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The Daily OrangeNew policy limits student class options
Budget cuts remove popular electives from fall schedules
By Ryan Balton
Posted: 8/26/08, 2:09 AM EST Section: News
Bongarten and SUNY-ESF's deans and department chairs comprises the Academic Council that responded to the budget cut.
"We have tried to make sure that no student's graduation is delayed," Bongarten said. "There are no restrictions on required courses, and we have tried to retain those things that are essential for a quality education."
Freshmen are the least affected, according to Bongarten. Many SUNY-ESF upperclassmen planned to take the scuba diving physical education course through SU, which he said could be valuable for their fields of study.
An initial round of budget cuts in June prompted SUNY-ESF to teach a few required calculus and chemistry courses that had previously been taught by SU. The current budget cuts will likely be finalized at the end of September or early October, Bongarten said.
"Some students are disappointed, but most have been understanding," Bongarten said, based on the feedback he has heard. "I don't think anybody's happy about it, but I do think the majority of students are understanding about the situation."
SUNY-ESF is eager to take action to reduce the impact the budget cuts have on its students. The course restrictions won't be permanent, Bongarten said, and more advance notice will be given to students about any restrictions in the spring semester.
"One thing that we hope to do is to encourage SU students to take courses at ESF," Bongarten said.
The financial burden of accessory instruction could be alleviated if more SU students take SUNY-ESF courses, because SUNY-ESF pays the difference in course fees, he said.
The college will also look to build external funding to increase its endowment, though a tuition raise is not yet an option for SUNY-ESF. Tuition can only be raised by the state legislature, Bongarten said.
The SUNY central administration and board of trustees are advocating to the state legislature to reverse the budget cuts, according to Bongarten. SUNY-ESF President Cornelius B. Murphy, Jr., serves on a statewide presidents' committee that is providing them information about the impact of the budget cuts.
"I think we all realize that the state subsidies are not likely to increase," Bongarten said. "They're more likely to decrease."
No future cuts have been discussed, Bongarten said.
"It's actually something I don't wish to contemplate."
rsbalton@syr.edu
"We have tried to make sure that no student's graduation is delayed," Bongarten said. "There are no restrictions on required courses, and we have tried to retain those things that are essential for a quality education."
Freshmen are the least affected, according to Bongarten. Many SUNY-ESF upperclassmen planned to take the scuba diving physical education course through SU, which he said could be valuable for their fields of study.
An initial round of budget cuts in June prompted SUNY-ESF to teach a few required calculus and chemistry courses that had previously been taught by SU. The current budget cuts will likely be finalized at the end of September or early October, Bongarten said.
"Some students are disappointed, but most have been understanding," Bongarten said, based on the feedback he has heard. "I don't think anybody's happy about it, but I do think the majority of students are understanding about the situation."
SUNY-ESF is eager to take action to reduce the impact the budget cuts have on its students. The course restrictions won't be permanent, Bongarten said, and more advance notice will be given to students about any restrictions in the spring semester.
"One thing that we hope to do is to encourage SU students to take courses at ESF," Bongarten said.
The financial burden of accessory instruction could be alleviated if more SU students take SUNY-ESF courses, because SUNY-ESF pays the difference in course fees, he said.
The college will also look to build external funding to increase its endowment, though a tuition raise is not yet an option for SUNY-ESF. Tuition can only be raised by the state legislature, Bongarten said.
The SUNY central administration and board of trustees are advocating to the state legislature to reverse the budget cuts, according to Bongarten. SUNY-ESF President Cornelius B. Murphy, Jr., serves on a statewide presidents' committee that is providing them information about the impact of the budget cuts.
"I think we all realize that the state subsidies are not likely to increase," Bongarten said. "They're more likely to decrease."
No future cuts have been discussed, Bongarten said.
"It's actually something I don't wish to contemplate."
rsbalton@syr.edu
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