In his remarks to the State System Board of Governors last week, Chancellor Dan Greenstein said he’s concerned that universities with more money may have an advantage over schools such as the state-owned universities this fall and moving forward.
Calling it “a Darwinian model”, Greenstein said he’s disturbed that schools with more money will be able to get the resources that will enable them to reopen their campuses in the fall – such as personal protective equipment and testing kits – while schools that struggle financially might not be able to compete.
Greenstein estimated a $52 million shortfall in revenue through the summer due to the pandemic. It would be worse but the System will receive $80 million in federal stimulus funds, half of which can be used to offset the losses. He also predicted that the State System will accelerate its five-year plan to save $250 million through shared services. The new goal will be to achieve those saving in two to three years.
The chancellor also said decisions about reopening campuses will likely be left up to the individual universities, since there are so many differences in circumstances from school to school.
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