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UNLV President Neal Smatresk delivers his State of the University Address in this Sept. 15, 2009 file photo. On Tuesday he proposed a “financial exigency” plan in response to proposed budget cuts.
Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2011 | 1:51 p.m.
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UNLV President Neal Smatresk told a somber Faculty Senate on Tuesday that the administration was planning a kind of bankruptcy to deal with its budget crunch.
Under the "financial exigency" plan, tenured professors could be fired and whole departments and programs more easily closed down.
Earlier this month, the Board of Regents said it would be premature to consider such a move until the Legislature approved a final budget by June.
Smatresk told the faculty group that the cuts for UNLV would total $47.5 million and would need to be implemented by July 2012, so a plan for financial exigency would have to be prepared.
UNLV has had about $50 million in cuts over the last four years, mostly in non-academic areas and mostly avoiding large cuts for professor positions. If the cuts proposed by Gov. Brian Sandoval were approved, Smatresk said, academic cuts could not be avoided.
"We would have to declare financial exigency," Smatresk said. He added, "I believe the proposed cuts could materialize."
He and other officials would spend the next few weeks developing cutback plans with deans and faculty groups.
"It's very clear our state is approaching a state of fiscal collapse" when it comes to education, Smatresk said.
The cuts, Smatresk said, will lead to a "smaller, more expensive, more selective institution."
"I need to tell you," he said, with a voice heavy with sadness, "it's hard to abandon old ways of thinking. A white knight will not come in and dramatically change the situation."
Ah, but Governor Sandogibbons is going to create better jobs by virtually shuttering higher education. In Republicanland, that's called logic.
Ahhh but Mr. Smatresk how many of your staff and old colleagues are bringing in over 100K a year and lining their pockets with kids tuition money? How could your accounting possibly be in the red with all the high fees and state and federal subsidies and incentives? Poor management started UNLV's downfall way before the economy took a dive.
So, why are they planning this huge, expensive stadium then?
well ladies and gentlemen...
there is but one person to blame...
one and only one person...
who wants to screw our kids...
that is greasy brian our governor...
our slimy slippery phony smiling greasy governor...
who would rather have nevada kids get irreparably harmed...
than raise taxes on mining...
mining...
an industry that destroys the land...
strips the land...
then ships the profits out of state...
out of country...
hard to frickin believe i know...
especially since there is no way in hell mining can leave...
you get that greasy brian...
right...
the gold is here...
mining ain't going nowhere baby...
you get that greasy brian...
but you see...
greasy brian values the campaign contributions he gets from mining more the the children of nevada...
what a complete and total sell out greasy brian is!!!
these kids need to protest...
egyptian style baby...
line the streets with students...
bring your signs...
bring back the 60's baby...
protest...
loudly...
often...
RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE GOVERNOR'S MANSION!!!
"Sandogibbons." So true. Although I get the distinct impression "Sandogibbons" would prefer to just close UNLV and UNR altogether, and outsource our state's educational needs to CA, UT, NM and AZ. And at the rate we're going, this might actually be best, because a shell of a university is really not worth the paper its degrees are printed on....
Birdiedreamin: "bring back the 60's baby." I was there then, the 60s...marching, protesting. I like to think it had an impact, at least a small one. What disturbs me about university students today is that they don't, I'm not even sure if they take the time to vote. Sure there's no draft, but we poured tons of money in Iraq, we're doing the same thing in Afghanistan. Nevada is increasingly the butt of jokes and last, as well as first on the lists that it shouldn't be.
In a way, I understand the funding cut. On the other hand, I also believe that given the state of our State, education and social services are the last things that should be cut. I also believe taxes, especially those on casinos, should be raised...and that students should be out raising h*** (not sure what one can actually print here) and trying to effect change.
We have a fine university, they should support it. I do.
Lets have Smatresk publish his current Budget for public eyes and let the tax payers of NV decide what stays. Use the Computing Center talent and create a simple web sited which provides voting poll taking. If successful then UNLV can sell the site or host similar voting for other State and City decision making. Most decision makers are out of touch with the public.
Salaries must be adjusted , most workin Vegas folk have taken cuts in salary since 2008.
Also if He thinks that Autocratic Fees for a super REC center are justified - all students forced to pay, then maybe there are several fees he can cut to lower the impact of increased credit hour costs.
I graduated in 83 from UNLV and we all got along just fine with beer gardens during Campus Events, a new library which was obsolete in 15 years - only to be replaced by a automated monster that cannot be fully populated (too heavy sinks) due to poor planning and decision making @ UNLV.
Use Logic - maybe the Smatresk and the board of Regents should re-visit a Freshman Logic Class.
Go Rebels ......
