Chancellor Woodson is concerned about budget planning for the year.

Although the state budget is still undecided, Woodson said he believes it is time for the University to start planning for the cuts that are more than likely coming, according to the video released on Tuesday. 

According to Woodson, the state’s universities have been asked to prepare for up to 15 percent.

“For N.C. State, that translates to almost 80 million dollars,” Woodson said in the video.  “Taking a one-time, 15 percent reduction is not an easy or painless task.”

However, according to Woodson, signs show that this isn’t going to be a one-time happening.

“Every signal indicates that this is not a one-time reduction but a long-term readjustment to our state funding,” Woodson said in the video.

The Resource Strategies Task Force has already recommended a review of budget and business operations, according to Woodson.

“I agree with this recommendation,” Woodson said during the video.

While examining options during this budget cut, there are five principles Woodson has said the University will follow.

These five principles include various ideals for the University.

They include:

protecting to the extent possible instruction and student support maintain and enhance the strength of our faculty build on our reputation as a leading research University by enhancing the capacity of our faculty and staff to discover new knowledge and transfer this knowledge to the marketplace for the benefit of all North Carolinians ensure well-maintained facilities and campus that support a safe and exceptional learning environment for our students ensure our continued position as one of the nation’s best values.”

Because of the principles of the University, Woodson has asked Provost Warwick Arden and Vice Chancellor Charles Leffler to work on the University budget as well as the structure.

According to Woodson, he believes that positions will be lost during the cuts.

“There is no doubt that we will lose positions with such a deep reduction in our budget,” Woodson said.  “Our top three business operations expenditures are labor-related.  But let me quickly add that new efficiencies gained through restructuring will have the new effect of negating some of our job losses and is our best opportunity to minimize the impact on our employees.”

Woodson is asking that the plan be completed by March 15.  The launch of the budget cuts is July 1.

Woodson has asked Provost Warwick Arden and Vice Chancellor Charles Leffler to work on budget cuts.

“Over the next few weeks, we will carry out the work of responding to this budget crisis,” Woodson said. “Our response should be to take every effort to restructure our organization with the assumption of a shrinking state budget going forward.”

Although Woodson said the decisions will be difficult to make, he believes these are extraordinary economic times call for patience and understanding.