NEVADA SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCTION

NEVADA SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCTION Governor Requested Budget Reduction Scenarios

Fiscal Year 2019-20 - 4% Budget Reduction Scenario Fiscal Year 2020-21 ? 6%, 10% and 14% Budget Reduction Scenarios

April 13, 2020

(BOARD OF REGENTS 05/08/20) Ref. BOR-5, Page 1 of 271

NEVADA SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION

BOARD OF REGENTS

Dr. Jason Geddes, Chairman Dr. Mark W. Doubrava, Vice Chair

Dr. Patrick R. Carter Mrs. Amy Carvalho Mrs. Carol Del Carlo Mr. Trevor Hayes Mrs. Cathy McAdoo

Mr. Donald S. McMichael Sr. Mr. John T. Moran Mr. Kevin J. Page Ms. Laura E. Perkins Mr. Rick Trachok Vacancy, District 5

Mr. Dean J. Gould, Chief of Staff and Special Counsel to the Board of Regents

OFFICERS OF THE NEVADA SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION

Dr. Thom Reilly, Chancellor Nevada System of Higher Education

Dr. Marc A. Johnson, President University of Nevada, Reno

Dr. Federico Zaragoza, President College of Southern Nevada

Dr. Karin Hilgersom, President Truckee Meadows Community College

Dr. Kumud Acharya, Interim President Desert Research Institute

Dr. Marta Meana, President University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Ms. Joyce Helens, President Great Basin College

Dr. Vincent R. Solis, President Western Nevada College

Mr. Bart J. Patterson, President Nevada State College

(BOARD OF REGENTS 05/08/20) Ref. BOR-5, Page 2 of 271

NEVADA SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION

BUDGET REDUCTION SCENARIOS FOR

FISCAL YEARS 2019-20 AND 2020-21

On April 3, 2020, the Governor issued a directive asking all state agencies, including the Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE), to submit budget reduction proposals for fiscal year 2019-20 and fiscal year 2020-21. For fiscal year 2019-20, the Governor directed all state agencies to submit budget proposals for a 4% reduction in state funding. The Governor also requested state agencies to provide three different budget reduction scenarios for fiscal year 2020-21. The Governor asked for scenarios of 6%, 10% and 14%.

It is in the best interests of this state to preserve higher education to the extent possible. Significant cuts will significantly reduce the ability of the Nevada System of Higher Education to produce college graduates to meet the state's workforce needs, including in the areas of healthcare, engineering, teaching, business and technology, and to perform research that improves the lives of Nevadans and beyond.

The Chancellor and the Council of Presidents in consultation with faculty and student leadership have put together budget reduction scenarios that minimize the impact on students and attempts to protect NSHE's ability to deliver on its higher education mission. NSHE considered multiple options for reducing budgets, and ultimately institutions implemented a hiring freeze along with operating and other reductions totaling $35.7 M before looking to the NSHE professional staff and students to share in the burden of making budget reductions.

While multiple cost-saving measures are recommended as part of the budget reduction scenarios, the CARES Act funding, professional staff furloughs, and a temporary student surcharge are all recommended uniformly across the system.

Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act created the $14 billion Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund. 90% of the Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds are allocated directly to institutions of higher education using the following formula.

(A) 75 percent according to the relative share of full-time equivalent enrollment of Federal Pell Grant recipients who are not exclusively enrolled in distance education courses prior to the coronavirus emergency; and

(B) 25 percent according to the relative share of full-time equivalent enrollment of students who were not Federal Pell Grant recipients who are not exclusively enrolled in distance education courses prior to the coronavirus emergency.

On April 9, 2020, the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education, posted the allocations to each institution of higher education for this section of the CARES Act. The act requires institutions of higher education to use no less than 50 percent of these funds to provide emergency financial aid grants to students for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to the coronavirus. Under this section of the act, the Nevada System of Higher Education will receive the following amounts.

Page 1 of 269

(BOARD OF REGENTS 05/08/20) Ref. BOR-5, Page 3 of 271

Institution Name University of Nevada-Las Vegas University of Nevada-Reno College of Southern Nevada Truckee Meadows Community College Nevada State College Western Nevada College Great Basin College

Institutional Support

$ 11,842,647 7,122,267 7,039,204 1,673,626 1,377,872 681,735 235,030

Student Aid $ 11,842,647

7,122,267 7,039,204 1,673,626 1,377,872

681,735 235,030

Total $ 23,685,293

14,244,534 14,078,408 3,347,251 2,755,743 1,363,469

470,059

NSHE Total

$ 29,972,379 $ 29,972,379 $ 59,944,757

It is unknown when the CARES Act funding will be available, so NSHE chose to allocate the institutional share of these funds to the fiscal year 2020-21 budget reductions. Because the institutions prepared their budget reduction scenarios using estimates from the American Council on Education (ACE), which are slightly different from the actual allocation, there is a slight difference between the actual distribution of funds and the amounts contained in the budget reduction scenarios.

Temporary Professional Staff Furloughs

The salary and benefits for all NSHE staff within the state operating budgets make up, on average, 80% of the state budget allocation. Because of a high concentration of the budget supporting staff salaries and benefits, it is difficult to reach the level of budget reductions requested without impacting staff. As a result, the decision was made to furlough professional staff at the 10% and 14% budget reduction levels. The decision to implement furloughs is intended to help prevent a further reduction in staff. The 10% budget reduction includes a half-day furlough every month or a 2.3% salary reduction, which reduces spending by $10.6M. The 14% budget reduction increases this to one day every month or a 4.6% salary reduction, which reduces spending by $21.2 M. Presidents will have discretion on how to implement furloughs for non-general funded positions and positions funded with more than 70% grants and contracts will be exempt. NSHE intends to hold harmless the base pay and retirement contributions for NSHE profession staff. To achieve this, NSHE will request the Legislature to take the necessary action during their next legislative session.

Temporary Student Surcharge

To ensure NSHE continues to deliver on its higher education mission, NSHE will implement a temporary student surcharge in the case of a 14% budget reduction. Based on the per-credit rates below, a surcharge at all institutions would generate $10.1M in fee revenue and negate further budget cuts. The implementation of a temporary student surcharge will only be necessary if NSHE is required to reduce budgets by 14% or more.

Page 2 of 269 (BOARD OF REGENTS 05/08/20) Ref. BOR-5, Page 4 of 271

Below are the proposed per credit temporary student surcharges at each institution.

Institution

Universities Undergrad Graduate

Nevada State College College of Southern Nevada Truckee Meadows Community College Western Nevada College Great Basin College

Amount

%

$ 6.00 2.5% $ 8.00 2.7% $ 5.00 2.9% Undergraduate/2.1% Graduate $ 3.00 2.8% lower-division/1.7% upper division $ 3.00 2.8% lower-division/1.7% upper division $ 3.00 2.8% lower-division/1.7% upper division $ 3.00 2.8% lower-division/1.7% upper division

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