Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, March 15, 1994 TAG: 9403150192
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By ALLISON BLAKE STAFF WRITER NOTE: Above
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
As Virginia Tech officials sorted through the university's still-cloudy budget Monday, one thing was clear:
Jobs at the Cooperative Extension Service are going to go. The only question is whether they'll be lost through attrition, retirements or layoffs.
The university had requested $2.5 million for the extension service from the General Assembly; it got $1.1 million. President Paul Torgersen called it ``our biggest disappointment.''
About 90 percent of the extension service budget is personnel cost. It is estimated that between 20 and 30 jobs will be lost.
``Again, we're facing a fairly major reduction, and that part of our larger university mission has suffered unduly over the past three or four years,'' Torgersen said.
The statewide extension service has lost about 75 jobs over the past five years as the budget has been repeatedly slashed.
One response might be buyout offers - not only to extension workers, but to employees throughout the university. ``There's nothing in place,'' said Torgersen, ``but it's not inconceivable."
The assembly agreed to combine the service with Tech's agriculture experiment stations - previously part of the university's research division - for administrative reasons. But the new agency seems off to a tough start: It asked $4.1 million from the state and got $1.4 million.
People in the extension service, begun in 1914 to help farmers learn agricultural techniques, say the public misunderstands it. County offices try to mold their mission to the region they're in. Urban centers, for instance, help families learn nutrition.
``We have to do a better job of making it clear to the people of Virginia just exactly what a jewel in the crown this new division is,'' said Andy Swiger, dean of the College of Agriculture, which oversees the agency.
Tech administrators are putting a positive spin on the other results of the General Assembly's 1994 session, the first to show glimmers of fiscal hope after the recession.
The Center for Organizational and Technological Advancement, to be connected to the new Hotel Roanoke and conference center project, will get $1.2 million, enough to pay for five professors, programs and start-up costs.
``The center opens next spring,'' said Minnis Ridenour, the university's executive vice president. ``Our whole focus here is to move forward with programs.'' The university originally asked for $3.4 million.
Students will see their fees go up to pay for debt service on bonds that will pay for new buildings, although probably not next year.
Last fall, Tech proposed that $80 a year per student be added to fees to pay for a new student/health center, said Don Finley, associate director of finance for the state Council of Higher Education
The $17.9 million building is one of several to be funded by bonds that will pay for $40 million in new construction. Two dorms worth $15 million and a dining hall estimated to cost $5 million are also part of the package.
Students work out for free at the War Memorial Gym, said university spokesman Larry Hincker. But under the plan for the health/fitness center, all students will pay the added fitness fee, whether they use the center or not, said Finley.
Already, students pay $131 per year for health services. That's part of a $512 mandatory fee for various activities and services.
Finley said Tech's fees are relatively low.
``All in all, you'll find Virginia Tech's reputation on fees, in Richmond, is very good,'' he said.
Tech administrators seemed willing Monday to repay the compliment.
``Overall, given the economic conditions, if you look at [the budget] over the three-year period we've been through, we're getting some additional support,'' Ridenour said.
``We're appreciative of what we receive. Sure, we'd like to have more. But you have to put everything in context.''
Keywords:
GENERAL ASSEMBLY 1994
by CNB