Summer classes will not be canceled this year, UF President Bernie Machen announced at a Faculty Senate meeting Thursday.
At a Tallahassee meeting last week, Machen mentioned cutting summer classes because the state Legislature is requiring UF to trim $16 million from its budget by July 1.
Because UF was informed about the budget cut after spring semester had already started, Machen said he couldn't adjust anything this semester, meaning any cuts would have to be made in May or June. The only event at UF during that time was summer school, so Machen mentioned eliminating that semester.
But after making those "flippant" remarks in Tallahassee, Machen said he realized UF couldn't afford to cancel summer classes.
"The reality is, we can't do without summer school for lots of reasons, one of which is just the economics of it," he said during the meeting Thursday. "The amount of money that we would lose far exceeds the $16 million that we would have to cut out of our budget."
Machen said one of the reasons he decided not to cut summer school is because many students base graduation plans on taking summer courses. Machen also said he was surprised at how many local business owners contacted him to express opposition to canceling those classes.
As for the $16 million that has to be cut by July, Machen said he doesn't think UF can eliminate that much money from the budget by then, so the university would probably take out a state loan.
Machen said he also considered reducing the number of freshmen accepted in the fall to save money. But he said that, too, is off the table.
"Whatever we do it's going to affect some people, and it's going to be painful," Machen told the Senate. "My pledge to you is that we will be open and transparent about it, and we will try to make decisions that are in the best interest of the university."
Provost Janie Fouke said she is talking with the deans of each UF college about where adjustments could be made, but she doesn't know exactly what will happen.
Fouke said there is no current discussion about shortening the summer semester, and registration should begin in March as scheduled, she said.
Summer classes are safe for now, but there's no telling for how long, she said.
"It's always possible that you'll reconsider something you've already considered," Fouke said. "You can't predict the future."
