Reorganization
Virginia Institute of Marine Science: Reorganization of administrative offices and functions
Problem: Needed cost reductions to meet institutional budget
targets, and better communications and streamlined reporting structure to
facilitate goals in the VIMS 2009-2012 Strategic Plan.
Changes:
- The Department of Planning and Budget was reorganized into an Office of Finance, and staffing was reduced by 1 FTE with the elimination of the director’s position. Several job duties were reassigned within the new Office of Finance, and the reporting structure was changed to reflect more oversight by the Office of the Dean and Director. The non-personnel budget was also reduced.
- The Vessels Operations unit was reorganized into a Field Support Center, and staffing was reduced by 4 FTEs and 2 hourly employees. One of the underutilized research vessels, the Pelican, was taken out of service. The reporting structure was changed to place the new unit under the direct supervision of the director of operations, support services and special projects, who reports to the dean and director. The Field Support Group was also internally reorganized to streamline operations.
Impact: Net personnel and non-personnel cost savings were $700,000 per year and both units, although understaffed, are actually now more efficient than before.
Office of the President: Reorganization
Problem: Streamline operations and free funds for high level needs of the College.
Change: Eliminated three full time positions – Assistant to the President, Senior Writer, and Fiscal Manager. Fiscal Manager became part time (16 hours a week) in February 2011. Responsibilities spread among remainder of staff and a graduate assistant. President assumed responsibility to write and/or edit key documents coming from the office.
Impact: These measures, in combination, reduced salaries/benefits in the President’s Office by more than $236,000. Using some of the funds so freed and pursuant to the Strategic Plan, the College was able to create a full-time position for a chief diversity officer (CDO), with an independent office and budget. The CDO is called, for now, Assistant to the President for Diversity and Community Relations, because we lack the resources to create a new Vice President for Diversity, with all that entails in staffing, office space, and programmatic reach.
