It appears that Old Dominion, as well as other state colleges and universities in Virginia, will be operating next year with virtually the same budgets they had the previous fiscal year, a result of the Senate and the House of Delegates' inability to strike a compromise in its latest session. And while this budget scenario is not as dire as it was when James V. Koch became president in 1990, it's not the kind of situation he hoped the university would be in when he hands the reigns to President-elect Roseann Runte July 1.

"Since we are already struggling with increased utility costs, the next fiscal year will be very tight," Koch said.

Old Dominion is also facing a reduction of nearly $200,000 in need-based scholarship funds for in-state undergraduate students in 2001-02.

"This will put a major dent in the amount of financial aid that our students will receive," the president said.

In addition, the university is taking hits in the area of capital funding. In order to avoid cutting higher education operating budgets, Gov. Jim Gilmore made significant reductions in capital spending, Koch noted.

All funding for a new computational sciences and engineering building, which had been approved by the state more than a year ago, was removed, and $300,000 for a capital project at the Diehn Fine and Performing Arts Center fell by the wayside.

Construction on the computational sciences and engineering building, which, Koch says, is "vitally connected to the technological future of Hampton Roads," will now likely be delayed either one or two years.

"In addition, the governor has reduced by one-half the amount of maintenance reserve funding we were to receive next year," he added. "These are funds that we use to maintain and repair our facilities. The projects are not glamorous - for example, replacing a roof - but are vital."

All other General Fund or debt-financed capital projects, such as renovations of the Batten Arts and Letters Building, Technology Building and chemistry laboratories, are now dead for the immediate future.

The only Old Dominion construction projects not affected by the latest General Assembly session are those financed by the university itself: the Constant Convocation Center and a new parking garage. These facilities are currently on schedule and are expected to open by the start of the 2002 basketball season.

Initially, the House of Delegates version of the budget bill had provided $1.1 million in "catch-up" funding for Old Dominion, while the Senate version had earmarked $2.5 million for the same purpose.

"Both houses had regarded these funds as a first, small step toward supporting the conclusions of the higher education funding study they completed last year," Koch said. "Now this money has disappeared."

The president strongly encourages alumni to contact their legislators and voice their support of Old Dominion initiatives prior to January, when the General Assembly reconvenes.