Reduce and in some instances eliminate travel. Is travel and/or conference sites being used as an ability to take family members on a vacation?
Use our resources. We have an educated university community utilize them as guest speakers before paying to bring in an outside party for a speaking engagement on campus.
Eliminate costly department retreats.
Eliminate costly landscaping. Again, utilize our resources, thin and transplant.
Temporary office remodeling. If we are moving an office or a department due to remodeling or building upgrades, why are we remodeling the temporary location? If it is not a permanent move, work with what we have.
Lastly, autoflush toilets do not save water! They will flush if the wind blows.
The use of trays should be eliminated in the dining halls. Water usage would go down thereby saving resources and money. This would also help limit the amount of food that is wasted, saving money. Not using trays is also an environmentally friendly effort to reduce cost. I realize that this was tried last year and many complaints were received...god forbid people need to make more than one trip. Trays have been eliminated successfully at other college campuses. They are a convenience not a necessity.
Overtime freeze ought to be on everyone’s minds for immediate and substantial savings.
Suggestion 1: Four-day work weeks would be well received. It wouldn't work for classes, but it might for administrative offices, or summers.
Suggestion 2: Take a hard look at contracts for things that provide niceties, but not necessities. Bottled water and decorative plant maintenance are two that I am aware of in this category, and there's bound to be others. None will likely make a huge difference but cumulatively they will help.
Suggestion 3: As SRU isn't the only one with budget concerns, PASSHE should invest in electronic meeting systems. Reducing the number of trips to Hsbg or other PASSHE campuses would save huge amounts in travel costs. Additionally, the time previously spent on the road would be used more productively back on campus. Web meetings or whatever they may be called would take some getting used to, but over time, folks would adapt.
Suggestion 4: Has anyone taken a look at what other PASSHE institutions are doing, or other state systems, facing the same challenges? Thanks for asking, and listening.
Re-consider the RLA. How much is the facility used & for what gain? If a major intent is for leasing to gain revenue, perhaps consider a higher rental cost for those organizations actually utilizing the space.
Look at sites (although somewhat dated) such as this:
http://www.universitybusiness.com/viewarticle.aspx?articleid=623&p=2#0. We are generating similar ideas.
I think there are several ways to make adjustments for the budget change. I agree with the printing on campus, that it should be regulated. We are paying way to much for ink and paper for it to be wasted and we are paying at the cost of the environment. I dont think hours at the library should be cut because this is an academic institution and not having it available to students negates the reason we are here. However, I think it should be open only 1st floor so the other levels can keep the lights out, computers off and fewer staff. Freshman should have to pay a significant amount more for a parking pass. #1 i dont think they should be allowed a parking pass at all #2 it would help avoid SRU being a suitcase campus #3 I am from out of state, didnt have a car freshman year, had a job and had fun on weekends and did just fine without a car. Environmentally friendly additons to campus buildings will help cut cost significantly and reduce our campus footprint.
Suggestion one: Eliminate all travel funds; ie professional development funds for a set number of years, except those needed to attend Harrisburg Meetings. Make the Harrisburg meetings web-based to reduce traveling. The idea that professional development is limited to National Conference attendance is absurd. Many of those that attend conferences barely even make it to the conference except to check-in and grab some "See, I was there handouts."
Suggestion Two: Outsource the custodial responsibilities of the New Residence Halls. This is a huge waste of resources and could be done at a more reasonable wage.
Suggestions Three: Eliminate the tuition waiver for employees with less than X years of service.
Suggestion Four: Sell alcohol permits on-campus for a source of income. Make students/alumni/faculty/staff register parties and social gatherings. Students should be able to register parties with a common source of alcohol as long as an invite list is provided and monitored.
Suggestion Five: Increase the fine for alcohol violations on/off campus.
Suggestion Six: Reduce redundant services. Eliminate positions that repeat the same services/programs.
Suggestion Seven: Eliminate all overtime - all time in addition to set hours is converted to comp. time.
Suggestions Eight: Reduce mailings to a minimum or eliminate all together. Text or email important information to students and parents.
Suggestion Nine: Convert Rocky's/basement of the U.U. to a bar/nightclub. Include some games of chance. The students have this money to spend off campus...let's keep it on-campus.
Suggestion Ten: Eliminate Mondays or Fridays. Move to 4 - 10hr days. The cost savings would be in the reduction of utilities and resources used. Make Monday, Wednesday, or Wednesday, Friday Classes the same length as Tuesday Thursday classes to compensate for in-class instruction time. In addition eliminate night classes to save on energy bills. Some thoughts to consider :)