Western President Bruce Shepard announced today that he will recommend to Western’s Board of Trustees on Friday that they approve an option on the state’s “furlough bill” that will not require university employees to take furlough days or for the university to be closed.

“After thorough review and many discussions on campus, it became clear to us that employee furloughs or campus closure would create far more problems than any savings realized,” Shepard said.

A turnout of more than 70 Western Washington University faculty, staff, students and community members showed up to listen to and make comments regarding Western's 2010-2011 operating budget during a public forum on May 18.

"This isn't a president's budget or a vice president's budget," said WWU president Bruce Shepard in addressing the crowd. "This is your budget as well as ours."

Steve Swan, vice president for University Relations at Western Washington University, appeared on the "PM Bellingham" radio show on KGMI 790-AM on Monday, May 17, to discuss the proposed 2010-2011 budget and the budget forum scheduled for 3 p.m. today, May 18, on campus.

The segment with Swan begins at 40:45 and ends at 44:24. The show is available for listening and download on the KGMI website at http://kgmi.com/PM-Bellingham/2977173.

A public forum on the proposed 2010-11 operating budget will take place at 3 p.m. Tuesday, May 18, in the Old Main Theater on the Western Washington University campus.

A public forum on the proposed supplemental 2010-11 annual operating budget for Western Washington University will be held from 3 to 4 p.m. on Tuesday, May 18, in the Old Main Theatre on campus.

Faculty, staff, students and members of the community are welcome to attend the forum, which will begin with a brief opening presentation by WWU President Bruce Shepard and be followed by an open dialogue that will include Western's vice presidents.

The proposed adjustments to Western Washington University's 2010-2011 operating budget are now online, WWU President Bruce Shepard said in an e-mail message to the campus community this afternoon. The adjustments are necessary because the Washington state Legislature reduced funding for the university in its supplemental budget.

Leaders of the various Western Washington University planning units finished on Tuesday, May 11, the presentations of their proposals for the 2011-2013 biennial operating budget. The presentations were audiocast live online, and the archived audiois available for listening at http://www.wwu.edu/upb/presentations/archive.shtml.

Leaders of the various Western Washington University planning units finished on Tuesday, May 11, the presentations of their proposals for the 2011-2013 biennial operating budget, so the presentations will not continue at 1 p.m. today.

The presentations were audiocast live online, and the archived audio will be online at http://www.wwu.edu/upb/presentations/archive.shtml as soon as possible, either later this afternoon or tomorrow.

Western Washington University President Bruce Shepard appeared on the "Up Front" television program from KING 5-TV this past weekend to talk about the cuts to state institutions of higher education in the recent budgets.

This video is also available on the KING 5 website here.

Western Washington University President Bruce Shepard sent a message to the campus community on Tuesday evening, April 13, regarding the budget situation at WWU. The Washington state Legislature approved a budget Tuesday morning, and Gov. Christine Gregoire now needs to sign it for the budget to take effect.