“We need to remind (everybody) how the entire university budget is put together,” she said. “We will have so many more pieces of information in four short weeks.”

With less than two months until Central Michigan University has a new president, Wilbur aims to move forward.

A few things are on her mind — keeping academic programs strong, encouraging faculty hiring, enabling more students to come to CMU and establishing a firm set of budget reduction ideas.

Cost centers are devising options of 3, 6 and 9 percent budget cuts, per a request made by Wilbur last week. She’s asking the plans be submitted by Feb. 8.

Wilbur will then review the submissions along with proposed campus-wide cuts formed by the Senior Staff Budget Advisory Group.

Gov. Jennifer Granholm will give the State of the State address Feb. 3 and will present the state budget later that month. Wilbur and university officials will know more after that, they say.

By the Feb. 18 Board of Trustees meeting, Wilbur hopes to have a better understanding of what CMU should cut.

“I want a very solid set of proposals on what we need to do,” Wilbur said. “I want to be able to go to the Board of Trustees and say these are the ideas we are considering.”

Board of Trustees Chairwoman Stephanie Comai said the sooner they get started, the better off they will be.

“I think the longer we wait to take action, the worse the problem,” Comai said. “(Wilbur is) still the president and we expect her to fully act on the responsibilities as president until George Ross arrives.”

But Wilbur is not keeping University President-designate George Ross out of the loop with these decisions. The two talk weekly, at the very least, she said.

Wilbur said they take a lot of time talking about the transition.

“We usually have quite an agenda, a laundry list of issues,” she said.

Students should not worry too much during the transition period, said Dean of Students Bruce Roscoe.

Roscoe believes Ross, who takes over March 1, will still keep a student focus on campus.

“I think President Ross will be very similar to President Wilbur,” he said.

A shift in financial aid

Wilbur is in the process of trying to establish more financial aid for students on a need base instead of merit base.

She wants to make sure the programs at CMU stay strong and funded, but a major factor is trying to keep tuition at a reasonable amount.

Wilbur is trying to shift some financial aid dollars from merit-based packages to need-based, and also is looking for money from other places in the university.

“Is there more need that needs to be met? I think that goes without saying,” Wilbur said. “How do we, as an institution, meet that need?”

It is a decision being made quickly, but will not be put into effect for about a year. Wilbur wants to continue to bring in a large pool of students applying each semester, which also would include employment of the right number of faculty.

She encourages colleges to hire more faculty members if enough money has been saved up.

“If you have the resources, please go forth,” Wilbur said.

Preparing for Ross’ arrival

Transition teams will be formed to give students, faculty and staff the opportunity to give input about CMU.

It is not certain, however, when those will be formed, Wilbur said.

To get ready for Ross, Wilbur will keep all efforts moving forward.

“All issues we’ve been involved in are still full steam ahead,” Wilbur said. “Nothing is on hold, nothing is stopped.”

When Ross starts March 1, he will have one week to be brought completely up to speed on the university’s budget. On March 8, he will testify concerning CMU’s budget before the Senate Appropriation Subcommittee on Higher Education.

Comai said the transition should be smooth.

“The fact that they know each other and they work well together... we are possibly as far along as we can be (for Ross) to transition back in to the university,” she said.