Leadership Institute will receive funding next year despite not knowing staff size

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Dan Gaken is excited to continue his work with Central Michigan University’s Leadership Institute.

Debate about the institute’s future ended Tuesday when University President George Ross announced at a student forum it will be included on next year’s budget plan.

What the face of the institute will be, staff wise, is still unknown, said Gaken, interim director of the Leadership Institute. He does not expect to hear any budget updates on staff hiring until after the state budget is finalized. He doubts the university will be able to replace staff this year.

“Being able to hear from him (Ross) personally that he plans to keep it in the budget is really exciting,” said Climax junior Ashley Pryor. “I have personally spoken with him and he told me that the Leadership Institute isn’t going anywhere.”

Concerns about the future of the institute arose in early March when the Senior Staff Budget Advisory Group recommendations were published.

One recommendation read: “From a Leader Advancement Scholar — The two directors of the institute have nicer offices than most faculty, and the few programs that the institute puts on have done very little for me. It is not part of the curriculum, it should be one thing considered for downsizing or removal.”

The SSBAG response: “This likely will occur as a result of the recent retirement of the director and the call for budget reductions.”

That sentiment has been reversed and cuts for the Leadership Institute are not planned, Gaken said.

Dean of Students Bruce Roscoe said the final decision regarding the Leadership Institute was made by himself and Provost Gary Shapiro. The institute may have to cut its expenses, but it will not be cut entirely.

“I’m a big advocate of leadership generally and I really do support what the Leadership Institute does for students at CMU,” Roscoe said.

Officials with the institute are making plans to spread the message of what it offers for students, Pryor said, but it will be hard to raise more awareness than there has been recently.

“Having the Leadership Institute being discussed raised a lot of awareness,” she said. “George Ross will continue to see we are an important part of CMU’s campus.”

Those involved with the institute are planning for next year the same way they have in previous years, Pryor said. They do not expect any more cuts than the salary-based ones already announced.

Gaken said termination of the Leadership Institute was never seriously discussed by the university.

“We have a very supportive Dean of Students, Bruce Roscoe, and he told me this was something that had not been discussed,” Gaken said. “Last year alone we had 5,000 students participate in one leadership program on campus.”