NMSU adjusts budget following low enrollment numbers

Due to dwindling fall enrollment numbers at New Mexico State University, President Garrey Carruthers has implemented a plan to make up for lost tuition revenue. Friday, President Carruthers updated the university on the progress of that plan.

When Abc-7 spoke to him about the need to adjust the university’s budget, he said there was no need to worry.

“It’s not a time for panic, but rather for an adjustment,” Carruthers said.

NMSU is currently facing a $4.8 million dollar tuition revenue shortfall. Carruthers cited several factors for the dwindling enrollment numbers, including a shrinking pool of potential college students, and fewer high school graduates across the state.

The university is simply seeing fewer and fewer students in classrooms.

When Abc-7 met with Carruthers last month he said he wanted each college to find funds within the university that could be used towards the shortfall.

Since then, administrators have met with deans at all seven colleges to identify those funds and pinpoint where adjustments can be made.

Last month, Carruthers stressed that he wanted avoid across the board cuts. The school will instead look at 1%, 3% and 5% cut scenarios for each unit.

According to Carruthers, nearly 61% of the funds that will cover the shortfall will come from administrative budgets and 38% from academic budgets.

A large amount will be from salaries of vacant positions that have yet to be filled. Carruthers emphasizes the cuts are only temporary but says NMSU must ultimately focus on improving enrollment.

Another way NMSU adjusted resources to make up for the shortfall, was by cutting back on energy usage.