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Augustana College Thursday, Nov. 18, 1976 Sioux Falls, South Dakota Vol. 59, No. 9 Balcer discusses money policy and priorities By KATHY RANG College news editor "If I wasn't confident we could handle the situation of the deficit, I wouldn't remain on as president," com-mented Augustana College President Charles Balcer about the current issue of a substantial deficit in the an-nual budget. Balcer made the comment in an interview with the MIRROR, during which he expressed his views OR a variety of campus issues and concerns. As discussed at the recent meeting of the Board of Regents, the college budget had run $445,000 in the red last year and the current year shows a deficit of $400,- 000. Balcer attributed the lack of funds to several fac-tors. One, he said, was that there was a lesser amount of money than usual in the an-nual fund used to operate the college. The soaring prices of inflation also played a part, said Balcer, along with the general un-derestimation of expen-ditures. He further referred to "inadequate controls and data processing problems due to the conversion from one computer to a different type of computer," as a significant factor influencing the deficit. Balcer was optimistic in viewing the situation, emphasizing a positive ap-proach to solving the problem. Perhaps the most significant effect will come from the employment of a managing consultant, Maurice Knutson, who should begin examining Augustana's situation the first week in December. Balcer said that Knutson has had a considerable amount of experience in helping other ALC colleges in such situations. Knutson will be examining the audits of Augustana over the past two years and recommending changes. "At this point we need someone to come in from the outside without bias to look at this situation," ex-plained Balcer. "We are not alone in this problem of the deficit, as it is confronting many institutions. I do - not view it as a serious problem." Balcer also advocated a greater participation by alumni, friends of the college and corporations in suppor-ting Augustana through un-restricted monetary gifts. He said plans are for a major fund drive to be launched during the second half of the 1976-77 fiscal year. Definite action on the fund drive proposal was deferred at the recent meeting of the Regents, said Balcer, pending the results of a feasibility study. He ex-plained that the feasibility study is being handled by the Fund Council and con-sists of interviews of area Augustana people to register their reactions to the proposed drive and their willingness to contribute to the cause. The goal of the fund drive, according the Balcer's 1976- 77 President's Report, is to substantially increase the amount of gift support over the next three years. He said this increased support is necessary "to uphold and strengthen our outstanding educational program, keep our budget in balance and place several new buildings on the campus which are desperately needed." Balcer explained the building priorities in his report, with the facilities at the top of the list being a new physical education / recrea-tion complex, the expansion of the library and Phase I of a new Social Science building. Other priorities include the theater facilities, visual arts and construction of a chapel. When asked why a chapel should have rather low priority at a church-related school, Balcer replied, "The decision is based on a philosophy developed over the years that a chapel building is not necessary for healthy religious life in any location, as evidenced by the Augustana community holding services in the gym, dorms, etc." He added that the chapel is to be built en-tirely with money given ex-pressly for that purpose and that presently there is about half as much money as will be needed. Balcer expressed his own view on the building of a chapel, saying, "Personally I believe that we need a chapel building on campus as a symbol that we are a college of the church. A chapel would be a symbol of Christ at Augustana in higher education." In his annual report, Balcer said an estimate of the costs of the building projects was too tentative for him to suggest a figure. In his column in the Sept. 16 issue of the MIRROR, Balcer outlined the in-creases in tuition, room and board and fees for the next school year. Tuition will be increased by $225 and the general fee will go up $50, with students paying $45 and $40 more respectively for room rent and board next year. "We are attempting to keep the cost as low as possible to the student so as not to be priced out of the market," said Balcer, "In determining costs, we also look at the competition so that we are not pricing ourselves out of the market." A number of years ago the students, via the student council, had control over student activity money which included such things as forensics, debate, drama, music and athletics. Control of these funds reverted to President Balcer. Recently, through a resolution at an ASA convention, students expressed interest in regain-ing some control over these funds. Balcer expressed a negative reaction to the proposal, saying "These funds are part of the college operating budget, and I feel that I need to have some control over them." Balcer further explained that the