[Academic] Running costs

[Erling Riis]

Dear All,
You may be aware that we last week distributed the running costs for the current financial year. This was not an enjoyable process. You are no doubt aware that the Faculty of Science is in a financial mess and our running costs have therefore been cut by 40% this year compared with last. 
We have a substantial ongoing commitment to postgraduate students. We have since the introduction of the current scheme for distribution of University studentships shared the shortfall in funding evenly between groups and Department - about £2k pa each way. I would be surprised if the running cost situation would change substantially in the near future, so the Departmental support of postgraduate students is unsustainable. We will honour commitments to students starting up till and including the current intake, but you should be prepared to find the full cost from next year. I have partly been able to honour current commitments by raiding a 'rainy day' account.
I have also been forced to put a stop to all paid postgraduate student demonstrating. I am hoping we can get get a number of postdocs to help out with this, but there is still the possibility that Nigel L has go and 'encourage volunteers'. 
Having done this and been stingy in all other aspects of the distribution of funds I have been able to allocate running costs to groups down about 20% from last year. I think we all have to get used to thinking about group running costs as the source, that covers telephones, photocopiers, the odd batteries, etc. and not a source for maintaining a research activity. 
Have a good weekend
Erling




Professor Erling Riis
Head of Department
Department of Physics       Tel: 0141-5483490
Strathclyde University         
John Anderson Building      e-mail: e.riis at strath.ac.uk
Glasgow, G4 0NG
UK