” Cockett said.
The dean of Engineering, Scott Hinton, said the college is not big enough to do everything.
Students are concerned about the industrial technology programs in the college that are being cut.
One of the programs, welding, is only one of four programs in the United States.
Hinton said, “Welding is a small program.”
The programs will be moved to Weber State University, because “Utah State is not a technology school,” he said.
Hinton said he received input from all department heads and faculty about his plans to remove the programs.
DeVilbiss said the final plan for budget cuts will be made near the second week of March.
–lindseyp@cc.usu.edu