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ECU plans to trim top jobs
By Josh Humphries
The Daily Reflector
Thursday, September 03, 2009
Officials at East Carolina are continuing with plans to cut administrative and executive positions at the university in response to state funding cuts and the goals of the ECU Board of Trustees.
Earlier this week, University of North Carolina System President Erskine Bowles met with the chancellors of the 16 UNC universities to discuss plans to make administrative cuts.
Expecting less state funding from the General Assembly for the next two years, officials at ECU have been planning for a year to trim administrative positions at the direction of both the UNC General Administration and the ECU Board of Trustees, said Kevin Seitz, vice chancellor for administration and finance.
About $9 million of the total $19 million reduction in funding from the state will come from administrative positions and centers and institutes.
ECU's exact plans for those trims are under review by the UNC General Administration, as are the plans from all other public universities in the state, Seitz said.
The $19 million from the General Assembly cuts into four categories: tuition waivers, specific programs designated by the state, administrative cuts and continuation funding that pays for things such as inflation in electricity bills and increased library costs at ECU.
"We don't have the final numbers for administrative cuts, but it will be one of the most significant areas," Seitz said. "It is what Erskine wants from a GA perspective and what the Board of Trustees wants."
Since ECU has been planning for these cuts for a year, officials believe that they will be able to make the cuts without having to lay off permanent workers, though some fixed-term contracts may not be renewed, Seitz said.
"We are hoping that we are going to be able to make this without having to have anyone lose their position," he said.
"We are trying to make it with vacant positions, which we have been saving up for a year now."
Since Chancellor Steve Ballard joined ECU five years ago, executive and administrative jobs have decreased by 35.6 percent, total employment has increased by 18 percent, and student enrollment has increased by 21.6 percent.
Officials at ECU have increased funding that directly contributes to the academic core missions of the university for things such as instruction, research, academic support and financial aid by 41.5 percent during the last five years.
"ECU has never had the luxury of administrative excess," Ballard wrote in a note on ECU's Web site in response to accusations of administrative bloat in the UNC system.
"Over the last year, we cut administrative positions first, with the result that only 2 percent of our total budget cut came from the academic core."
UNC General Administration is reviewing plans submitted by the 16 campuses to cut administrative positions and will be in contact with ECU officials regarding the future of those positions, Seitz said.
Contact Josh Humphries at jhumphries@coxnc.com or (252) 329-9565.
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Your comments
ECUAlumnus
09/03/2009 09:18:40 PM
Essentially what they've done is left vacant positions unfilled, divided the work among the remaining staff members, and failed to raise our salaries in response to our increased duties. Tenure also effects staff members, in way. There are secretaries at the University making more than people with advanced degrees due to ther length of employment. The system is broken, plain and simple.
Suggest removalA little jealous?
09/03/2009 04:42:32 PM
You guys are just mad because you aren't as talented as heart surgeon Chitwood and football coach Holtz. When your talents benefit others, it should be rewarded... show them the money!
Suggest removalTo Dr. C
09/03/2009 04:40:36 PM
Ok... have you looked at Dr. C's vitae? He doesn't just perform surgeries- not to mention he trained most of those surgeons you speak of- he has performed the first robotic heart surgeries in over 10 countries! The man is a genious... I'm surprised he's even here, but he is the reason for PCMH Heart Center.
Suggest removalDr. C
09/03/2009 04:20:04 PM
Chitwood still earns about 1 million dollars a year (check the state payroll). That is a lot more than any other physician here, and there are many, many, great surgeons at ECU (and elsewhere) that make half of what he does, and still do a fantastic job. If Chitwood left ECU, that would be a large salary that NC wouldn't have to pay, and Eastern NC patients would still continue to go to PCMH.
Suggest removaltenure
09/03/2009 03:59:40 PM
Tenure is the root of all evil in universities from high salaries, to unproductive professors, to elitists, to discrimination, to top heavy administration, to old professors who should get out of the way for new blood.
Suggest removalYou look at the problems in todays universities and you will see that tenure in one shape or form is the root of the problem.IT MUST BE ELIMINATED....
ECU Alum
09/03/2009 02:53:04 PM
You brought Skip into this? You are joking right? Coaches salaries are not paid by the state moron. Get your facts straight before you spout off with your keyboard.
Suggest removalTo Steve
09/03/2009 02:31:57 PM
What would you like them to cut from Pitt County Schools? I don't know any teachers that are getting paid well. I am not saying he doesn't deserve it,but what Skip makes in one year, could pay for 46 teachers.
Suggest removalWill
09/03/2009 02:27:29 PM
Re: Dr. C
Suggest removalHe would probably still bring in that much revenue if you cut his salary, just not to eastern nc anymore.
Dr C brings
09/03/2009 02:26:47 PM
He brings more than money. The heart center is here because of him. We lost him once. Never, Ever let that happen again. He is more valuable than money!!!
Suggest removalDr. C
09/03/2009 02:18:46 PM
So he wouldn't still bring that much revenue on a lower salary?
Suggest removalur kidding...
09/03/2009 02:09:30 PM
how about...
Suggest removalDo you have any idea how much revenue Chitwood brings to Greenville, ECU, PCMH and eastern NC??? You gotta be kidding.
how about...
09/03/2009 01:41:41 PM
Cut Dr. Chitwood's salary. He is the highest paid employee in the state of NC.
Suggest removalsteve
09/03/2009 01:40:49 PM
Need to do the same at the Pitt County Schools head shed as well!
Suggest removalIdea
09/03/2009 01:21:57 PM
Start at the top and cut "everyone's" salary 10%. That's what we had to do in private business. Can't spend more than you make (unless you're the government!)
Suggest removalTo ECU Alumni
09/03/2009 01:21:13 PM
I agree with you 100%..way too much excess in Athletics. Unfortunately it's mostly private monies paying their salaries - they are not 100% fully funded by state dollars. Prehaps they could trim some excess to increase scholarship funding for the outstanding student athletes
Suggest removalECU fan
09/03/2009 12:35:46 PM
There"s fat to cut in the Administration of most UNC system schools. ECU is probably leaner than most. Cut anyway, UNC system schools, but don't stop there. Scrap "tenure" and "star" professors. Get rid of these parasites and pay teachers for performance only; just like a real job.
Suggest removalECU Alumni
09/03/2009 11:05:39 AM
Need to cut Administation jobs in the athletic department. Some of those people just draw a pay check and do no real work.
Suggest removalPriorities??
09/03/2009 09:52:21 AM
The USA can spend $3 TRILLION on unnecessary wars, trillions to bail out Wall St and crooked insurance companies, but has to cut education and can't provide basic healthcare. Things are going to get really ugly soon.
Suggest removalBystander
09/03/2009 09:49:25 AM
It has been noted several times that the ECU maintenance guys are all driving huge fancy pickups, each has his own, and many times they're just sitting idle, or all going to the same place. Maybe they can ride together and the trucks can be sold for $.
Suggest removalPost a Comment
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