Two of the three solutions to Eastern’s current fiscal callback relate to summer school.

Eastern now has to give back 2.9 percent, or $1.5 million, down from a forecasted 8 percent reserve Gov. Rod Blagojevich announced in February.

The first solution is cutting classes in the summer curriculum with low enrollments.

The university named $800,000 in summer school cuts last in the list responding to the governor’s February request. The cut proposed eliminating the summer program.

“We will not have to execute this step,” said Blair Lord, vice president for academic affairs. “We will, however, be looking very closely at small classes and canceling those which are not financially viable because of small enrollments.”

The look at enrollment only starts with the summer and decisions on which classes will be cut could be finalized by the end of this month, he said.

It begins with deans looking over both current and past enrollments of summer classes.

“I would expect that there will be some classes affected at each level,” Lord said.

Eastern could face more than 8 percent, or $4 million, in cuts for Fiscal Year 2004 beginning July 1.

“What the effect will be on that part of the summer session which takes place after July 1, 2003 is still to be determined,” Lord said. “While still

murky, it appears it may present us with bigger challenges than the FY 03 callback.”

Next year’s budget is up against a $5 billion deficit and proposed cuts of $112 million across higher education.

The second solution is running the air conditioning less in some academic and residence buildings on Friday afternoon and over the weekend.

Overall, the temperature increase will be about 10 degrees in those buildings. Buildings like Booth Library, the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union or science buildings will not experience the air change because of items stored in them or planned summer events and activities.

There are more than 150 individual classes in 65 academic areas scheduled for at least an hour of class time after noon on Friday, according to the current summer course catalog.

Many classes are listed for times yet to be announced.

The solution will include moving classes to buildings they are not usually taught in.

“So as far as scheduling goes, we are looking closely at all scheduled activities to ensure that they get scheduled in buildings with working air handling,” Lord said. “We have not completed this project which must be done in conjunction with our facilities folks, but it is ongoing.”

Turning down the air will save $50,000 for this fiscal year alone.

Carman Hall and buildings in Greek Court will be closed, but “most of our (residence) buildings are full all summer,” said Mark Hudson, director of housing and dining.

Hudson said the halls that will be air conditioned will be determined at the start of each week and vary as the summer progresses.

Classroom changes are the main concern.

“We expect that other than going to some different buildings there should be no serious impacts on students (or faculty) from this process,” Lord said.

The third solution relates to university insurance costs.