Based upon the 2010-2011 fiscal year, indicate what things that your campus is doing to hold down costs.
Name of Institution: University of Arkansas at Little Rock
Completed By: Bob Adams
Phone Number: 501-916-3202
Click here to download a printable version of the Cost Containment Summary 2010-2011.
Cost Containment Input
What input are you using from faculty, staff, students, and the public in working to contain costs?
Open budget hearings are conducted with presentations from each vice chancellor. The Budget Director and Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration meet regularly with the Faculty Senate Planning and Finance Committee to review budget issues and cost containment suggestions. Bimonthly meetings are held with the UA Little Rock Board of Visitors, whose membership is comprised of community business leaders who contribute valuable advice on finances and operational efficiencies.
Do you have a committee on cost containment?
The Planning and Finance Committee of the Faculty Senate participates in the annual budget hearings and makes recommendations to the Chancellor on cost containment. Members of this committee have surveyed other universities similar to UA Little Rock in other states and have offered recommendations based on the experiences of other campuses facing budget shortfalls.
Do you offer incentives and/or recognition to faculty/staff/students for suggestions on how to cut costs?
There are not formal incentives. However, due to limited operating budgets, all departments are continually seeking ways to contain costs in order to stretch their budget dollars further.
| Cost Saving Efforts | Y/N | Estimated Annual Savings | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Utilities | |||
| Retrofiting with energy-efficient lighting, timers, etc. | Y | $3,000 | |
| Retooling HVAC controls | Y | $70,000 | |
| Replacing windows | Y | Difficult to calculate the exact savings | |
| Natural gas hedging contracts | Y | $440,000 | |
| Innovative building design (LEED) | Y | $35,000 | |
| Replaced electrical capacity bank | Y | $170,000 | |
| Total Utilities | $718,000 | ||
| Personnel | |||
| Consolidating departments | N | Done in previous years, but not in FY11. | |
| Staff reductions or reorganizations | Y | $75,000 | |
| Temporary saving by keeping vacancies open | Y | $1,591,300 | |
| Hiring of temporary or adjunct faculty | Y | $1,650,000 | UA Little Rock has a history of using adjunct faculty in a number of academic areas. Because of its location in the capital city, UA Little Rock has access to many exceptional professionals to serve as adjunct instructors and reduce the reliance on full-time faculty without sacrificing quality. |
| Hiring of temporary or part-time staff in lieu of full-time staff | Y | $360,000 | |
| Reduction in student support staff | N | With lottery and other financial aid requirements it is not possible to reduce student support staff. | |
| Reduction in maintenance staff | N | Not reduced, but held constant. Maintenance and custodial staff are supporting more square footage with the same level of staffing. | |
| Reduction in campus security | N | Campus security remains a point of emphasis for UA Little Rock. | |
| Defer salary increases | Y | UA Little Rock gave a 1% salary increase to non-classified employees in 2008-09, no increases in 2009-10, and a 2% increase in 2010-2011, during a period when the consumer price index rose 4.6% with a loss in employee purchasing power of 1.6%. | |
| Reduce employee benefit packages | N | ||
| Early retirement incentives for long-term employees | Y | $146,900 | |
| Closing academic programs with low enrollments | N | This was accomplished in 2009-10. | |
| Total Personnel | $3,823,200 | ||
| Operating Budget Cuts | |||
| Reduce travel budget | N | Had greatly reduced travel in the previous year. | |
| Revised travel policy | N | ||
| Reduction in office and teaching supplies | N | ||
| Reduce printing of materials | N | ||
| Reduce library holdings or subscriptions | N | ||
| Change computer replacement policy | N | ||
| Changed academic schedule to create efficiencies | N | ||
| Centralization of printing | N | Already in place prior to 2010-11. | |
| 4-day work week in summer for employes | N | ||
| Reduced maintenance service agreements | Y | $52,000 | |
| Provide IT services to UA Systems, Clinton School, and ASMSA | Y | $288,000 | Savings reflect net of what external IT support would have cost. |
| Revised student fee payment and attendance confirmation process to reduce uncollectible accounts | Y | $750,000 | |
| In-kind external support | Y | $276,400 | In-kind support helps offset costs that would have been incurred at university expense. |
| Total Operating | $1,090,000 | ||
| TOTAL SAVINGS | $5,631,200 | ||