RADFORD – Radford University President Penelope W. Kyle and Provost Wil Stanton hosted a forum Thursday in Bondurant Auditorium to discuss the past, present and future budget plans for the university. The forum began at 3:30 p.m. and ended at 5:15 p.m., with approximately 35 questions being answered by Kyle; Stanton; Catherine Greenberg, vice president of University Advancement; Joey Sword, director of Human Resources; Eugene Carson, university registrar; and Lisa Ridpath, director of university budget. (View a video of President Kyle's budget presentation.)

Kyle opened the forum with an overview of the budget cuts that were mandated in December by Governor Tim Kaine in response to the commonwealth’s projected $2.9 billion shortfall in its biennial budget for the fiscal years 2008-09 and 2009-10. Kyle explained that the educational and general (E&G) General Fund allocated to RU for fiscal year 2007-08 was $52 million; the projected E&G General Fund for fiscal year 2008-09 is expected to be $49.6 million, while the projected E&G General Fund for fiscal year 2009-10 is $44.6 million. Personnel costs account for 76.5 percent of 2008-09 expenses. (IN THE PHOTO: President Kyle addresses the crowd at Thursday's forum.)

On Feb. 28, the Virginia General Assembly adjourned and, in addition to the total 15 percent reduction in RU’s E&G General Fund operating budget, allocated $5.5 million in federal stimulus money to RU for the fiscal year 2009-10. According to Kyle, the funds are expected to be temporary and mitigate the need to raise tuition and fees for in-state students. RU’s six-year plan projects a 6.7 percent increase in tuition for in-state undergraduate students. No federal stimulus money will be provided for the 2011-12 fiscal year.

During the forum, Kyle announced that outlying positions, which constitute classified staff that were found last year to fall 80 percent below target salary, will be brought up to the recommended salary range.

Kyle said that the RU administration is in the process of creating a budget proposal to present to the Board of Visitors during its April 22-23 meeting. The administration continues to streamline and reorganize positions that are vacant in an effort to avoid as many layoffs as possible, she said, but specifics will not be finalized until after the board meeting.

At the end of the forum, Stanton announced that a separate academic program review forum would be held once the program review process is complete.

The campus community is invited to share budget views and ideas online at http://provost.radford.edu/budget_ideas/. All suggestions must be submitted by Wednesday, April 15. The data will be collected and reviewed by the Office of Institutional Research. Suggestions will be shared with appropriate individuals and will be given full consideration during planning efforts.