By Вen Li
In the wake of last week’s budget reallocation and reduction announcement, the University of Calgary hinted at possible job cuts at its Thu., Nov. 28 Board of Governors meeting.
"Given that 70 per cent of the budget are people costs, I think I would be the first to say that it would be possible that there could be job loss," said U of C Vice-President Finance and Services Phyllis Heaphy.
Heaphy would not, however, confirm that staff or faculty would be decreased next year.
"At this stage, we have no anticipation of what, who or how [cuts will occur]," she continued.
U of C President Harvey Weingarten cautioned that conclusions about the budget should not yet be drawn.
"It’s a precipitous question because it is early in the process," he said. "At this point, it is too early to make definite or conclusive comments."
Heaphy also stated that while the traditional budget process is on hold at the moment, discussion is ongoing to meet the $37 million challenge.
"Fundamental thinking needs to be going on at the moment," said Heaphy. " We cannot guarantee that we will not make across-the-board cuts."
Compared to this time last year, the Board of Governors was further along in the budgeting process. Heaphy said that what will come out of the current budget discussions will be a "rigorous" budget proposition.
"We are going to come through with some remarkable suggestions for you [the Board of Governors] to deliberate," she said. "[Weingarten] is firmly in control of this very preliminary stage of the budget."
Weingarten stated earlier in the meeting that the university would be looking at sources of revenue generation other than government grants and tuition, including fundraising, business opportunities, ancillary areas, and physical and intellectual assets. He has also formed the Budget Restructuring and Revenue Generation Committees, consisting of himself, vice-presidents, deans of faculties and others, to address the budgeting situation.