Acorn

Drew University has had to get used to change since President Bob Weisbuch stepped on the scene. One of his biggest changes so far was the addition of the new Provost position, which this year was filled by Pamela Gunter-Smith. And now, the two of them have teamed up to shake the Drew community up once again. Their focus: The Budget.

They jointly decided that the Drew budget process was in need of a make over, and no one can fault them for wanting to try something new. However, one has to wonder about fixing things that are not broken to begin with.

Their changes included a revamp of the committees from the old two committee system of Revenues and Expenditures to four committees focusing on Academic Life, Administration, Fundraising and Enrollment. Each committee is responsible for looking at their specific issues on a University level. On the micro-management level, each department has been required to submit a five year budget plan outlining their planned expenditures over this time.

Gunter-Smith says that this new system is "fiscally responsible to our students." As the Provost, she will be integral to the entire budget process, reviewing each proposal and analyzing the curricular value of each request.

The process seems like a logical one, and it is great that the administration is willing to try something new. However, The Acorn suspects that there is something deeper to the budget overhaul.

It is no secret that Drew needs to tighten its belt. With the overwhelming majority of this year's freshman class receiving some sort of financial aid, and Drew's increase in endowment spending as part of last year's budget, Drew has some serious accounting to do, and changing the budget process is a possible way to start.

First of all, by requiring departments to submit a five-year spending proposal, it forces everyone to think about every dollar they spend. Awareness can lead to more care in spending. Also, after these proposals are made, budget committees will sift through them, prioritizing needs for all aspects of the University. Each of these things will ensure more conscientious spending, and, hopefully, more thrifty spending as well.

Unfortunately, the changes are not as idealized as they sound. The cold reality of the situation is that the new budget process simply introduces more beaurocracy into an already heavily red-taped procedure. Similar issues have been felt on the Student Life level between ECAB and student clubs. The greater the production one has to go through to get funds, the less likely one is to go through it at all-a convenient way of cutting costs.

Departments have trouble enough getting funding for various programs from the University without the administration making it worse.

At the same time, however, The Acorn acknowledges that everyone at Drew needs to tighten their belts and allow the University to regain their financial footing. The Acorn also appreciates the University administration's willingness to try a new direction.

The only thing left to do is wait and see if these changes are really the best decision for Drew.

Article Tools