At her first meeting as interim president, Provost Lou Anna Simon addressed MSU's monetary situation as a state budget crisis has forced the university to prepare for massive cutbacks and possible tuition increases.

As the legislature makes its final decision on state appropriations for public universities, MSU could face up to a 6.75-percent funding cut.

To manage about a $60 million funding cut, the university will continue to trim department budgets, Simon said.

"This is certainly a challenge to the university in terms of quality," she said.

Simon cited the cancellation of 12 academic programs and 17 moratoriums, including those taken on by the Department of Audiology and Speech Sciences as part of cutbacks which have already occurred at MSU.

Restructuring employment will continue to be a part of dealing with a decrease in state funding, Simon said. MSU Extension and the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station have wiped out 40 job positions.

"All those activities have put stress on the institution," she said.

Simon said some "uncertainties" still exist for the university, but the MSU Board of Trustees will be finalizing their reduction guidelines by June.

Tuition increases will come along with university-wide cutbacks, Simon said.

"We have to find a balance," she said. "We need to meet the students and their families halfway."