Higher education educates smart people who then stay in the state and create businessess. Republicans refuse to accept this fact, believing that giving tax cuts to foreign corporations who take Nevada's Gold and Silver away while paying less than 1% in taxes is the way to prosperity. They don't believe in investing in education to create home-grown business.
See where your budget has sent our state, Sandogibbons? Of course you don't. You couldn't care less.
hey murray...
i agree partner...
these kids need a kick in the @$#...
hey kids...
get off your video playing @$#%$...
make a sign or two...
and start marching in front of greasy brian's little mansion...
you would be shocked at how much support there is behind you...
shake things up...
PROTEST EGYPTIAN STYLE BABY!!!
RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE GOVERNOR'S MANSION!!!
http://transparentnevada.com/salaries/un...
There is nothing else to say!
Who needs university education and training when we can fight over casino jobs and live in a trailer? Thank you governor... it's a bright plan.
Nero Sandoval is on his fiddle and Roma Nevada is about to be torched.
"smaller, more expensive, more selective institution"
Isn't that exactly what UNLV SHOULD BE??!!
Works for our Little Sister Up North, doesn't it?
The cut is about 6 percent of their total biennial budget (excluding sports, dental school and law school).
Mr. Hilton,
If educated smart people stay in the state and create business can you explain California, Michigan, New York and Connecticut?
Can you explain why states with an Ivy League school had a combined net migration rate of NEGATIVE 2.5 million between 2000 and 2008?
We've been oversold on the benefits of higher education. It is bloated, expensive and ineffective.
http://www.thewesternwrangler.com/2011/0...
"smaller, more expensive, more selective institution"
Exactly right.
How can Sandoval and the Republicans believe that keeping taxes low will attract businesses when the past 4 years under Gibbons proved exactly the opposite? Stupidity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
Don't make Nevada a 3rd world state!
Sorry Patrick_R_Gibbons:
The economy in NY, CA, CN are far far better than that of Nevada. Their deficits are about 5% while ours is 50%. NY had a population increase as did CA and CN between the 200 and 2010 census. You can play the numbers as you wish, but then Nevada lost people the last year or so. The unemployment rates are 5-8% higher [no not relatively-absolutely: 14.8% in Nevada and 9% in NY.]
And after the budget cuts in NY, CA & CN they will still have better services than Nevada did at its peak, better schools, better higher ed, better roads. After all is said and done, Nevada is still #50, #49, #48 in nearly everything. Yeah, the population growth is higher here, but then so it is in Afghanistan too, and we are heading in that direction.
Job growth and business growth are higher in CA, NY, CN. And let's be frank, the world can live without OUR growth industries. There are casinos elsewhere. And, the gold mined here does nothing for Nevadans, not even much tax revenue.
hey barrys...
isn't it fun to just totally kicking the crap out of gibbie the clown...
hee hee hee...
i seriously don't know how he gets to sleep at night...
with statements like...
"We've been oversold on the benefits of higher education."...
good lord...
have you ever heard anything as revolting as that???
Meanwhile, along the East Coast, in a diversified economy with great universities, unemployment rates are far lower than they are in Nevada, where we just attract all kinds of high-tech industry by cutting education!
The NPRI folks are always protecting their greatest resource - the ignorance of the malleable masses they can control.
NPRI credo: Dumb is easy.
Patrick R Gibbons looks like Jared from the Subway commercials in his Western Wrangler photo. Just another geek with sprouts in his whitened teeth.
Holy smoke,
Lon Kruger is knocking down a million plus!, number one in the UNLV roster of megabucks earners.
Remember "The Switch" in Henderson? Sandoval said it was going to bring technology to Nevada? Take a look at it and remember this:
1. The electronic design of all the boards was done somewhere else.
2. The design and fabrication of the discrete electrical components was done somewhere else.
3. The mechanical cabinets that hold the electronic assemblies were designed and fabricated somewhere else.
4. The software to run this communications portal is written somewhere else.
5. The income it generates goes almost entirely somewhere else, to owners, executives, engineers, mathematicians, programmers, marketeers and fuzzy faced geeks that are somewhere else.
They came here for a cheap piece of desert land and cheap labor in the form of rent-a-cops, customer service agents and technicians trained to connect the right cable to the correct socket. The design teams that created this technology will remain where they are. Good luck Gov on the Recovery cause these design teams aren't going to re-locate in Nevada.
(I apologize if that sounds harsh - we saw the same thing happen on Altair IV - Dr. Morbius was the only individual who was able to understand their thoughts).
It wasn't that long ago that we were facing budget cuts and yet Smastrek gave raises to buddies: http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2009/nov...
Now they can get rid of Titus and save her sayary.
Now they can get rid of Titus and save her salary.
I hope that when they close programs and departments that UNR and UNLV work together to offer broadcast courses so that if the program is removed from UNLV that students can finish the program remotely through UNR through broadcast or web based courses.
