News release Public Information Office  SLU 10880   Hammond, LA 70402   phone: 985-549-2341   fax: 985-549-2061 publicinfo@selu.edu summer 05 news releases Public Information home News archive Contact: Rene Abadie Date: 10/26/05   SOUTHEASTERN CAUTIOUS WITH BUDGET        HAMMOND --  While the state of Louisiana will allow higher education to follow a targeted savings plan rather than the strict spending rules associated with a state-mandated budget freeze, President Randy Moffett said Southeastern Louisiana University will continue to exercise caution with its budget.        Under the plan presented by the Board of Regents and approved yesterday (Oct. 25), each institution will contribute three percent of its state appropriation to the savings plan designed to help the state cover a $1.8 billion budget deficit brought on by the recent hurricanes. For Southeastern, Moffett said this amount is $1,370,533.        “We are assuming that this is a preliminary target and that we may be required to provide additional savings as the state’s financial situation is clarified and following the anticipated special legislative session,” Moffett said. “This at least allows us to return to some sense of routine operations.”        According to Moffett, Southeastern will adopt the following guidelines initially:        -- Instructional supplies: budget units will be allowed to expend funds already budgeted so as not to adversely impact academic services;        -- Non-instructional supplies: units will be held to expenditures equal to 75 percent of budgeted funds;        -- Travel: units can expend 80 percent of original budgeted travel funds;        -- Acquisitions: the freeze on acquisitions will remain;        -- Personnel services: units can continue to recruit and interview candidates for new and vacant positions, but administrative approval will be required before a job offer can be extended.        Moffett said meetings are being scheduled next week for faculty and staff to further discuss and clarify the budgetary impact.         “We believe these interim measures will allow us to maintain the integrity of our instructional program and provide adequate services to our students,” Moffett said. “We will be very prudent with our budgetary expenditures with the anticipation that the targeted reductions could be increased at a later time. This is a significant challenge for us, but I am optimistic that our staff and faculty will work productively through these issues.”