After receiving $250,000 in one-time funds out of a promised $300,000 towards various projects and improvements, the College of Arts and Sciences has not received $45,000 intended for its base budget towards equipment repair and replacement.

According to Dr. Dawn Weber, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, a total surplus of $500,000 was allocated for the academic division last spring. $300,000 was planned for Arts and Sciences and an initial phase of $250,000 was carried out.

This first phase of one-time only funds went towards several purchases, including a light board and instruments as well as improved wiring and rigging for the Hugo Young and Studio Theaters; repairs to the Studio Theater floor; replacement computers for the Computer Art Lab; a radio transmitter and mixing board console for the WRDL Radio station; brand new marching band uniforms; and renovations and major repairs for pianos.

However, a second phase of funding, $45,000 that would reoccur in the college’s base budget, was never delivered. According to Weber, these funds are meant for repairs and replacements of necessary equipment for each of the college’s departments, especially equipment for the science, music and broadcast departments.

According to Weber, the President’s cabinet met this past spring and saw that some of the anticipated revenue in the spring and in the early summer from the MEd program out of the College of Education and from the Professional Development area in the Founders School of Education were not going to meet their projections.

Weber said that cabinet decided to pause on allocating further funds from the surplus in response to these low projections.

Ashland University Provost Dr. Frank Pettigrew confirmed in an email that the $45,000 funds for Arts and Sciences was lost, as well as $20,000 for Classroom Support Services, $8,000 for the Honors program and about $16,000 for the Library.

Weber said that depending on enrollment numbers, the cabinet will see if it can progress with its intended allocations.

“We’re very hopeful that some of that money will still be allocated to Arts and Sciences,” Weber said. “It’s critical to us, for our operation.”

Weber said that the science departments are totally dependent on their operational budget to purchase and repair equipment. She also said that their equipment repair and replacement budget for the academic year has totally been used in the repair of a single piece of equipment.

“The repair of that single piece of equipment was more than what their budget was,” Weber said. “If something else breaks, we don’t have a pool of money to look toward for addressing that issue.”

Weber is still focused on attaining funds for necessary equipment repairs and replacements. She said the college’s fundraising efforts are ongoing and continue to evolve. Weber is currently working with Development Officer Bill Mellick to focus specifically on financial needs for the University’s academic division.

Weber is still excited for the College of Arts and Sciences, stating that it is in a very exciting time now.

“We’re in a wonderful position,” Weber said. “Do we have needs? Of course we have needs…think we’re in a much better position than we were when I arrived three years ago.”

Meanwhile, she is still concerned with receiving the intended $45,000 for the college’s budget.

“If another piece of equipment goes down or breaks, we don’t have money within that department to address that need,” Weber said. “I’m sure the University will find a way to assist us, but you always rest easier at night when the money is in your budget.”