What's New
Budget Update - The School's Response
(October 2009)
By Joan C. Hendricks, the Gilbert S. Kahn Dean of Veterinary Medicine
Dear Fellow Alumni:
Welcome to the beginning of academic year 2010. We start this new academic year by welcoming to campus the Class of 2013 who number 122 and will, without a doubt, distinguish themselves for their ambition, creativity, and appreciation for the opportunities before them.
Since my video update this summer, much has transpired at your Alma Mater regarding the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s proposed budget cut to the School of Veterinary Medicine.
Faculty, staff and student leadership have worked intensely through the summer months, and continue to work diligently, to face head-on the new economic realities.
As of October 1, 2009, Penn Vet continues without a final Commonwealth appropriation due to the State’s continuing discussions about budget allocations. This means that we are still awaiting a decision regarding more than 35% of the school’s funding for the current year. Given this uncertainty, we must conserve every dollar possible at this point; plan for the worst and work for the best.
Your School of Veterinary Medicine finished Fiscal Year 2009 (July 1, 2008 – June 30, 2009) on target –we did no worse than our anticipated $5 million deficit. In fact, given the economy and the Commonwealth’s mid-year decrease in funding, it is a tribute to the hard work and discipline of faculty, staff, and students that we were able to meet this target. Equally compelling is the tremendous support by alumni which has infused and invigorated our efforts – from letter-writing to legislators, an increase in your annual giving and your ideas for change, you continue to join us in our forward path.
At the end of our first quarter of Fiscal Year 2010, the revenue for the school was slightly behind goal. Clinical revenue for both hospitals has decreased compared to last year. We need growth. However, the upshot is that research funding appears to be on par with last year, operating gifts are off to a strong start, and there have been a number of strong federal stimulus awards. These gains have been offset by reductions in other School funding sources.
Our four academic departments as well as the central administration are reviewing additional budget cuts for FY 10. Pathobiology, Animal Biology, and Clinical Studies-NBC expect to successfully manage the full proposed cuts required by an anticipated 24% cut in Commonwealth funding – but with significant changes to their plans. The central administration expects to absorb even a larger share of the required reductions.
A number of new initiatives have been launched with faculty, staff, and student leadership to directly address the budget, change our curriculum, and market our hospital services more broadly.
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New committees formed - In addition to the Dean’s Council ongoing oversight of the School’s full budget, we formed two new budget groups, one on each campus, focused on the hospital and clinical studies department in Philadelphia and the hospital at NBC. While primarily focused on the hospitals, the budget groups will also work with new education sub-committees to ensure that hospital and teaching changes are integrated. It is clear that we need to teach differently to meet the increasing demands facing today’s veterinarians and to keep pace with new technologies that are re-defining education today.
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There is momentum within both hospitals to dramatically change the way that we work. New marketing efforts have been launched on both campuses to ensure that we are reaching out more than ever to referring veterinarians and clients. We are initiating the first quality assurance surveys with patients and working hard to ensure that communication channels are open with our extended veterinary community – not just to be open, but to ensure we are listening and changing based on input.
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The School continues a cultural shift to focus on the financial bottom line AND ensure that we continue to provide excellent patient care, teaching, and research.
I want to thank you all for your continued commitment and loyalty to our School. We will continue to update you as information is learned.
Joan