Budget Cuts

A few weeks ago, our university president announced that there would be some financial restraint used in the upcoming budgets and asked departments to start thinking about cutting back. My outgoing department chair followed that announcement with a number of new departmental policies that would save a little bit. I just received a notice of a faculty meeting Friday where we will discuss more practical budget matters. Apparently the dean has asked departments to prioritize their programs and budgetary needs so that "important things" don't get cut. Obviously, that implies that there are unimportant things that we are doing, and I'm interested to know what those are. I think that my job has, in some ways, been shielded from the economic situation in the country, and it's interesting to think about it affects me more and more. There are a lot of things that I have counted on that I wonder about. The assistant dean in charge of research and the internal grants that I apply for has said he doesn't anticipate cuts in his area because "this is so integral to who we are as a university." I wonder about that assurance. I am due for a merit increase in August. I'm not sure if they can change a policy like that without the approval of the faculty senate, but it's definitely something to think about. There is talk about finding ways to reduce our dependence on adjuncts and lecturers, and I wonder if they will increase our teaching load (a nightmare that haunts me). I'll know more in a week, I guess. I just hope this meeting isn't an excuse to vent about the situation.