Ottawa University faculty have found that the economic downturn is not as bad as it could be for their lives and jobs. ‘
Kara Cunningham, assistant professor of communications and business, said that communications was one of the departments that had to take a budget cut.
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She also said that there are many different accounts under the communications department-some of which had to be cut.
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‘We just completely folded some accounts,’ she said.
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Cunningham’ said that things like yearbook and advertising were completely dropped in favor of other accounts retaining their full budget. ‘
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‘PR hasn’t seen a cut because we got rid of advertising,’ she said. ‘Journalism hasn’t seen a cut because we got rid of yearbook.’
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Other academic departments were affected in different ways and to different degrees. Cunningham said that other departments took a percentage from each account.
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Professor of Biology Hank Tillinghast said that the biology department was not significantly affected. ‘
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‘The university has been pretty good about meeting our budget needs,’ he said. ‘We identify budget needs and all in all I have to say that was a good response.’ There is equipment that we would like to buy that we have had to delay.’
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Tillinghast said that despite the equipment purchases being delayed, for daily operations there has been no serious impact on the biology department. ‘
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‘That says something about the university making sure that the classes were funded,’ he said. ‘We probably have the largest supply budget of any discipline on the campus, with the exception of perhaps Information Technology. for day to day function, we’re probably as demanding as anyone.’
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Frank Lemp, associate professor of the visual arts, said that his department has not been affected as much as others.
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‘Some of the changes that are ongoing in the department are getting delayed,’ he said. ‘I am just assuming that the university is going to put money in those places where there is an immediate need.’
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Cunningham said that the economy’s affect on her personally has not been as bad as it could be. In fact, she has benefitted in some ways.’ ‘
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‘It’s a buyer’s market,’ she said. ‘And I benefitted because I got a lower interest rate on both my home and a vehicle that I purchased.’
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Cunningham is married with young children, and her husband is employed in construction. ‘
‘We’re very lucky that he has a job,’ she said. ‘
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However, Cunningham’s retirement is one thing that has been affected.
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Cunningham said that the Ottawa University used to match the percentage that professors put aside from their salary from their retirment fund, through the financial services company TIAA-CREF.
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Due to the economic downturn, this is no longer the case, Cunningham said. ‘
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‘They don’t match anymore,’ Cunningham said. ‘When I retire I’m going to get less money.’
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Hank Tillinghast also mentioned the TIAA-CREF matching.
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‘I’m continuing to invest my maximum,’ he said. ‘What happened was the decision was the university not to match. It’s reduced my new additions to retirement by fifty percent.’
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Tillinghast said that he is married with adult children.
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‘There are some worries that come with the economy based on your children’s ability to survive,’ he said. ‘In terms of the market, I’ve got investments for retirement.’ Hopefully short term impact. I don’t have serious worries there.’
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Lemp said that he feels the University is generally doing well despite the economic problems.
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‘It’s been okay so far,’ he said. ‘We’ll see how it goes in the next year and a half to see if Obama is pulling the right strings and if he’s making the right decisions.’