This week, members of a Kansas House and Senate conference committee finalized a fiscal year 2009 rescission bill.

The committee was able to come to a consensus Wednesday night for a 4.25 percent cut for FY 2009. Although this is slightly higher than the 3 percent cut we had planned for, I believe that through our diligence in keeping spending down and delaying hiring for open positions, we will be able to accommodate this rescission without implementing any mandatory furloughs this fiscal year, which ends June 30, 2009.

As of Thursday afternoon, the House had passed the 4.25 percent cut and the Senate was set to debate the measure. The bill will then go to the Governor for her signature, where she also has the ability to veto any "line item" or specific provision.

After Gov. Sebelius signs the new FY 09 budget, the legislature will take up the FY 2010 budget, where we expect the cuts to be much deeper. As you know, we have asked vice chancellors and deans to communicate with their respective chairs, associate deans, department heads, and others in their areas of responsibility to devise plans for an ongoing 7 percent decrease, but the legislature is indicating we will need to plan for larger cuts.

Next year’s budget situation presents challenging problems for the Medical Center, and as you know, everything and everyone will be affected.

Dean Miller and I remain committed to open lines of communication, and we welcome your ideas to help our institution.

Thanks again for all you are doing to help us get through a tough situation.

Kudos

Congratulations to Chancellor Hemenway, who received the 2009 Council of Fellows/Fidelity Investments Mentor's Award at the American Council on Education's annual meeting last week.

Bob Klein, PhD, a professor in anatomy and cell biology and associate dean for professional development and faculty affairs, is the 2009 recipient of the Chancellor's Club teaching professorship. Congratulations, Dr. Klein.

Other Items of Interest

Dean Karen Miller is hosting a series of brown bag lunches on the budget that are open to faculty, staff and students. They will be held from noon to 1 p.m. on the following dates: Feb. 27 in B018 SON; March 5 in 1014 Orr-Major; March 25 in B018 SON; and April 7 in 1014 Orr-Major.

The AED system is now live, and last week we trained and certified 170 faculty, staff and students as volunteer rescuers. Read more.

Christine Weems Northern, the KU School of Nursing's first African American graduate, has passed away. There is a small display of her life and career in the Clendening History of Medicine Library. Our thoughts are with her family.

Your last chance to pick up a copy of the AT&T Yellow Pages on the University Loading Dock is Friday, Feb. 20.

On Tuesday, Feb. 24, there will be a table outside the hospital cafeteria selling Heart Association pins and signing up team captains for the Heart Walk on May 30.

The KU women's basketball team will host a Think Pink game at noon on Sunday, Feb. 22 at Allen Fieldhouse. Kansas Athletics will donate $1 for each person in attendance, and coach Bonnie Henrickson will donate an additional $1 for each student in attendance, to support the fight against breast cancer. Half of the proceeds will go to the University of Kansas Cancer Center and the other half will go to Lawrence Memorial Hospital.