- A Message From Vice Chancellor Reade Taylor:
I am writing to send my sincere thank you to everyone in Business Affairs for your dedication, day in and day out, to your work at UNCG and to give you an update of the budget situation at UNCG and in our Division. These have been stressful months for many of us, at work and away as well.
These economic conditions are the worst that this nation has seen since the Great Depression so it was not entirely unexpected that the budget process for the current fiscal year would be unlike anything I have experienced. The budget process began in the summer and fall of 2008 and is only now coming to its implementation. As you are likely aware, some employees in Business Affairs and across the university lost their jobs and many vacant positions were lost. The General Assembly and Governor had to make difficult decisions and I can assure you, Chancellor Brady, her staff and the leadership of Business Affairs had to as well. You can find more information about the budget at http://fsv.uncg.edu/budgetcentral/.
This is the time for everyone to step up to the plate. I am mindful that the loss of people and positions result in more work for all of us. I also do not lose sight of the potential hardships that those who lost their jobs may face. It is also likely that some of you have spouses, friends, adult children or others you care about who are out of work. Some of you may find the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) of help to offer encouragement and direction during these uncertain times. The EAP phone number is 1-877-327-7658 and the UNCG website for the EAP has more details: http://web.uncg.edu/hrs/Benefits/EAP/.
There was another permanent cut for next year that is in the 2010-11 budget passed by the General Assembly and signed by the Governor. The Chancellor and her staff have already allocated these cuts and implemented them to cover expected cash shortfalls in the current year. Thus, if the economic situation improves we may escape further cuts for the 2010-11 year.
On many positive notes, the campus continues to look great, inside and out. Although we have a way to go, utility expenditures for the 2009 fiscal year dropped by more than $500,000 due to work of Business Affairs employees and the installation of energy and water saving equipment by an outside contractor, as well as raised awareness of utility costs across the campus. UNCG's financial statements for the 2008-09 year have been prepared and the Foundations received clean audits; UNCG's State audit is in process. The transition to the new dining contractor is going well and this summer we successfully migrated the ID cards to new software. The new School of Education building is beginning to take shape and plans are being made to build a new Residence Hall across Spring Garden Street and to renovate the Quad. We continue to provide services to an ever growing student population and complex campus and operate with fiscal integrity. Business Affairs employees are helping boost Spartan spirit and providing critical services to make the men’s basketball transition to the Coliseum a success (Go Spartans!). Three Business Affairs colleagues received certificates of merit for saving a life and two of our police officers received awards for placing 4th in the nation at a sniper competition and first in North Carolina. There are many other examples I could cite that demonstrate our work continues with pride and excellence and why I am humbled to have the opportunity to work with each of you.
Lastly, if you work in an area where your colleagues do not have ready access to e-mail, would you please post this? In addition, please let Donna Honeycutt (donnah@uncg.edu) know if you discover any of our colleagues in Business Affairs have a UNCG e-mail address but did not receive this message. She will add them to our list.
Thanks again for all you do for UNCG.
Reade Taylor
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