Trent has imposed a hiring freeze on administrative and non-academic staff and will likely raise tuition fees 10 per cent next year as part of a three-year plan to erase a $1.4-million deficit projected this year.

      The hiring freeze was announced April 8 in a memorandum from vice-presidents John Earnshaw and David Morrison. It applies to all regular, recurring and contract staff positions over the next three years and is expected to save Trent $50,000 next year.

      The plan proposes a tuition-fee increase of 10 per cent next year followed by a 9.1-per-cent increase in 1999-2000.

      Senate reviewed the 1998-99 budget - including the fee increase - April 7 but also voted to express its concern to the Board of Governors via the president about the "effect of the current budget model on Trent's academic mission."

      The Board of Governors' audit and finance committee will examine the proposed 1998-99 budget before it goes to the board for final consideration April 24.

Last November, vice-president administration John Earnshaw said Trent would face an unexpected $1-million shortfall this fiscal year. That figure has risen to $1.4 million, or about three per cent of the university's $36-million annual operating budget. He attributed the shortfall to a drop in part-time enrolment, academic staffing underestimates, lower-than-expected savings and underbudgeting of searches for senior administrators.

      The three-year budget plan would retire the $1.4-million 1997-98 shortfall in two years. Trent would be in the red by $593,000 next year but see a surplus of $311,000 in 1999-2000 and another surplus of $581,000 in 2000-01. The surpluses would go toward reducing Trent's accumulated deficit.

      This year, Trent's accumulated deficit doubled with the addition of the $1.4 million shortfall. The proposed three-year plan would reduce the accumulated deficit to $2.5 million from $2.8 million in 2000-01.

      To meet these targets, the plan projects $5.6 million in extra revenue and $1.4 million in savings over the next three years.

      Next year, the administration forecasts increased revenues from: higher tuition fees and higher enrolment in part-time, spring and international programs; bigger profits from the university's retail operations; government funding of Durham University Centre; and more aggressive investments.

      How will Trent reduce expenses?

      In addition to the $50,000 it anticipates from the hiring freeze, the administration proposes a one-time $700,000 pension contribution holiday for the university -- the biggest projected savings next year. It also proposes reorganizing administrative and academic support service areas for savings of $285,000 next year and more for each of the following two years.

      Trent may also postpone summer maintenance projects to save dollars. Two major college projects may be put on hold: the ground-floor conversion of Bradburn House and air conditioning installation and washroom renovations at Lady Eaton College. (See Food court.)