Moving forward, Syracuse University must examine how the current budget model allocates money within departments and can adapt to meet the needs of a growing student population, according to a recent report from the University Senate Budget Committee.

The majority of Wednesday’s senate meeting was spent breaking down the Budget Committee’s report, including updates related to the Big East exit fee, which spurred debate among senators and administrators.

Chancellor Kent Syverud charged the Budget Committee with focusing on three areas this school year: athletics, the current budget model and enrollment. Individual subcommittees were created in each of these areas to research and compile reports, said Dawit Negussey, chair of the senate Budget Committee.

The Bain Report stated that SU’s operating expenses are outgrowing its revenues, but Negussey said that in 2014, the university had lower than projected expenses, which balanced the overall budget. Bain & Co., a global management consulting firm based in Boston, issued a report in April 2014 that detailed areas for improvement at SU, noted that there is a lack of transparency within the Responsibility Centered Management budget model.

There is no longer a comprehensive database for faculty members to see the budgets of other schools and colleges, said Robert Van Gulick, a professor of philosophy. Since the information was recently made private, Van Gulick said faculty have been concerned about transparency.

Gwenn Judge, SU’s director of budget and planning, said the university set up a secured website for faculty to view university-wide budgets and now meets with schools and colleges to review RCM budget data.

As a result of continuous enrollment growth, 45 percent of SU’s revenues come from undergraduate tuition and other sources, according to the budget report. In the past four years, SU’s undergraduate enrollment has increased 5.1 percent, Negussey said.

“Comparatively, Syracuse has grown at a higher rate than most of our peers,” Negussey said.

Only 6 percent of SU’s revenue comes from endowments and gifts, according to the report. Because of this and other areas, the senate Budget Committee has recommended to the chancellor that the university “broaden and diversify” its income sources.

Although SU’s tuition rate is lower than most peer institutions, room and board costs are “reasonably high” compared to other universities. The university will need to determine an enrollment size that best fits its budget, while lowering the costs of attendance for students, according to the budget report.

“So overall the question would be, is it a planned growth? Was the growth consistent with the resources that we have or have planned for?” Negussey said. “These would perhaps be questions we can look at moving forward.”

Other business discussed:

— Sam Gorovitz, a professor of philosophy, introduced a motion at the end of the meeting asking the Academic Affairs Committee to update the senate on several matters: the selection of a new director of human resources, the search for a new vice chancellor and provost and the search for a dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, as well as other areas. The motion was tabled until the next senate meeting in February.

— The University Senate Committee on Curricula presented a report detailing new and deactivated courses, as well as a new requirement for communications and sciences disorders majors. The revision will require students to complete at least 12 credits in classes outside of their major, in areas such as psychology, biology and others. The motion to approve the report passed unanimously.

Published on January 15, 2015 at 12:01 am

Contact Annie: apalme05@syr.edu