UD tightens pace of spending from position of strength, executive says
‘We are highly focused on ensuring that we stay where we want to.’
University of Dayton leaders say the school remains strong, but it needs to be nimble in facing demographic and population challenges that impact universities in Ohio and beyond.
Population numbers in Ohio and the Midwest — the populations from which UD typically draws — have shrunk over the past several years and do not appear to be poised for explosive growth in the next decade, Andrew Horner, UD executive vice president of business and administrative services, said in an interview with the Dayton Daily News Friday.
UD leaders have recently formed committees to tackle spending and revenue challenges on the horizon and met last Friday with faculty and staff to communicate those challenges.
Already, the university said, it has “tightened up” discretionary expenses like travel and entertainment.
“The organization responded very well,” UD said in written responses to recent questions from the Dayton Daily News. “But now we need to think bigger and broader about structural changes.”
UD has pulled back its typical pace of spending growth by $10 million, Horner said.
“We reduced the (pace of budgetary) increase by $10 million,” he said. “So by no means can you call it a ‘budget cut,’ because our expenses still increased year over year.”
UD wants to preserve those sav
reported to the state.
The Associated Press reported Friday that nationally, the number of child deaths and the hospitalization rate for youngsters are the highest seen at this point in any season since the severe flu outbreak of 2009-10. And the wave is expected to keep going for weeks.
For Dayton Children’s Hospital, flu season is also a time of year when RVS cases (respiratory syncytial virus) cases pick up, causing coldlike symptoms.
Stacy Porter, spokeswoman for Dayton Children’s, said their most recent RSV numbers are way down, with 21 positive tests last week. The pediatric hospital’s flu numbers had a bit of a rebound then went down again, with 503 positive tests for the flu for the week ending Feb. 8.
Overall, the CDC estimated that 26 million Americans have gotten sick with flu this past fall and winter, with about 250,000 flu-related hospitalizations and around 14,000 deaths.
The virus can be especially dangerous for people who are very young or elderly, people with compromised or weakened immune systems, people with chronic health conditions, and pregnant women. But the anyone can get the flu and flu shots are advised for everyone six months and older.
“You talk to most physicians who’ve worked in health care for a while, they will have a sad case of someone in their 20s or 30s who had no diseases who unfortunate didn’t survive a fight with influenza,” said Dr. Roberto Colon, associate chief medical officer at
Miami Valley Hospital and VP of Quality for Premier Health.
Adults at low risk for serious complications could also still spread it to people they come in contact with who are vulnerable.
“That’s particularly concerning for anyone who has young children, or cares for older adults or is in the health care environment. If you yourself have an influenza infection and you don’t have severe disease, you may pass it along to someone who experiences that severe disease,” Colon said.
Certain antiviral medications can ease flu symptoms and are especially important for people in high risk groups.
Along with getting vaccinated, good prevention practices include staying home when sick, practicing good handwashing, avoiding touching your eyes, nose and mouth, and covering your coughs and sneezes with a sleeve or tissue. Good practice disinfecting surfaces, getting plenty of sleep and managing stress.