monies were placed in his hands because of the trend for the student council to "make appropriations accor-ding to vested interests in particular activities." Balcer said no action has yet been taken on the mealbook question. The proposal as designed by 1976 graduate Dave Li:lehaug for the ASA and submitted to the Regents called for a freeze on the mealbook rate for one year at that current year's level. Any deficit due to the freeze would be made up by an in-crease in the general fee the following year. Balcer did not comment directly on the question, but stated that the task force, consisting of faculty, student and ad-ministrative members and chaired by Mark Norem, was still meeting. Among other things, he said, the task force is looking at the way other schools handle the meal system. V. req . Commenting favorably on the Community College, Balcer said, "There is no in-tention on the part of the ad-ministration or the Board of Regents to have the Com-munity College interfere or compete with Augustana." Balcer said that the Com-munity College will be deal-ing with an entirely different clientel than Augustana, and added that the institution should cost Augie nothing. Augustana's status as a liberal arts school has been challenged throughout re-cent years in light of the growth of vocationally-oriented programs such as special education or nursing. Seeing this growth as no threat to Augustana's liberal arts status, Balcer said, "I don't see us as minimizing our liberal arts programs, because they are basic to every other program we offer." He expressed the feeling that the liberal arts and vocationally-directed programs.can be intertwined to strengthen each other. Balcer said he looks toward the future with an op-timistic attitude. He added that for a successful future and resolution of present problems a positive ap-proach to all situations will be the key. "We are not alone in this problem of the deficit .. . I do not view it as a serious problem." Managing consultant will examine audits of the past two years, recommending changes. "We are attempting to keep the cost as low as possible to the student so as not to be priced out of the market." Student activity money: "These funds are part of the college operating budget, and I feel that I need to have some control over them."
Object Description
Title | Mirror - November 18, 1976 |
Subject (LC) | Augustana College (Sioux Falls, S.D.)--Students--Newspapers |
Type | Newspaper |
Date | 1976-11-18 |
Publishing agency | Augustana College, Sioux Falls, SD, USA |
Rights | This image may not be reproduced without the express written consent of Augustana University, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, USA. |
Medium | Text |
Format - Digital | |
Language | English |
Collection | Augustana Newspapers |
Contributing Institution | Mikkelsen Library, Augustana University |
Description
Title | Page 1 |
Type | Newspaper |
Date | 1976-11-18 |
Text | Augustana College Thursday, Nov. 18, 1976 Sioux Falls, South Dakota Vol. 59, No. 9 Balcer discusses money policy and priorities By KATHY RANG College news editor "If I wasn't confident we could handle the situation of the deficit, I wouldn't remain on as president," com-mented Augustana College President Charles Balcer about the current issue of a substantial deficit in the an-nual budget. Balcer made the comment in an interview with the MIRROR, during which he expressed his views OR a variety of campus issues and concerns. As discussed at the recent meeting of the Board of Regents, the college budget had run $445,000 in the red last year and the current year shows a deficit of $400,- 000. Balcer attributed the lack of funds to several fac-tors. One, he said, was that there was a lesser amount of money than usual in the an-nual fund used to operate the college. The soaring prices of inflation also played a part, said Balcer, along with the general un-derestimation of expen-ditures. He further referred to "inadequate controls and data processing problems due to the conversion from one computer to a different type of computer," as a significant factor influencing the deficit. Balcer was optimistic in viewing the situation, emphasizing a positive ap-proach to solving the problem. Perhaps the most significant effect will come from the employment of a managing consultant, Maurice Knutson, who should begin examining Augustana's situation the first week in December. Balcer said that Knutson has had a considerable amount of experience in helping other ALC colleges in such situations. Knutson will be examining the audits of Augustana over the past two years and recommending changes. "At this point we need someone to come in from the outside without bias to look at this situation," ex-plained Balcer. "We are not alone in this problem of the deficit, as it is confronting many institutions. I do - not view it as a serious problem." Balcer also advocated a greater participation by alumni, friends of the college and corporations in suppor-ting Augustana through un-restricted monetary gifts. He said plans are for a major fund drive to be launched during the second half of the 1976-77 fiscal year. Definite action on the fund drive proposal was deferred at the recent meeting of the Regents, said Balcer, pending the results of a feasibility study. He