The Murray State board of regents met Friday and deferred actions on budget planning and review team recommendations to identify cuts and increased revenue. The university is looking to cut around $3-million to balance its budget. The board plans to discuss the recommended cuts at its March meeting. Four board members were absent from Friday’s meeting.
The board proceeded with establishing the MSU Institute of Engineering and new minors in Data Analytics, Entrepreneurship, Golf Course Management and Sports Communications. The board also heard reports regarding the long range planning for the campus including the results of a study on the future of 16th Street which bisects MSU’s east and west campus. The study included four options, two of which garnered the most discussion among board member. The board mostly discussed plans to reroute traffic or make a series of elevation changes to the road to allow students to pass above or underneath 16th street traffic.
The enrollment management committee received a briefing from Fred Dietz, Executive Director for Enrollment Management. Dietz noted MSU’s overall enrollment is up one percent, but he detailed slumping enrollment numbers of 2.5% for first time freshman. He also noted a 10% drop in first time freshman from the 18 county service region. Dietz did note a boost in Illinois first time Freshman enrollment at MSU.
Presidential search committee chairman Steve Williams provided the board an update on the11 finaliststhat will likely be interviewed in Nashville on January 11 and 12.
The board did approve some student fee increases for transcripts, graduation and course changes.
