Looking for budget cuts, administration turns to suggestion box

In the three weeks since the state laid down $37.8 million in higher education budget cuts, university officials have discussed the prospect of layoffs, larger classes and an in-state tuition hike. But with a second wave of cuts on the horizon, they're turning toward an unlikely source to aid in the belt-tightening: you.

In a July 27 campuswide e-mail, university President Dan Mote enlisted the help of faculty, staff and students to suggest ways the university could save money. As of yesterday, 121 people had responded.

The responses ranged from small tweaks - "I would recommend mothballing the escalators in Hornbake Library," university archivist Anne Turkos suggested - to systemic changes - "go to a four day work week."

They spanned from silly - "stock less toilet-paper and paper towels in the residence halls" - to serious - "institute furloughs again" - to straight-up self-serving - "Increase salaries to employees in Health Center," one "anonymous" commenter suggested.

Mote stressed the online comments aren't just a gimmick - he said he'd put every recommendation on the table. The university won't take specific steps in response until the second round of statewide cuts, which are expected before Labor Day, and even then, Mote said, he won't act until the university holds a series of open meetings.

"In this day and age, where users essentially have a lot of ideas that exist," he said. "Many of them are similar, and some are not, and we'll essentially incorporate as many as we can."

While some students and faculty members seemed skeptical that administrators would consider their ideas, many praised the outreach.

"It seems to me that faculty, staff and students might have a better feel for what could be saved than the top dogs," said Marlowe Leafty, assistant director for electrical systems in Facilities Management. "It's a nice gesture. I guess the proof is in the pudding as to whether these suggestions are taken into account."

The most commonly sounded thoughts involved energy costs. Commenters called for university buildings to dial down the heat in the winter, reduce air conditioning in the summer and turn off lights at night.

Other suggestions were to:

• Eliminate land-line phones
• Move all university correspondence to e-mail
• Have full-time professors focus more on teaching than on research
• Charge for NITE Ride
• Spend less on landscaping

The complete list of suggestions can be viewed at president.umd.edu/budget.

One notable voice yet to sound off on the cost-cutting debate is Student Government Association President Steve Glickman, who said he wouldn't weigh in until the second round of state reductions.

"I think it's great that they're willing to take the opinions of students and faculty and staff into consideration," he said, adding, "We need to look at how much we need to save before we start thinking of ways to get to that number."

Senior staff writer Adi Joseph and staff writer Rich Abdill contributed to this report.

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