The threat of a sustained economic recession coupled with unprecedented cuts in state funding has UNC officials fearful for the University’s future.
The loss of about 18 percent or more than $100 million in state funds this year — the largest amount for any UNC-system school — has forced University administrators to make drastic cuts across campus for the third year in a row.
While the full effect of the cuts can’t be measured until classes are under way, students can expect larger class sizes, said Karen Gil, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.
“A class that usually holds 30 to 40 students may now have 45 students,” Gil said.
University administrators are concerned about the overall effect of cutting campus programs, faculty retention, further tuition hikes and funding for financial aid programs for next year if the current budget trends continue.
“The cumulative impact is one that really matters to me. That over time if we continue to increase the size of our classes, it changes the quality of the undergraduate educational experience for our students,” Gil said.
The college lost a total of $10 million in state funding for the 2011-12 fiscal year but was not the hardest hit unit at UNC, relative to its size.
The Institute of African American Research was forced to eliminate nearly 40 percent of its budget. A portion of that cut came from the removal of the center’s director, Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost Bruce Carney said.
Carney said despite the decision to delegate the largest percentage of cuts to some of UNC’s minority centers, the University is still committed to the promotion of diversity.