MSU President M. Peter McPherson will address the financial state of the university in light of the state's $900 million budget shortfall when he presents to the Academic Council on Tuesday.
University spokesman Terry Denbow said putting MSU's budget in the context of the state budget shortfall is essential.
"It's important for him to report to the university and say where we stand, and what we should expect in the months ahead," he said.
Jon Sticklen, chairman of the Executive Committee of Academic Council, said no one in the MSU community is expecting the definitive word on what will happen.
"What is clear is that there will be another budget problem," Sticklen said. "How much that impacts MSU won't be known until the state government grinds along."
He said although it's only been about a month since Provost Lou Anna Simon gave a budget update at the Sept. 23 Academic Council meeting, another one is necessary because some academic-unit cuts are anticipated. He said Simon already has instructed academic units to make contingency plans, so they should expect they might face cuts.
"This shouldn't come as a huge surprise," Sticklen said. "It's just a matter of which contingency plan has its button pushed in the end."
The University Committee on Curriculum also will address the council and bring up the 127 course changes its members have proposed.
The number of changes is pretty typical, said Tom Wolff, a member of the committee and associate dean of engineering for undergraduate studies.
He said a change is any course description update, change in the time a course is offered or a change in the name of a course.
But the 49 new classes seem higher than usual, Wolff said.
"Every so many years, a program undergoes major curriculum revisions, which can result in more new course offerings than normal," he said.
Denbow said despite additional budget problems and possible cuts, the effects won't have a big impact on the university's mission.
"The momentum of quality and excellence at MSU must not be halted, and how we address the budget problems will be a reflection of that commitment," he said.
