College of Nursing response

Fall 2017

Dear all,

I want to follow up on the President’s message from last night regarding the university budget. I have kept you updated on the significant shortfall of the university budget, approximately $30 million. Each College and area has been given a number of 2.5% to cut from their budget, and we do not know what next (fiscal) year will look like. I am attaching a memo from the President with specific guidance for each area to implement.

What does this mean for us? Due to a few resignations, we have reduced our budget by 2.5%. However, we cannot remain as lean as we are now, and we must hire faculty. In order for us to do that, and to plan for possible additional cuts next year, I am reviewing all of our College expenses with the aim of reducing them significantly. This means we must all make sacrifices. Without that, we could be looking at layoffs, as other colleges are doing, and that is something I am trying to avoid at all costs.

One of the first changes we will make is elimination of the December convocation, beginning in 2018. We have been talking about changes to that Spokane event for a while, particularly for the inclusion of graduate students. Many universities and colleges host an annual event, and those students graduating in the fall return for the ceremony. We will look at a different format to accommodate all the students.

I hope you can keep all of this in some perspective. We are a Center of Excellence that educates students in the finest way. Every one of us is a valued member of the team. To preserve our excellence, choices will have to be made about expenses for awhile.

Please come and talk to me if you have questions or concerns. Thank you for all that you do.

Joyce P. Griffin-Sobel, PhD, RN, ANEF, FAAN
Dean and Professor
Washington State University College of Nursing
P.O. Box 1495 | Spokane, WA 99210-1495
ph 509-324-7332| nursing.wsu.edu