In order to cope with the recent announcement of state budget cuts, ISU faculty members may not receive salary increases.

The Board of Regents is pondering whether an average 8.3 percent tuition increase is feasible. At the same time, ISU President Gregory Geoffroy is planning the future of the university amid another state budget cut and the possibility of reductions in state support for the 2004—05 academic year.

During last Thursday’s Board of Regents meeting, Geoffroy said he was in full support of the recommended tuition increase. However, he warned that without full funding of salaries by the state, Iowa State would be unable to award salary increases next year.

With the 2.5 percent across-the-board reduction in state spending announced by Gov. Tom Vilsack Oct. 10, Iowa State will be forced to cut $5.8 million out of this year’s budget. In 2000—01, the state provided 63.7 percent of the regent universities’ budget. After this most recent cut, the state is providing 49.5 percent of the budget.

Faculty Senate President Jack Girton said the tuition increase is reasonable, but without full funding of salaries, the faculty will be forced to deal with no salary increases or non-high priority programs will see cuts.

“You can’t retain excellence without excellent faculty,” Girton said. “It’s not a pleasant choice, but you can’t get something for nothing.”

Girton, who is also a member of Geoffroy’s Advisory Committee on Budget Priorities and Planning — a group formed to help guide budget decisions — said the direction the university takes is Geoffroy’s decision, but the committee will help decide how to get to that point.

The university can either focus on the long-term picture and identify programs it intends to phase out over a few years or the short term picture by possibly proposing a one-time halt on salary increases for the 2004—05 academic year, he said.

Government of the Student Body Vice President Ben Albright said he does not support any further increases to the recommended tuition increase of 8.3 percent, but will definitely fight to keep up quality and programs if the salaries are not fully funded by the state.

“That is a bridge we will cross when we come to it,” Albright said.

Inter-Residence Hall Association President Eric Peters said he would support a higher tuition increase to ensure the funding of faculty and staff salary increases next year.

He said if salary increases are not funded, he fears the quality faculty and staff will look elsewhere.

“The faculty does a good job and we want them to get salary increases,” Peters said.

“It would be almost worth it to get a [higher] tuition increase to keep up the quality of the university.”