UI's Mason optimistic about no funding cuts

IOWA CITY - University of Iowa President Sally Mason said Wednesday she remains optimistic the university won't face state budget cuts for next year.

State funding for Iowa's public universities is still under discussion in the Legislature, with varying proposals under consideration. But Mason, during a visit to the UI Staff Council, said UI officials are planning for 2012-13 with a flat budget model, which means no funding cuts.

"We're somewhat optimistic that we're not likely to get cuts or large cuts this year" which is different from the past several years, Mason said.

Modest pay increases for faculty and staff are being planned, she said, and officials will know more about that at the end of the legislative session.

Growing enrollment in the past several years helped the UI cushion the blow of state budget cuts, Mason said, and officials expect more enrollment growth this fall. Current application and enrollment numbers are robust and running ahead of this time last year, she said.

Efforts will be made to recruit more Iowa resident students to the university, Mason said, despite flat and declining demographics of high school graduates. The UI enrollment in fall 2011 was 43 percent non-resident students.

"Those numbers have been flat for a while," Mason said of the in-state students applying to the UI. "We still think we can put some more effort into attracting more Iowa students."