Once again, Patrick Gibbons writes comments below an article but refuses to disclose that he is paid to do so by NPRI, a right-wing organization determined to dismantle as much government as possible, no matter how much the people want services such as public education, higher education, and law enforcement.
And regarding the link you privided to your own post (how arrogant, by the way), if you have to rely on screen caps from fantasy movies like The Dark Knight and you-tube clips from The Simpsons in order to keep your readers' attention, may I suggest a writing position with either DC or Marvel comics?
I bet the college of education will be the first to get the axe.
Publicly funded institutions seem to do one thing particularly well -- create public debt -- as the world turns and the public feeding trough empties, more pigs get pushed to the rear.
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It's extremely sad at the lack of support the colleges and k-12 get in NV. Just keep cutting away politicians. You'll cut yourself out of the picture as soon as there is nothing left. It's been years of cuts now. I'd like to see how many of you have contacted your representatives about the cuts. I did, often upon deaf ears.
Chunky says:
"It's very clear our state is approaching a state of fiscal collapse" when it comes to education, Smatresk said.
"I need to tell you," he said, with a voice heavy with sadness, "it's hard to abandon old ways of thinking."
Knock! Knock! Who's there? It's the real world Mr. Smatresk!
The entire state and country is facing fiscal collapse just like a lot of tax payers are right now.
You're a bunch of so called professional educators, pull your heads out of the public feedbag long enough to come up with creative ways to do more with less like the people who pay the taxes are already doing.
It's easy to lead when you have unlimited funding and the shield of "education" to hide behind. Show us some leadership and show us how creative you can be. Educated obviously does not correlate with smart.
That's what Chunky thinks!
Good deal, Chunky. Student loan debt will reach $1 trillion in 2012. A college education in China costs 1/10th what it costs in the USA. That's why China is going to be #1. I saw this recent report on China's new naval missile that may work against our carriers:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/02/1...
An across the board cut in professor salaries should be limited to those above -- say, $50K a year. But just watch, they'll eliminate the poor slobs working as techs in the labs for $14K a year, first.
Also, start cutting athletics. They're nice to have, but not core to a university's mission. And probably only basketball brings in anything resembling revenue. Maybe if we're lucky, the football program will get taken down and we'll all be spared the doom of that dome.
i propose a salary cap of 75,000 for all state employees who do not pay for their own salaries by the revenue they create . make the state a million and you deserve triple figures otherwise your dead weight
"We've been oversold on the benefits of education."
Patrick Gibbons, Monte Miller, NPRI, the CATO Institute and all the conservatives represented by Patrick's ad nauseam, anti-tax responses are not just opposed to teachers, unions and publicly-funded education, apparently they are opposed to education in general. What is their goal?
According to Milton Glick, President of UNR, educated people follow the jobs to silicon valley. It is not our job to send your kids to college. Make your own sacrifices. The Nevada constitution authorizes a university ONLY IN RENO. Liquidate UNLV and any community colleges that the local area will not fund.
The Nevada Constitution authorizes a UNIVERSITY IN RENO only. Eliminate state funding for higher ed. Not our job to send your kids to college.
@roseanrose,
The NV Constitution authorizes funds for a university. Nevada only has one. "The University of Nevada." UNR and UNLV are subdivisions of The University of Nevada. Try again.
...Casino mogul Kirk Kerkorian donates $100 million to UCLA...
Do the Rebels have a fund raising department other than a doormat football team and a on the bubble B-Ball team?
Eliminate higher ed funding. At K-12 taxpayers keep funding Class Size Reduction of 16 SIXTEEN STUDENTS PER TEACHER. Some districts have applied for waivers of 19:1.
@roseanrose:
There may be a law stating 16 students per teacher, but it isn't being followed. I ALWAYS had more than 16 students in my first and second grade classes.
reality check: everyone needs to start making adjustments and getting paid less. the boom days are way over and won't be back for decades. no more tax payer money to higher education just to supplement tenured teaches that don't even teach. college is a privilege, not a right.
UNLV becoming a "more selective institution"? In the movie "Spinal Tap", the narrator asks if this rock band now playing in much smaller arenas means that its popularity is waning. Oh no, says the band's manager, "their appeal is becoming more selective."
DaveC,
Good one. And that would be the reality behind tightening admission to UNR and UNLV -- it would not be by choice, but by diminishing ability to continue attracting (or in this case, admitting) the numbers of yesterday. It's a shame that a door will closed to some, but not as big of a shame that some might fear. For every 'one' that truly will miss a chance to improve themselves, I suspect 'two' will be turned away that never were really ready for college.
Every single UNLV professor/instructor I have ever talked to has bemoaned the inadequate level of the students at that school. Jim Rodgers said it best: to paraphrase, he said UNLV is no university. Ironically, the hard-times imposed tough love may improve the quality of the institution.