April 13, 2001

["President's Office" <auemail@groupwise1.duc.auburn.edu>]

April 13, 2001

Dear Members of the Auburn Community:

	I am writing to summarize the current status of the budget
reduction for the coming year, and of the budget proration for the
current year.  I am pleased to report that the outlook is much less
gloomy today than it was two months ago, when we were threatened with
proration of 18%.  Thanks to the determined efforts of many people,
including especially Senator Lowell Barron, and Representatives Jack
Venable and Mike Hubbard, higher education has been able to negotiate a
reduction of the state appropriation for next year which we currently
estimate at about 3%. This will translate into considerably less damage
than initially appeared probable.

	This development may help place into perspective a recent
communication about which I have received several queries. On April 9,
2001, our Department of Human Resources distributed a letter which
reported the revised text of our policy concerning layoffs of
administrative/professional and staff employees. I can assure you that
the letter was sent only to clarify what the policy is, rather than to
signal its impending application. We are most hopeful that the budgetary
picture we see emerging will not involve layoffs of administrative/
professional and staff employees.

	One pressing issue that does remain, however, is proration of
the current year's state appropriations to education. I am happy to
confirm that on Wednesday of this week the Alabama Supreme Court issued
a ruling which was most favorable to higher education. The court ruling
stayed an order by Judge Tracy McCooey. Her order would have permitted
the governor to prorate this year's state appropriation at a much higher
rate for higher education than for K-12.

	In our view, the Supreme Court ruling leaves Governor
Siegelman's original order in place, at least for the time being. It
provided for uniform 6.2% proration for all of education. The Court's
ruling is responsive to what we feel are some very solid legal arguments
that higher education advanced. In the context of a budgetary battle
that has been brutal, bloody, and highly politicized, it is good to see
that reasoned argument can still have an impact on outcomes.

	Please know that Auburn University is involved daily in the
struggle to achieve equal, equitable, and adequate funding of all
education. We are joined in this effort by leaders of other public
institutions of higher education, and also by Senate and House leaders
in Montgomery. As you have the opportunity to do so, I would encourage
you to thank these people for what they are doing in this regard.

	Lastly, I am personally grateful to you, the people of Auburn
University, for the courage and perseverance you have displayed
throughout this ordeal. These periodic updates will continue to be
forthcoming from this office. You can see additional information on the
website which University Relations has set up on Proration at Auburn.
The address is http://www.univrel.auburn.edu/proration/ and this site
can be reached directly from the university home page.

Sincerely,

William F. Walker
Interim President