uring the February 8 faculty meeting, President Maureen Hartford outlined the College’s proposed budget for 2002-03, which will be presented to the Meredith College Board of Trustees this month. The Board is expected to vote on the proposal at its February 22 meeting.

In her opening remarks, President Hartford explained that the budget is just one part of a process that also includes planning and identifying college priorities.

“The budget is a tool to implement the College’s plan and support Meredith’s main priorities to revitalize our undergraduate education program; expand availability and use of technology; and expand the reach of the graduate school,” President Hartford said.

While detailing the College’s $38 million budget plan for 2002-03, President Hartford noted that “given the national and state economy, Meredith’s budget represents a healthy increase of $1.3 million more than last year.”

She also added that the two areas seeing the largest increase in funds are salaries and financial aid, because Meredith is “putting its priorities on our people — faculty, staff and students.”

The budget assumptions for 2002-03 are made based on conservative enrollment projections. Through this budget, Meredith will continue support for the new initiatives of 2001-02, including reduction of the teaching load; funding undergraduate research, leadership and community service pro-

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COMBINED MEREDITH FUND TAKES ON NEW EMPHASIS
By Adrienne Hiner Cole, Director of the Meredith Fund

Many Meredith faculty and staff members chose to give to the Meredith Fund this year. The Meredith Fund – the annual giving program of the College – is the new name for the combined Alumnae Loyalty Fund and the General College Fund. The Fund has not only taken on a new name, but a new emphasis.

The unrestricted dollars raised in the Meredith Fund are crucial to the College’s fiscal well being. Monies raised are used for a myriad of purposes, including student aid, faculty development and College operations. For example, approximately 7 percent of the College’s operating budget is designated for student financial aid. This equals approximately $2.5 million per year, which is critical in recruiting the best and the brightest to Meredith who may not have the financial means to attend otherwise. The operating budget is funded in part by the unrestricted dollars raised through the Meredith Fund.

The Meredith Fund to date has raised more than $590,000. This is compared to $307,000 raised by this time last year. We have had two unexpected estate gifts...

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NEW NUTSHELL TO BECOME ONLINE-ONLY PUBLICATION

The March issue of In A Nutshell will be the last printed issue of the Meredith College faculty/staff newsletter, and the publication will become almost exclusively web-based.

A limited number of printed copies will be made available for those employees who do not have web access.

Jeannie Morelock, editor of In A Nutshell, explains that the move is “one more way that technology is being integrated into all aspects of Meredith College life.”

In A Nutshell has been available online since November 2001. By publishing the newsletter online only, Meredith College will save approximately $3500 in printing cost each year.

The newsletter is easy to find on the Meredith web page via a link on the E-News page, and on both the faculty and staff web pages. The online version is simple for readers to navigate. Archived issues of the newsletter will also be available.

Online, keywords in Nutshell articles will be able to be linked to related pages on the Meredith web site as appropriate. As the online publication evolves, new features may be added.

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December-January 2001-2002
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