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Following President Brown's presentation, the floor was open for questions and discussion about Thorobred Strong from each member of the Board of Regents.

Regent Banks asked about the criteria for layoffs. President Brown responded that the Vice Presidents are looking at duplication of work through desk audits in addition to the impact on public health on campus, maintaining fiscal control and budgetary oversight, and academic instruction.

Regent Barfield began by saying that she believes that a thoughtful and careful plan has been prepared but wanted to know if the savings identified in Thorobred Strong will allow KSU to close this fiscal year in the black. President Brown responded that even though this plan did not take in account the one percent give-back that KSU just received, he is nearly one hundred percent certain that KSU will end the fiscal year in the black.

Regent Felder began by expressing her concern that the majority of employee cuts will be staff members and said that she had a number of questions on their behalf. Addressing specific portions of Thorobred Strong, Regent Felder inquired about which areas are overstaffed, which programs have been cancelled, why any duplication of effort is not addressed by supervisors, which positions are being cut, which tasks can't be completed remotely, whether supervisors have been allowed the opportunity to give input into the plan, if administration would be able to take a salary cut instead of lay-offs, and who determined the difficulties of telecommuting. Regent Felder stated that she is trying to consider the people who are being let go since this is not a temporary layoff.

President Brown replied that the Vice Presidents and Emergency Management Team are meeting daily to review the telecommuting forms for consistency, accuracy, and likelihood of workplace hours in order to identify areas that are potentially overstaffed or understaffed. Page seven of Thorobred Strong lays out the financial goals and impact for each area. If this plan is approved, the Vice Presidents, along with the President's own office, would have to meet the targeted cuts and President Brown would have to approve the recommendations as long as the cuts did not impact campus health, fiscal control, and academic instruction.

President Brown stated that eighty percent of KSU’s budget is dedicated to personnel and we will not be able to get to the cuts needed without making personnel adjustments. All levels in each unit have been given the opportunity to submit their budget proposals but it is not possible to fund 100 percent of these requests. KSU needs to protect its budget from further cuts and the threat of declining fall enrollment. While other universities have cut the salaries of higher wage earners, those cuts are temporary and full salaries will revert back in July. Also, anyone in the higher wage category who is a contractor is not subject to cuts as any cut to contractor wages would be contract violation.

President Brown further said that he respects Regent Felder’s role as Staff Regent and expressed his apologies to Regent Felder and her constituents, but stated that the current circumstances are dire.

Regent Harnice asked if there are further contingency cuts in place in case there are anymore unexpected expenditures before the end of the fiscal year. President Brown stated that he did not have one but would consult with the CFO about this issue.

Regent Jantzen asked when layoffs would begin and President Brown replied that as of his last conversation, the layoffs should begin by May 15th. Regent Jantzen also inquired about the University's investment portfolio and President Brown stated that we are facing a loss of $108,801.76 due to stock market declines.

Regent Moffett inquired about the areas referenced in the chart on page seven of Thorobred Strong, such as administrative services and managerial costs. President Brown stated administrative services is primarily finance and auxiliary services and managerial refers to the President and Vice Presidents and includes all of the budget categories. Regent Moffett then asked about the rationale between the different levels of cuts and President Brown stated that a flat cut across the Board would be disproportionate and that a lion share of the cuts would be borne by central administration. Regent Moffett commented about unexpected expenditures and asked how KSU would make up the difference. President Brown stated that as of the March meeting, KSU was only $16,000 over budget and if the University had been able to stick to the pace of the budget at that time, it would have been possible to end the fiscal year three million dollars to the positive.

Regent Reddy asked who was making the decisions about the cuts and President Brown stated that campus management was making the decisions.

Regent Reynolds asked about the letters from the State Budget Office and CPE which he believes outlines the challenges facing KSU. President Brown stated that the State Budget Office's directive to return one percent of appropriations is in effect a twelve and one half percent annual cut. Essentially, KSU is giving back one years' worth of money in one month.

Regent Reynolds then asked if there was an update on facilities, specifically whether KSU is prepared to bring students back if possible. President Brown stated that the problems with facilities are two pronged: KSU needs a plan for students to vacate the residence halls which has already been submitted and the ability to clean and sanitize for two thousand students upon return. While KSU is putting forth its best effort, it is nowhere near being able to open.

Chairperson Farris asked how long discretionary funding will be suspended and President Brown replied that it will remain suspended until June 30th and the Board would approve the budget for the new fiscal year. She also asked about the vacancy management process and President Brown explained that it is the process for hiring.