WSU deans seek ‘vertical’ cuts

PULLMAN – Washington State University is coming to terms with how it will make nearly $25 million in state budget cuts, and the prospects look painful. Joan King, the university’s chief budget officer, said the deans are being encouraged to make “vertical” cuts of entire programs in order to maintain the quality of the programs left standing. WSU President Elson Floyd has said that while “horizontal,” across-the-board cuts could save programs, they will ultimately lead all programs to mediocrity. Budget-cutting plans will be sent to Floyd for his approval by Dec. 1 and made public.