Managing an 8% student affairs budget cut through leadership and strategic planning

Student Affairs Budget Cuts

"Hello, Glad to see you folks. That is a nice outfit it looks good on you etc.. etc.….Student affairs is an integral part of the higher education process and it means a lot to me and the university. Receiving the information that 8% of the annual budget for Student Affairs office is being cut, has presented a new challenge that will use all of my leadership and political knowhow in order to succeed. Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule and helping me today…. The purpose of this presentation is to describe my plan to manage this cut as the director of the Student Affairs Office. In this presentation I will list the important actions that need to be taken in order for this office to sustain its mission.

Current Situation

"Hers my staff. All of them are pretty good and I don't' want any of them to go, nor feel that any of them have to go despite the cutback…."

Staff members

Admin Assistant

Grad Asst

Describe the current budget and the boundaries that are associated with each cut:

"The budget is being cut 8%...a significant but not devastating number.."

Describe the options that are available: "It will take a team effort but as long as a strong leadership presence is maintained, we should make it through with little problem…."

Rank order objectives:"First objective is to maintain current levels of staff. Second objective is to convene to decide what can be cut. Third objective is to enjoy the challenge and learn everything we can "

The Importance of Student Affairs

Areas of Competence For SA Professionals

" ..student affairs scans multiple disciplines and affects people at a variety of levels here is a list of what this office does:

Advising and Helping

Assessment, Evaluation and Research

Equity Diversity and Inclusion

Ethical Professional Practice

History, Philosophy and Values

Human and Organizational Resources

Law, Policy, and Governance

Leadership

Personal Foundations

Student Learning and Development

Determining the Specific Needs of the Situation

-In order to best understand the situation, certain areas of competency are to be emphasized while others more ignored. " It is important to have a clear idea on what are strategy is and make sure that is aligned with the greater strategy of the organization….."

Include the Group

In order to gain a full appreciation of what resources are available to be cut or eliminated it will take a total team effort. Allowing the members of the team to add their important and subjective opinion during these cuts will help in maintaining a team environment throughout this rough process.

To Cut or not To Cut?:" Essentially it is important what can be cut and what cannot…"

"….There is not enough information to suggest that any member of my staff will need to be cut. 8% is not an unmanageable number to overcome and working for a public institution requires occasional sacrifices for the greater collective good.

In the unlikely case of having to cut back staff, a hierarchy as been established that denotes who will go first and so on:

1. Grad Student

2. Admin Asst.

3. Prof 1

4. Prof 2

5. Me.