The chapter’s resolution and my e-mail to the bargaining unit yesterday prompted several e-mails to me in the evening and overnight, and a few have asked why the union chapter isn’t officially recognizing a possibility of budget problems and at least looking at a worst-case scenario. So here is my individual (not chapter) analysis:
Sent to the bargaining unit yesterday (July 6):
Dear colleagues,
Most of you have seen Provost Khator’s e-mails Tuesday and yesterday [see the relevant website for documents] regarding the state university system chancellor’s request for each university to draw up plans to reduce budgets by 10% over the next two years, soliciting faculty and staff input on ways to manage this budget reduction exercise.
Today’s USF chapter meeting of the United Faculty of Florida (the faculty and professional employees union) approved a resolution on the budget crisis, one that is below my signature. The resolution states the chapter’s official position on the state’s threat to reduce university funding in a way that will cut existing programs and services: Cuts to existing programs should be unnecessary, and much of what may be drawn up at the state level may be inconsistent with existing state law regarding budget reductions. I understand that the administration at USF and other universities have to respond to the request of the chancellor for a plan, but there is no need for faculty to panic.