Ashland University will experience additional budget cuts once again this year. Despite these cuts, the university remains confident about the future and hopes to limit the impact of the changes.

At a recent faculty senate meeting, President Fred Finks discussed two main reasons behind the budget deficit. He first indicated that the graduate programs witnessed a decline in enrollment this past summer, which resulted in approximately a $1 million loss. AU’s graduate programs were down 5 percent during the fall semester as well.

The second reason involved an error by the business office. AU’s business office uses a standard formula each year to determine the amount that an average student pays to attend AU. Using this formula helps them see how much money the school will receive from a typical student.

This year, however, the calculations arrived at a figure approximately $1 million less than expected. The formula did not take into account the high volume of students planning to live off campus, commute and study-abroad this semester. As a result, these students would not be paying traditional room and board fees. Essentially, the number of these individuals exceeded the business office’s projections. This caused their estimates to fall short of actual totals.

AU has not finalized the details regarding what specifically will be affected.

“We are still in the process of making cuts,” Finks said.

In the meantime, they will continue exploring their options to minimize any effects from the reductions.

“The cabinet talked about areas where we could cut,” Finks said. “We are looking at areas that are non-revenue producing.”

After discussing this year’s situation, Finks provided his outlook for the 2013-2014 budget. The cost-saving measures they implement in the present will hopefully create a more favorable budget for the 2013-2014 school year.

Finks also noted the potential for a slight rise in tuition for 2013-2014. However, he emphasized that it would just be a standard increase.

Despite its current budget cuts, AU will strive to correct these issues in the upcoming months and into the following school year.

“It looks a lot more optimistic,” Finks said. “The enrollment numbers are looking very positive for next year.”