ex-plained that the feasibility study is being handled by the Fund Council and con-sists of interviews of area Augustana people to register their reactions to the proposed drive and their willingness to contribute to the cause. The goal of the fund drive, according the Balcer's 1976- 77 President's Report, is to substantially increase the amount of gift support over the next three years. He said this increased support is necessary "to uphold and strengthen our outstanding educational program, keep our budget in balance and place several new buildings on the campus which are desperately needed." Balcer explained the building priorities in his report, with the facilities at the top of the list being a new physical education / recrea-tion complex, the expansion of the library and Phase I of a new Social Science building. Other priorities include the theater facilities, visual arts and construction of a chapel. When asked why a chapel should have rather low priority at a church-related school, Balcer replied, "The decision is based on a philosophy developed over the years that a chapel building is not necessary for healthy religious life in any location, as evidenced by the Augustana community holding services in the gym, dorms, etc." He added that the chapel is to be built en-tirely with money given ex-pressly for that purpose and that presently there is about half as much money as will be needed. Balcer expressed his own view on the building of a chapel, saying, "Personally I believe that we need a chapel building on campus as a symbol that we are a college of the church. A chapel would be a symbol of Christ at Augustana in higher education." In his annual report, Balcer said an estimate of the costs of the building projects was too tentative for him to suggest a figure. In his column in the Sept. 16 issue of the MIRROR, Balcer outlined the in-creases in tuition, room and board and fees for the next school year. Tuition will be increased by $225 and the general fee will go up $50, with students paying $45 and $40 more respectively for room rent and board next year. "We are attempting to keep the cost as low as possible to the student so as not to be priced out of the market," said Balcer, "In determining costs, we also look at the competition so that we are not pricing ourselves out of the market." A number of years ago the students, via the student council, had control over student activity money which included such things as forensics, debate, drama, music and athletics. Control of these funds reverted to President Balcer. Recently, through a resolution at an ASA convention, students expressed interest in regain-ing some control over these funds. Balcer expressed a negative reaction to the proposal, saying "These funds are part of the college operating budget, and I feel that I need to have some control over them." Balcer further explained that the monies were placed in his hands because of the trend for the student council to "make appropriations accor-ding to vested interests in particular activities." Balcer said no action has yet been taken on the mealbook question. The proposal as designed by 1976 graduate Dave Li:lehaug for the ASA and submitted to the Regents called for a freeze on the mealbook rate for one year at that current year's level. Any deficit due to the freeze would be made up by an in-crease in the general fee the following year. Balcer did not comment directly on the question, but stated that the task force, consisting of faculty, student and ad-ministrative members and chaired by Mark Norem, was still meeting. Among other things, he said, the task force is looking at the way other schools handle the meal system. V. req . Commenting favorably on the Community College, Balcer said, "There is no in-tention on the part of the ad-ministration or the Board of Regents to have the Com-munity College interfere or compete with Augustana." Balcer said that the Com-munity College will be deal-ing with an entirely different clientel than Augustana, and added that the institution should cost Augie nothing. Augustana's status as a liberal arts school has been challenged throughout re-cent years in light of the growth of vocationally-oriented programs such as special education or nursing. Seeing this growth as no threat to Augustana's liberal arts status, Balcer said, "I don't see us as minimizing our liberal arts programs, because they are basic to every other program we offer." He expressed the feeling that the liberal arts and vocationally-directed programs.can be intertwined to strengthen each other. Balcer said he looks toward the future with an op-timistic attitude. He added that for a successful future and resolution of present problems a positive ap-proach to all situations will be the key. "We are not alone in this problem of the deficit .. . I do not view it as a serious problem." Managing consultant will examine audits of the past two years, recommending changes. "We are attempting to keep the cost as low as possible to the student so as not to be priced out of the market." Student activity money: "These funds are part of the college operating budget, and I feel that I need to have some control over them." |
Collection | Augustana Newspapers |
Contributing Institution | Mikkelsen Library, Augustana University |