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State requests universities make budget-cutting proposals

With the economic downturn threatening revenues, the State of Kansas, via the Kansas Board of Regents, has requested that universities present proposals for possible budget reductions in the current and upcoming fiscal years.

The request from the state asked for budget-cutting proposals of 2 percent of State General Fund dollars in the current fiscal year and 5 percent in FY 2010. Regents were scheduled to discuss the universities' proposals during their retreat the week of August 18.

For planning purposes, KU requested units propose cuts to operating expenses of $5.5 million for FY 2009 and cumulatively $14.7 million in FY 2010. The figures include an internal reallocation of $2.6 million in FY 2009 and $4.5 million in FY 2010 to address expected higher energy costs.

Provost Richard Lariviere repeated Gov. Kathleen Sebelius' request that cuts impacting key instructional programs be avoided. In addition to avoiding cuts to key instructional programs, Lariviere also asked deans and vice provosts to seek out cuts that would have minimal harm on the research taking place at KU.

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Jennifer Bertrand won Home and Garden Television's "Design Star" competition this month. Bertrand received a contract for her own HGTV show, which will premiere in January. Bertrand earned a bachelor's in visual arts education in spring 1998 and a master's in education in spring 2007. Bertrand lives in Olathe and before competing on "Design Star" was an interior decorator and owner of Bertrand Designs. Bertrand bested eight other contestants in the course of the seven-week "Design Star" competition. In addition to earning the opportunity to host her own TV program, she won $5,000 and a Caribbean cruise.