MSU cuts outreach to meet budget shortfall

Mary Potter


MSU cuts outreach to meet budget shortfall | Murray State University, Kentucky, Matt Bevin, higher education, college costs

February 2016 Commissioner of Education Stephen Pruitt speaks with Outreach Director Gina Winchester.

One of the ways that Murraay State University is covering the budget shortfall is by laying off the staff in its Office of Regional Outreach. Gina Winchester and her staff will no longer have jobs on June 30th.

The Outreach Office has worked closely with West Kentucky school systems. Winchester and her staff have partnered with local school districts to create programs like Falcon Academy, the Hickman County High School program that offers free college class credits from MSU to high school students. The Outreach Office also facilitated placement of computers in learning centers across the Purchase.

In other actions, MSU will stop funding men's tennis. Academic changes are planned. One example is that a bachelor's degree in philosophy will become a concentration in English.

According to a report on the WKMS website "Overall, Murray State is cutting 12 full-time positions and leaving 30 vacant positions unfilled." A link to the story on WKMS is below.

Murray State raised tuition 4.5% in light of a 4.5% decrease in state funding. The University budget will be finalized at the next Regents meeting on June 10th.