From Sequester could have a $28 million impact on Cornell [Cornell Chronicle 2013-03-07]:
The $85 billion in automatic, across-the-board federal spending cuts that went into effect March 1 — the sequester — may eventually cost Cornell $28 million universitywide, including Weill Cornell Medical College. The cuts would come mostly in support of research and student aid, administrators say. …
Cornell Cooperative Extension, which receives $11.6 million in federal funds, faces a 10 percent, $1.2 million, cut. CCE is reviewing applicable laws to determine which work is essential and what can be stopped. Among other steps to deal with the shortfall, CCE has suspended most out-of-state travel planned for later this year, put open staff positions on hold and is reviewing workforce reductions.
“We started our belt tightening last year in preparation for sequestration,” said Helene Dillard, professor of plant pathology and CCE director. “The CCE leadership team has helped me identify ways to streamline as much as we can without reducing the quality of our work. We have very hard-working, dedicated staff, and we are doing everything we can to avoid workforce reductions.”
Aid to the Cornell University Agricultural Experiment Station (currently $5.9 million) and to the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva, N.Y. ($1.2 million) will be reduced. Both stations have been conservative in awarding federal money, said Margaret Ferguson, associate dean for finance and administration for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, and “we will be able to manage a 5 to 10 percent reduction by reducing expenditures over the next seven months.”