Delta State $11 Million in the Hole

[CalifOKRA]

What does this mean for Delta State University?

Delta State’s Future Depends on $11 Million, Multi-Year Budget Cut, President Says (September 29, 2023)
https://mississippitoday.org/2023/09...n-dollar-hole/

"About a decade of “emergency-style budgeting” at Delta State University has all but maxed out its credit and created an $11 million hole that is poised to be an unavoidable existential threat."

[laker]

Wow! How does this happen at a public school?

[statesmen supporter]

I reached out about that to a DSU employee. They stated the article is overblown

[CalifOKRA]

I reached out about that to a DSU employee. They stated the article is overblown

I can see it as a little fear mongering. However, $11 million in debt for a small school like Delta State is not good. Especially with a significant decline in enrollment.
More than likely, cost for students will go up, and cuts in salaries and other cuts will happen. How else does Delta State recover? Or make money/break even?

[CalifOKRA]

Wow! How does this happen at a public school?

I think some of it has to do with the previous President. It seems a lot of this happened while he was at the helm over the last decade.

[Shugley]

I reached out about that to a DSU employee. They stated the article is overblown

$1.7 million shortfall from the last fiscal year and a small university that is still operating like it has over 3,000 students when it doesn’t. I predict the president to be handing out a lot of pink slips over the next few years.

[DawgUp]

Hate to see this. The fact he already knows he won't be there long because he has to fix an issue he inherited sucks. I take it preparations are being made for the possibility of a number of sports being cut.

[statesmen supporter]

It is sad / but happened under the old president. The new president has some work to do. If it was run in anyway as the article suggests that is for sure crappy management!! I respect his honesty and I believe he will get it in order. May be part of the reason the last president was let go. With anything close to this occurring under his watch I’m glad he is gone. And yes some fat will / needs to be trimmed!

[CalifOKRA]

It is sad / but happened under the old president. The new president has some work to do. If it was run in anyway as the article suggests that is for sure crappy management!! I respect his honesty and I believe he will get it in order. May be part of the reason the last president was let go. With anything close to this occurring under his watch I’m glad he is gone. And yes some fat will / needs to be trimmed!

But what “fat” needs to be trimmed? Normally fat would indicate unhealthy programs or bad programs.
What programs or positions at Delta State deserve to be trimmed?

I mean, some instructors are probably going to lose their jobs. Some teachers are going to leave, because pay cuts are going to happen. There is potential that athletic programs may be cut or scholarships may be reduced. Coaches and assistants will be paid less. Tuition might have to be raised, potentially leading to even lower enrollment.

All of the individuals impacted by these upcoming cuts don’t necessarily deserve it, but it’s inevitable.

We have schools in the GSC thinking about the future and potentially moving up to FCS and advancing their national and/or regional footprint. It seems Delta State is just trying to survive the present.

As a former player, alumnus, and life member of the alumni association, this is extremely disappointing. I hope the current president is able to turn things around.

[Argonut]

The baby bust of the 2008 recession means there will be a severe drop in 18 year olds in general and college students in particular beginning in 2025. The graphs of this drop are straight down and quite precipitous. The Delta situation will be a common problem for lots of colleges over the next decade.

[statesmen supporter]

For one is some of the excess in hiring that was done over the last few years. Across all departments cuts will need to be made. Like I stated the new president seemed honest straight up and I feel he will take care of business his background indicates he did a great job at his last school. All I can do is see it / but stay positive

[UNALions]

This is happening at a lot of schools post-pandemic including UNA. The scary part for some is that schools like UNA are growing and expect to right the ship soon. Others, well, aren’t. It really scares me for DSU. They have to find a way to increase enrollment. A lot of UNA’s growth is from online offerings including a new Executive Doctor of Business Administration degree.

[CalifOKRA]

This is happening at a lot of schools post-pandemic including UNA. The scary part for some is that schools like UNA are growing and expect to right the ship soon. Others, well, aren’t. It really scares me for DSU. They have to find a way to increase enrollment. A lot of UNA’s growth is from online offerings including a new Executive Doctor of Business Administration degree.

I think for Delta, COVID only compounded the issues. A 48% decrease in a decade and a half is insane. Delta is going to have a hard time recovering, if they do so at all. An $11 million deficit is no joke for a small school with declining enrollment numbers.

[UWARTime]

Interesting. UWA which is in the middle of nowhere just have a state of the Univ by our President Dr. Tucker. He presented a very well oiled machine, all the new construction projects and a ton of money the school is getting from the governor and the state. Matter a fact they just got $11 million from the governor which they can spend on anything except salaries, for getting honored for something, I forget. Maybe they can give that $11 million to DSU as a loan, with interest of course. Anyway, it’s surprising because even though I know DSU is in middle of nowhere MS, I just always thought you all were always in better situation across the board as a college than say UWA. Hope your school figures this all out. Someone said our president is retiring spring of 24. I’m curious if he or she will be a proponent of championship sports or not. We’ll see. Best of luck again to the okra. Surely y’all have several millionaires in that area or that are alum. I’d knock on their door.

[Shugley]

Interesting. UWA which is in the middle of nowhere just have a state of the Univ by our President Dr. Tucker. He presented a very well oiled machine, all the new construction projects and a ton of money the school is getting from the governor and the state. Matter a fact they just got $11 million from the governor which they can spend on anything except salaries, for getting honored for something, I forget. Maybe they can give that $11 million to DSU as a loan, with interest of course. Anyway, it’s surprising because even though I know DSU is in middle of nowhere MS, I just always thought you all were always in better situation across the board as a college than say UWA. Hope your school figures this all out. Someone said our president is retiring spring of 24. I’m curious if he or she will be a proponent of championship sports or not. We’ll see. Best of luck again to the okra. Surely y’all have several millionaires in that area or that are alum. I’d knock on their door.

Our last admin said they wanted DSU to be the “flagship school of the delta.” Now 1) that’s a low bar and 2) I asked, why would your goal be to be the flagship school in an area that the population is in SERIOUS decline. Recruit elsewhere. I was met with crickets.