The FY10 budget represents a 4 percent increase from FY09. It goes into effect Sept. 1, 2009.
"To maintain a balanced budget, we had to make a number of cutbacks, reductions and reallocations in various departments," said Welcome W. Wilson Sr., chairman of the board. "It is a bare-bones budget that reflects the times we are in. Some difficult decisions were made, but this budget will allow us to make progress in achieving our goals of student success, national competitiveness and community advancement."
The UH System consists of four universities - the University of Houston, UH-Clear Lake, UH-Downtown and UH-Victoria - and two teaching centers, UHS-Cinco Ranch and UHS-Sugar Land. Total enrollment for FY10 is expected to exceed 60,000 students.
Here is the FY10 budget on a university-by-university basis:
- University of Houston - $996.5 million
- UH-Clear Lake - $105.5 million
- UH-Downtown - $136.7 million
- UH-Victoria - $50 million
- UH System Administration - $13.2 million
Funding for the budget comes from a number of sources, including tuition and fees (32 percent), state appropriations (23 percent) and contracts and grants (15 percent). Uses for the funds fall into the categories of student access and success (53 percent), infrastructure and administration (18 percent), capital construction (16 percent) and national competitiveness (10 percent).
At UH, the budget includes a $3 million increase in financial aid and scholarship funds, $3.7 million in instructional support, $2.5 million for faculty hiring and retention, and $1 million to expand child care and improve campus security.
At UH-Clear Lake, the budget includes $640,000 in additional financial aid and $913,000 in start-up costs for its new Pearland campus.
At UH-Downtown, the budget includes $924,000 for 14 new faculty members, which includes positions at the new UHS Northwest University Center.
At UH-Victoria, the budget includes $972,000 for faculty additions and retention and $1.1 million to support the school's expansion to a four-year institution.