(THE PICKET)—Shepherd University’s Program Board is reacting to a $30,000 budget cut and trying to ensure that students won’t feel the crunch.
The recent cut slashed the Student Affairs budget as part of a series of cuts affecting multiple departments across the university. The cut to Student Affairs was the largest.
“Our hope is the average student won’t see it, or feel it,” said Rachael Meads, director of Student Affairs and Leadership and assistant director of the Student Center. “We don’t want to take [student programs] away because then, in the end, that’s going to hurt your student engagement, it’s going to hurt retention of students, so instead, our goal is to minimize costs in other areas.”
Meads pointed to other areas where the department has cut funds that do not directly affect students, such as professional development, travel and hiring of new administration. She also pointed to the effort of Student Affairs to be more economical in putting on the latest Late Night in the Zone event, citing the Program Board’s cooperation with other departments within the school to put on an Amazing Race event. She said many students left the event satisfied but not suspecting that any less money was spent. “[The budget cuts are] challenging us to be more creative,” Meads said.
“The concern is more of a long-term residual effect, how does this affect the university years down the road,” said Jack Shaw, assistant vice president for Auxiliary Enterprises. “We’ve gone through every line of every budget and identified areas like cell phone usage, travel, office expense… so, the bottom line is for the most part, students won’t feel the effect, and we don’t want students to feel the effect,” Shaw said.
Shaw said he sympathized with students at the university.
“This year’s students don’t deserve to pay the price for what’s happening in the economy and the university. We’re going to have the full schedule of Late Night [programs]. We did have an abbreviated Performing Arts Series this year… but we’re going to have those shows,” he said.
Acknowledging cuts to current programs, Shaw mentioned that the recent Waffle Day went on without the traditional T-shirts, saying the Program Board is trying to “add where they can and save where they can.”
Meads concluded by calling students to action.
“I think the idea that you have a voice, and particularly for West Virginia residents, to make it known that [education is important to you] and the fact that a state-supported school is running on less than 20-percent state support… I think we’re doing pretty well for having that level,” Meads said.