MiddletownJournal.com

As Miami University Middletown plans for possible cuts in state funding of more than $1 million, the school's dean said campus employees have volunteered to take pay reductions.

"It won't make the budget crisis go away, but it sure helps," MUM Dean Kelly Cowan said.

MUM is planning for a 2.5 percent — or about $300,000 — in state-funding cuts for mid-January and an additional 10 percent reduction in state subsidy for the academic year beginning in July, according to Cowan.

Miami University President David Hodge told the Oxford campus $22 million needs to be cut, and earlier this month offered to forego a $68,000 performance bonus. As many as 100 jobs may be cut from the Oxford branch.

The branch campus in Hamilton also is reviewing its budget to reduce spending.

Along with funding cuts, Miami Middletown is anticipating it will not be able to raise tuition because the state has denied any request from regional campuses the past two years, Cowan said.

With most of the budget going to personnel costs, Cowan said cuts will have to come from that area.

Despite budget hardships, Miami is still looking toward making important investments in the future, Cowan said.

The campus has seen an increase in enrollment of as much as 10 percent over last year, which will bring in additional dollars. MUM also has focused on offering more weekend and evening classes, and increased online classes by 150 percent in recent years.

Miami Middletown also is looking into investing in a full-time director of online learning to oversee online classes, she said.

Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2551 or mengle@coxohio.com.