Concerns over the proposed Iowa Legislature budget cuts have prompted some ISU college officials to begin thinking about the future of their programs.

The Iowa Legislature will be considering several educational budget proposals which could result in a cut of up to $11 million from Iowa State’s 2001-2002 budget.

James Melsa, dean of the College of Engineering, said the engineering program is already streamlined.

“We have begun to look at what our reaction [to the proposed budget cuts] will be,” he said. “It will have a big impact from the standpoint that we are already lean. We may have to abandon programs or cut out classes. We’d have to cut to the bone — we have no more fat left.”

Melsa said he still hopes the budget cuts won’t be severe.

“At this point, we are still uncertain about the effect of the cuts,” he said.

Duane Enger, professor and chairman of zoology and genetics, also said as of now, his department’s future budget plans are up in the air.

“This time of the year always has the greatest uncertainty, and it’s difficult to predict,” he said.

But Enger said he is still unsettled about the impact the proposed cuts could have on the university.

“At the department, if the cuts are as projected, it will have a serious effect on our ability to do our job,” he said. “There is very little flexible money. Often, no more than 5 percent of the money is not tied up in salaries.”

Though the budget cuts may not seem consequential to people outside Iowa State, within the university, they could have serious repercussions, Enger said.

“Even though the percent may not seem large, if it is in a unit, that kind of cut will affect operations,” he said. “But beyond that, more serious is the effect on our ability to attract good faculty, good students and administration.”

Carol Meeks, dean of the College of Family and Consumer Sciences, said the effects will be drastic to FCS.

“If they cut $11 million, our share will be $400,000,” she said. “We will have to cut a program — we have not decided what — and cut six faculty positions.”

Meeks said she hopes something will be done to prevent the proposed budget cuts.

“I hope that the president and university are working very hard to convince people that this will have a devastating effect on Iowa State,” she said.

Enger said the most serious result of the budget cuts will be the university’s ability to attract faculty.

“I haven’t heard that any of the other 49 states are proposing these cuts,” he said. “This will affect people’s perception from outside. [Iowa State’s] projected turnover will hurt us a great deal. People don’t want to come to a place having budget problems.”

Melsa also said he is worried about what repercussions the cuts will have on the quality of education at Iowa State.

“We need to pay good salaries to get good faculty or it will lead to mediocrity,” he said.