Centralight

Building for the future Recognizing projected budgetary reductions, budget challenges requires CMU to be ever vigilant and creative," says Wilbur. "I have asked the Senior Staff Budget Advisory Group to re-engage and study university operations to identify ways we can become more effi cient and cost-sensitive and to identify new revenue sources as well." In conjunction with these eff orts, the group solicited suggestions from faculty, staff and students via a Web site to engage the campus community in the budgeting process. Possible budgetary reductions being considered include hiring restrictions, furloughs, salary concessions and travel restrictions, says Wilbur. Further tuition increases and reducing the number of class sections off ered also may be considered. To date, because of careful budget planning, CMU has been able to minimize any negative eff ects on students' academic experiences to this point. "So far, we have had great success in putting up a fi rewall between budget reductions and the impact on students," says Wilbur. "As an example, we have maintained our small class size, which is important to students when they're considering which university to attend." However, maintaining CMU's record enrollment on campus will become an added concern in this economic crisis, as the number of high school seniors in the centralight spring '10 25 state and throughout the Midwest is decreasing. "Enrollment is always on people's minds when considering the long term for CMU," says Wilbur. "I am confi dent that CMU can make the case to high school students that this is where they should study and graduate from. But the declining number of those Michigan high school students makes it more challenging in the future." But Wilbur says eff orts will be made to maintain and protect CMU's smaller class sizes and high-quality educational experience for students. "We always strive to preserve our level of academic excellence, because that's our integrity, that's our brand, that's what we do and do very well." • CMU remains committed to key capital projects, including the expansion of the Health Professions Building to house the School of Medicine, to be opened in 2012, and renovations to the Events Center, Ronan Hall and the Bovee University Center. All of these projects, Wilbur says, require private fundraising and will draw upon CMU's restricted funds that have been set aside specifi cally for building maintenance, renovation and construction. Wilbur also stresses that these projects are necessary to maintain a high level of enrollment and academic excellence. When parents and students are touring campus, she says, they want to know if CMU is "an environment where the education needed today can be carried out." "Because of that," Wilbur continues, "you need new buildings, you need renovated buildings that are state-of-the-art, that are fully mediated, and you need new academic programs. Those are long-term, strategic investments for the future of CMU." • PHOTO BY ROBERT BARCLAY PHOTOS BY PEGGY BRISBANE

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