Faculties' funds cut by $5.3m

ANDREW GORRIE/The Dominion Post

FUNDING WOES: Victoria vice-chancellor Pat Walsh said the university had faced a difficult environment when planning for 2009.

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Departments at Wellington's Victoria University are facing widespread budget cuts this year.

Figures provided to The Dominion Post show all but one faculty has a reduced 2009 budget compared with last year.

The budget-setting process takes place between August and October each year, with senior management setting overall targets.

Total funding over the five departments was $150.2 million for 2009, compared with $155.5 million last year, a difference of $5.3 million.

The faculty of education received the biggest budget cut of $4.9 million after contract work was transferred to Vic Link.

"Last year, the education faculty undertook a major restructure to ensure that it would be able to work within its operational budget for 2009," said pro vice-chancellor (education) Professor Dugald Scott.

The number of schools at its Karori campus was reduced from four to three.

The commerce department's budget decreased by $1.3 million, while law and government received a cut of $600,000 and humanities $800,000.

Funding of the science department was boosted by $2.3 million.

Victoria vice-chancellor Pat Walsh said the university had faced a difficult environment when planning for 2009. "Student numbers had fallen slightly in 2008 and cash reserves were decreasing, as expected, due to expenditure on the building programme.

"Like all households, businesses and organisations, the university is looking at the best way to manage its resources in difficult financial times."

Professor Walsh said the university remained committed to providing the best education to its students.

Student magazine Salient reported the number of tutorial classes at the faculty of humanities and social sciences had dropped following the budget cuts. Voluntary or bi-weekly tutorials were being offered, instead of weekly.

- © Fairfax NZ News